SALT LAKE CITY — Steve Klauke, the longtime announcer for the Salt Lake Bees, has died at the age of 69, the Larry H. Miller Company announced Tuesday.
Klauke was the victim involved in an auto-pedestrian crash in Sandy Monday evening. less than a year after he retired following his 29th seasons with the Bees.
“Steve Klauke was a dedicated long-time employee and world-class broadcaster. Steve will forever be remembered as ‘the voice of the Bees’ and holds a special place in our hearts. We will always treasure and honor the immeasurable impact he had on the sports community in Utah and beyond.” said Gail Miller, co-founder and owner, the Larry H. Miller Company.
Steve Klauke talks below with Bob Evans, Robyn Oguinye in April:
A three-time Utah Sportscaster of the Year, Klauke called nearly 4,200 regular season and playoff games with the Bees, along with his signature “it’s up there, it’s out there, it’s gone!” home run call.
Kraig Williams, the Bees' director of communications, said Klauke was the ultimate team player.
“Didn't matter: a Tuesday game in April that 100 people were here for, or if it was the championship game,” he said. “He put in the same preparation every night. He was such a fantastic broadcaster.”
Former team president Marc Amicone said Klauke touched so many communities.
“He told everybody where to go eat it in different cities on the road, and this is the best place and do this and do that,” he said. “Sometimes it's hard for players to maybe get close to the radio broadcaster. They were best friends.”
Amicone said Klauke loved baseball more than anything.
“Sometimes we get so wrapped up into the business of Minor League Baseball and professional baseball and everything we're doing,” he said. “Steve was 100 percent about the baseball. It was about wins and losses and who played well and what happened? And this pitcher did that and this hitter did that.”
Williams is grateful the team could celebrate Klauke’s legacy while he was still alive.
“Somebody told me today that they were really glad he had retired before this season because we really got to show him the love on his way out last year,” he said. “I'm really glad that he got to feel the love from us and the fans and all his fellow broadcasters, and we’ll miss him.”
The Bees are already starting to plan how they’ll honor Klauke’s legacy; the team is playing in Las Vegas Tuesday night. They’ll have a moment of silence on the field. Going forward, they’ll likely put a patch on players’ uniforms and do a moment of silence at the next home game in a week.
Steve Klauke answers '3 Questions' below on FOX 13 in 2018:
The team has just started to plan how they'll honor Klauke's legacy, likely placing a patch on player uniforms and holding a moment of silence in his honor at the next home game next week.
"This is awful news," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox posted to social media. "Our hearts go out to Steve's family. Today we lost one of the very best."
In a post of his own, former Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell wrote that he'd be keeping Klauke's family "in my prayers."
Klauke came to Utah in 1991 and originally served as a host for Utah Jazz broadcasts. Even after wrapping up his Bees career, Klauke continued as the radio voice of Weber State football and men's basketball.
Klauke tribute video below shared by Salt Lake Bees:
Klauke is survived by his wife, Sue, and two children, Adam and Lisa.
Just before 8:30 p.m. Monday, Klauke stepped into the road using a crosswalk when he was hit by a car trying to make a right-hand turn.
Police said Klauke was taken to the hospital right after the accident and died several hours later.
