The Braves honored Pete Van Wieren with several tributes to the longtime broadcaster. The team will wear a patch on the left chest of their jerseys for the rest of the season beginning with tonight’s game against the Nationals at Turner Field. The patch is white with black lettering “PETE.” The team will also observed a moment of silence before the game.
On Saturday, the Braves will hold a pregame ceremony that will include the Van Wieren family.
Van Wieren, known as ‘The Professor’, spent 33 years as a Braves broadcaster before he retired in 2008. He passed away Saturday at the age of 69 following a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 50 years Elaine, sons Jon and Steve, a daughter-in-law and three grand daughters.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez fondly remembered how Van Wieren would emcee the annual Braves’ Hall of Fame ceremonies.
He always spent four or five minutes with me and the way he treated me I thought I was getting my number retired,” Gonzalez said. “He treated everybody so special.”
