On Sunday, John Walton announced that Capitals Radio would have a special guest joining them in the booth to call the first period of Game Four: Ron Weber. That name should prove nostalgic to some fans, as Weber was the play-by-play announcer for the Washington Capitals from their inaugural game in 1974. He called a total of 1,936 regular season games over 23 years.
Thrilled to announce that Hall of Fame broadcaster Ron Weber, the original voice of the @Capitals, will join us on @CapitalsRadio for the call of Game 4 Monday night. He’ll co-anchor our pregame show, and be on the call with me and Ken Sabourin for the first period. pic.twitter.com/lz0hrQ5PAX
— John Walton (@WaltonCaps) June 4, 2018
Weber retired in 1997, the year before the Capitals made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. Almost 20 years later, Weber is finally getting his chance to call a game in the Final.
Weber's last season was '97, the year before Washington made the SCF. In '98, The Post's Leonard Shapiro suggested the Caps invite Weber back for one period during that series. Cool that it's happening 20 years later. "We needed to have him be a part of it somehow," Walton said. pic.twitter.com/izZ68g2J3v
— Scott Allen (@ScottSAllen) June 4, 2018
Of course, Weber is no stranger to playoff hockey. He was already planning on attending Game Four, before Walton reached out to him.
“It’ll be neat,” Weber told The Washington Post. “How it will compare to other things I’ve done, I’d have to answer that after the game. It’s something I’ve never experienced.”
Ron meant so much to so many Caps fans in his 23 years as the voice of the team. No one has deeper roots with this organization than he does. Absolutely thrilled to have him in the booth for this incredible moment in Caps history.
— John Walton (@WaltonCaps) June 4, 2018
Walton, who first met Weber seven seasons ago when he first became the Capitals’ play-by-play announcer, had nothing but praise for the 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.
“If you’re a Caps fan who grew up listening to 1500 and listening to Ron call the games, it’s a chance to tie back to the past,” Walton said to The Washington Post. “If the Caps go on to win this thing, Ron Weber absolutely needs to be a part of it. He’s nothing but class. He’s generous with his time and he’s just a great person. It makes all the sense in the world to have him part of it upstairs [Monday] night.”
If you aren’t old enough to remember Ron Weber, or didn’t grow up here, check this out. Thanks to @BenRaby31 for putting together some classic audio clips from Ron in this post. https://t.co/BCFp1KPln5
— John Walton (@WaltonCaps) June 4, 2018
Weber will watch the second and third periods from section 402, where he sits and attends several Capitals games over the regular season and postseason. He was even in attendance with a friend for the Caps first ever home ice win in the Stanley Cup Final in Game Three.
Speaking to The Washington Post, he made it clear that he would be honored to be included in any celebrations, should they go on to win the Cup.
“I’ve waited 44 years,” Weber said. “If they can pull off two more wins, Ted Leonsis is going to get an email from me to say how about letting the guy who’s seen more Capitals games live than any other person on Earth be part of the victory parade. I would very much like to do that.”
Headline photo: NHL.com
