Rays’ longtime radio voice Dave Wills passes away

Dave Wills, the Tampa Bay Rays’ longtime radio announcer who lent his booming voice to many of the franchise’s most iconic moments, passed away Sunday morning. He was 58 years old.

Ten seconds of silence were held inside Tropicana Field prior to the afternoon’s Grapefruit League game vs. the Orioles. The team canceled its radio broadcast for the game and will honor Wills with a special pregame tribute during the season. Details will be announced at a later date.

“Dave was an outstanding broadcaster, a great friend and an even better person,” Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement. “He had a remarkable talent for bringing the game to life for our fans and was a vital part of the Rays family. We will miss him dearly and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”