I n 1979, Billy Mac was sitting in the Kingdome bleachers and decided on a whim, “I’ve got to meet Dave Niehaus.”
He had admired the Mariners broadcaster from afar, but on this day he went on a pilgrimage to the press box. Mac somehow talked his way into the radio booth and found himself face to face with a startled Niehaus, who had just handed over the middle-innings play-by-play duties to Ken Wilson.
The ensuing conversation, in which Mac conveyed his admiration to Niehaus, led to longer talks, more trips to the booth, and eventually a friendship that transcended baseball.