‘It’s an amazing story’: Dave Niehaus’ daughter sits with his statue for Mariners’ 15-inning victory

In the middle of all the chaos of the Seattle Mariners’ 15-inning victory on Friday, the daughter of Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus, Greta, chose to sit with her father amid the late-inning hysteria.

An article written by Mike Gastineau summarized the touching moment Greta shared with her late father’s statue. Mike spoke on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio to reveal the background of how this amazing story came to fruition.

“It’s an amazing story. Greta started the game in her seat, ended up in the owner’s suite for a while, but said she was driving herself crazy. She’s pacing and nervous,” Mike said. “Finally, she said that in the 15th inning, she felt something call her to go to [Dave’s statue].”

Greta Niehaus sits with father’s statue as Mariners win in extra innings

Mike explained that Greta often visits her father’s statue, located beyond center field of T-Mobile Park, but this moment was one of a kind.

“She’s been to the statue lots of times, but she’d never gone during a game,” Mike said. “The way the statue is built, there’s a little chair next to Dave where you can sit next to him and get your picture taken. Nobody sits there and watches the game, but Greta comes over in the 15th inning and works her way through the crowd and sits down.”

Greta’s feeling that she needed to spend this historic moment with her father proved to be the correct instinct, as Jorge Polanco lined a single into right to walk off the Tigers and send the Mariners to their first Championship Series appearance since 2001.

“Greta works her arm through the arm of the statue, she’s engaged, and holding on to her dad. Then the next pitch is Rizzs going crazy,” Mike said. “It is a beautiful, serendipitous moment that was captured forever.”

Mike praised Dave’s career as a Mariners broadcaster for 34 seasons, further claiming that Dave was instrumental in helping develop his career.

“Anytime I can do anything to further the knowledge, love, and appreciation of Dave Niehaus, I will do it because I knew Dave very well, and he was so influential to me, and so kind. He helped guide me in my career and was a great broadcaster,” Mike said. “[The story] is a neat thing to happen in the middle of this beautiful baseball run that we’re all enjoying.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.