Mariners fans pay tribute to Niehaus

Safeco Field felt like a true church of baseball Saturday afternoon as thousands of Seattle Mariners fans came to say farewell to broadcaster Dave Niehaus. They stood in line for hours, quietly filing past a memorial to the beloved broadcaster that was set up at home plate. The open house for Niehaus drew 3,643 fans to Safeco Field, team officials said. Niehaus, 75, died Wednesday at his Bellevue home. He had been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Mariners since their inaugural 1977 season. He saw 5,284 of the team’s 5,385 games. “He was like your dad or an uncle, just talking about the game,” said fan Marie Brookins, 43 of Edmonds. – Everett Herald