R.I.P.: Dave Wills, Longtime MLB Tampa Rays Radio Voice

Dave Wills (1975-2023)

Longtime Tampa Bay Rays radio broadcaster Dave Wills died Sunday morning at the age of 58, the team announced. The Athletic reports the Rays did not disclose additional details about Wills’ death.

“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.”

Wills was in his 18th season as a Rays radio broadcaster and was a beloved member of the Tampa Bay community. His infectious personality and passion over the airwaves endeared him to Rays fans as he called countless games and several top moments in franchise history. Wills and his radio partner Andy Freed joined the Rays in 2005 and quickly became an integral part of the team’s coverage.

In 2020, Wills and Freed were named the best American League radio broadcast team by The Athletic readers in an MLB radio broadcast survey.

“They paint a great picture of the game while giving an enthusiastic call,” one reader wrote of Wills and Freed. “It’s a bit of an ‘old-school’ feel. They come off as very affable to the listener.”

The Tampa Bay Rays are deeply saddened to announce the passing of longtime radio announcer Dave Wills.

A beloved figure throughout the Tampa Bay community and Major League Baseball, he will be missed dearly. pic.twitter.com/k9iiQOsL4u

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 5, 2023

Wills came to the Rays after 11 seasons as part of the Chicago White Sox radio broadcast team, primarily hosting the pre- and postgame shows. He served as the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator with Elmhurst (Ill.) College in 1989, and as interim head coach at the University of Chicago in 1990. Wills switched to play-by-play action in 1991 and called Class-A Kane County Cougars games of the Midwest League for four years before moving on to college basketball and college football radio coverage.

The Rays canceled Sunday’s radio broadcast of their Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles and will host a moment of silence before the game.