There was a standing ovation in Dwyer Stadium on Saturday night, but it wasn't for a great diving catch, or a rare triple play or a bomb hit over the dead center field fence -- it was for the stadium announcer, Wayne Fuller.
Fuller, the voice of Batavia baseball for 25 years, announced his retirement from the PA mic, and the crowd paid Fuller the ultimate sporting honor -- a Standing-O.
Fuller, who also served as the official scorer, has been positioned in the Dwyer press box -- dubbed "Wayne's World" -- calling out starting line-ups and determining hits and errors through the baseball eras of the Trojans, Clippers and Muckdogs.
"There is a trick to determine when you leave on your own or are asked to leave," Fuller told the crowd. "I have decided this is my time to retire and leave the two jobs. As I have gotten older it has become harder, as they say today, to multi-task, and that's the principle reason for my decision."
Fuller continues on in his afternoon shift with WBTA and will also remain in the booth for high school and college games.
Fuller told me this morning he's looking forward to a trip to Alaska next summer -- a dream he couldn't fulfill while obligated to the Muckdogs for home-game announcing.
Wayne Fuller is a class act
Wayne Fuller is a class act and will be missed! Thanks for all the great seasons Wayne! Enjoy your Muckdog retirement and I hope to see you at a few games next season, enjoying the game with a beer! You will always be the "voice" of Batavia baseball!
Wayne is a Batavia sports
Wayne is a Batavia sports icon. congrats on your retirement!
Now, you can be a fan and hang with us on the first base beer garden next year.
I wrote about Wayne on FB but
I wrote about Wayne on FB but neglected to add my good wishes to him here.
Enjoy your retirement, Wayne. A job well done!