Rays announce tributes in honor of Dave Wills, longtime radio announcer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays will honor the life and legacy of longtime radio announcer Dave Wills during a special tribute on the Rays Radio Network this weekend and a pregame ceremony in April.

Wills, who served as the team’s announcer for the past 18 years, passed away on March 5, 2023, at the age of 58. This weekend during the radio broadcasts, friends and colleagues from around Major League Baseball will share stories of their time with Wills. Tune in beginning this afternoon, March 11 at 2:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM, the iHeart Radio app, the MLB app, RaysBaseball.com and the Rays Radio Network.

The Rays will also honor Dave’s legacy during a ceremony in advance of the 4:05 p.m. first pitch against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, April 22 at Tropicana Field. He will be recognized by the Rays and White Sox, where Wills worked for nearly a decade. Rays players will also wear a specially designed memorial patch on batting helmets throughout the season. A scholarship is also being established in honor of Wills.

Wills was known for his volunteerism throughout Tampa Bay; the family asks that fans consider donating to his favorite charities, Buddy Baseball and the Homeless Empowerment Program.