Dave Wills, the legendary Rays radio broadcaster who spent 19 years behind the microphone calling the biggest moments in franchise history, will posthumously be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this season.
According to his family, Wills, who died unexpectedly on March 5, 2023, is scheduled to be honored prior to the team’s game April 14 against the San Francisco Giants.
My mom, Alex and I are grateful and honored to share the news that @RaysBaseball will be inducting @davewills34 into their Hall of Fame!
The ceremony will be held pregame on Sunday, April 14th with a 1:40pm game time.
We will share details as we receive them. pic.twitter.com/Hvd5eoNgar
— Michelle Wills (@m_wills34) January 29, 2024
Wills is the first person to be announced in the 2024 class for the Rays Hall of Fame. The team created the Hall of Fame last year for its 25th anniversary, and inducted Wade Boggs, Carl Crawford, and Don Zimemr for its inaugural class.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
