Braves broadcaster Van Wieren retires

Oct 21, 2008 - 2:56 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Pete Van Wieren, an Atlanta Braves broadcaster for the past 33 years, announced his retirement Tuesday.

Known as "The Professor," Van Wieren joined the Braves in 1975 and worked for many years on Braves' telecasts with the late Skip Caray, who died this past August.

"This is something my family and I have been thinking about the last couple of years," Van Wieren said. "It's simply a desire to live my life without the restrictions of a baseball schedule."

In 2004, Van Wieren was inducted into the Braves' Hall of Fame, along with Caray.

"This is a monumental moment in Braves history and a sad one for me, personally," Braves president John Schuerholz said. "Pete has been in our homes and in our lives as one of the great Braves voices, and we will sorely miss him."

Van Wieren also covered the NHL's Atlanta Flames, the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and preseason games for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.