WASHINGTON -- No one has seen more Washington Capitals games in person than former play-by-play announcer, Ron Weber. He is the original voice of the Capitals and called the franchise’s first 1,936 games.
He told the stories of over 200 players during his 23 years in the broadcast booth.
“Once in a while especially when I go visit in the broadcast booth before they’re on the air I get a little itch like, yeah I wish I were still doing the games,” Weber said.
Even though Weber retired in 1997, he still rarely misses a home game. He takes the metro from his home in Wheaton with all the game day essentials packed: a flashlight, a pen and his score sheet, so he can keep track of all the game day action.
You can bet longtime fans still recognize Weber as he’s heading to or from the games.
“It’s very rewarding. I always try to thank them, but I continue to be perplexed as well as pleased that they would remember me,” Weber explained.
Among Weber’s many accomplishments, in 2010 he got a place on the wall at the Hockey Hall of Fame and received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award given for outstanding contributions to hockey broadcasting.
And through it all, Weber seemed to find the perfect balance between his work life and his personal life. It was actually because of his career that he met his wife, Mary Jane. They met after Weber moved to Salisbury for his first job and they’ve been married for almost 60 years. They have three children and now five grandchildren.
“I don’t know a luckier person on this earth. I don’t know a luckier human being than me.”
During game four Weber will actually be back in the broadcast booth. He’ll be on the pregame show and call the first period with John Walton and Ken Sabourin.
