With his concert at The Seasons Performance Hall scheduled for this coming Wednesday, Seattle hip-hop artist Macklemore has caused quite a stir in Yakima. A marquee name at the height of his popularity coming to play such an intimate venue (420 seating capacity). It's no wonder the beyond reasonably priced tickets ($20) were snapped up in minutes. Some of us, especially those who are fans of the Seattle Mariners, can say they knew Ben Haggerty a.k.a. "Macklemore" back when.

Cleveland Indians v Seattle Mariners
SEATTLE - APRIL 08: Seattle recording artist Macklemore performs a tribute to Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, who passed away last November, prior to the Mariners' home opener against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field on April 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
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On Opening Day of the 2011 Mariners season, fans were treated to the usual pomp and ceremony that comes with the beginning of a new year. This day, however, many fans were heavy-hearted as the M's paid tribute to their long-time and original play-by-play announcer Dave Niehaus who had passed away suddenly the previous November. Niehaus had been enshrined in the broadcasters wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame just a couple of years earlier, winning the Ford C. Frick Award in 2008.

Following his death, an upstart Seattle rapper named Macklemore recorded a song and released it a little more than a month after Niehaus's passing to pay tribute to the man as well as reflect on his own childhood. The song was titled "My Oh My", one of the broadcaster's notable catchphrases. The song was included on the album "The Heist" which would not be released until October 2012.

From Wikipedia:

Wiki Dave Niehaus
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The Mariners that spring day in early April had the either the foresight or good fortune of bringing Macklemore to Safeco Field to perform the song live to the adoring fans. Little did those of us in attendance that day know we were witnessing the artist who would have the #1 song around the world ("Thrift Shop") two years later and grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Here was his heartfelt performance that day.

Here are the lyrics as transcribed on to MetroLyrics.com
"I used to sit with my dad in the garage
That sawdust that pine sol and the moss
Around every spring when the winter thaw
We'd huddle around the radio twist the broken knob
710 AM no KJR Dave Niehaus voice would echo throughout the yard
Couldn't have been older than 10
But to me and my friends
The voice on the other end might as well have been God's
1995 the division series
Edgars up to bat
Bottom of the 11th inning got the whole town listening,
Swung on and belted the words that started, Joey Cora rounds third
Here comes Griffey the throw to the plate's not in time
My oh my the Mariners win it
Yes, fire works they lit up ceiling in the king dome
We had just made history.

And swung, Lined down the left field line for a base hit!
Here comes Joey! Here comes Junior to third base!
They're gonna wave him in! the throw to the plate will be'.
Late! The Mariners are going to play
For the American League Championship!
I don't believe it! It just continues! MY OH MY!

Laces woven barley holdin' that stitch
The creases are time amongst the grime and the grit
Where the leather he used to pound his fists
To some it's just a mitt, but see that glove was him
Yep, tell me stories on the field with that sun stained brim
Blood under my chin, he taught me how to spit
Sunflower seeds back when me and my crew sun burnt arms
Big league chew, yeah we were like the sand lot after dinner
After practice we listen to the M's in the kitchen
And if mom wasn't trippin' come on dad
Please I swear just one more inning
Voice went pump pump through the system break out the Rye bread
It's grand salami time
My oh My another victory yes, my city my city.
Childhood my life watchin' Griffey right under those lights

Under that light rain gleaming in that night came, can't stop now
Keep moving no break pads came here to prove a point,
Live my life on the field
Make history in between the base path
And compete against the fear that is in me
That's my only barrier and I swear I'm going to break that
From the mud the cleats that we drug threw the feet
This is that moment and you cannot take it back
And I don't really collect cards anymore,
Just a box and some old card board
Memories embedded in the dust,
In the fighters that age just like us
Livin' some where off in the drawer
This is what you make of it yeah we play to win
Live it like we're under the lights of the stadium
Fight until the day that God decided to wave us in,
Right until he waves us in
It's my city my city childhood my life that's right
Under those lights
My city my city childhood that's right Niehaus
My oh My come on, my city my city childhood my life that's right
Under those lights
It's my city my city childhood my life Niehaus My oh My Rest in peace."

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