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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — People behind the scenes at Las Vegas Aviators home games knew Dan Bickmore. He was known for his Hawaiian shirts, his voice, his friendliness and his nickname, “The Captain.” Bickmore even had some dance moves.
And for many baseball fans who attended Aviators games in Summerlin — and 51s/Stars games before that at Cashman Field in downtown — they might not have personally known Bickmore but they sure recognized Bickmore’s voice at the Triple-A minor league ballyard where he worked as the venue’s public address announcer.
Bickmore pronounced players’ names and sponsor deals with flair and enthusiasm. He spoke Spanish and joyfully announced the names of Spanish ballplayers.
But that once booming ballpark voice has been silenced forever.
News of Bickmore’s death was felt this week by the people who worked with the man known as The Captain.
Aviators President Don “Donnie Baseball” Logan called Bickmore “as talented and entertaining a PA announcer as anyone anywhere.”
Logan said Bickmore was “incredibly fluent in Spanish, which made him a favorite of Latin players.”
“He was truly a unique man and one who had quite an impact in the Vegas sports scene, even though much of the valley rarely noticed him,” Aviators game emcee Andy Martello wrote on Facebook.
“It was a real treat to get to know him during my time with the Las Vegas Aviators,” Martello said. “He will be missed, and I offer my sincerest condolences to his family.”
Bickmore, 65, began in 1997 for the Las Vegas Stars at Cashman.
He received his nickname, “The Captain,” for calling former Major League Baseball pitcher Dennis Martinez at a Big League Weekend game, “The Captain,” instead of Martinez’s real nickname, El Presidente (The President).
Aviators spokesman Jim Gemma offered these words about Bickmore: “Dan was a longtime friend and was one of the very best public address announcers in the business, which included L.A. Clippers, Triple-Las Vegas and the LV Posse (CFL). I’m glad I had a chance to speak with him over the phone last week, may he rest in peace.”
Before Bickmore began as the Cashman Field baseball stadium announcer, he worked as a hotel manager, employee relations manager and training manager for the former Riviera hotel from 1993-2001 before working as the employee relations and training manager at Opportunity Village in Las Vegas from 2004-2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was also the human resources supervisor for Gaming Laboratories International in Las Vegas from 2015-2019, the LinkedIn profile said.
PSA