Braves broadcaster Van Wieren dies at 69

ATLANTA (AP) The Braves say longtime broadcaster Pete Van Wieren has died after a battle with cancer. <br /> <br /> Van Wieren passed away Saturday at age 69. <br /> <br /> Affectionately known as ``The Professor'' for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and long hours of research, Van Wieren was part of a landmark team that ushered in the ``SuperStation'' era on TBS along with Ernie Johnson and Skip Caray. <br /> <br /> In 1976, Braves owner Ted Turner started beaming Braves games on a once-obscure local television station to homes around the nation via satellite. The team didn't have much success through the 1970s and `80s, but Johnson, Caray and Van Wieren became household names to baseball fans, especially in areas that didn't have their own local broadcasts. <br /> <br /> Van Wieren spent 33 years with the Braves before retiring.