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Play ball!: Bisons start 25th season of downtown baseball

Wednesday's landmark celebration at Coca Cola Field offers a chance to reflect on the high expectations that came along with the 1988 opening of the $56 million stadium.

At its inception, it was known as Pilot Field, a new-look baseball stadium that was going to be the catalyst for Buffalo's efforts to acquire a Major League Baseball franchise.

Pete Weber was behind the microphone on April, 14th, 1988, broadcasting history as the Bisons opened their new home with a 1-0 win over the Denver Zephyrs.

After 13 years with the Bisons, Weber has moved to Nashville where serves as the play-by-play voice of the NHL's Predators.

Pete Weber offered memories and perspective in a look back at the years since baseball moved to downtown Buffalo at the corner of Washington and Swan. 

Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Jay joined Buffalo Toronto Public Media in 2008 and has been local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" ever since. In June, 2022, he was named one of the co-hosts of WBFO's "Buffalo, What's Next."

A graduate of St. Mary's of the Lake School, St. Francis High School and Buffalo State College, Jay has worked most of his professional career in Buffalo. Outside of public media, he continues in longstanding roles as the public address announcer for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and as play-by-play voice of Canisius College basketball.