Padres News: Remembering Former Friars PA Announcer John DeMott

Legendary member of the Friars family, gone but never forgotten.

Your San Diego Padres would not be what they are today without the hard work and dedication of the team's legendary public address announcer John DeMott. He was hired by the team before the 1970 season and stayed all the way until the conclusion of the 1985 season.

DeMott died at 80-years-old on March 5. He had recently been fighting an illness and was surrounded by family in his final weeks.

His style of announcing and commentating play-by-play quickly became popular amongst San Diego natives who tuned into the games. His animated, they knowledgable phrases and reactions to certain plays set him apart from everybody else in his field. DeMott bounced around numerous radio stations and positions before the Friars recognized his talent.

Ted Liatner, who called Padres games from 1979-2020, was inspired heavily by DeMott and spoke on what made him so special on air (provided by The San Diego-Union Tribune).

“I always had respect for John on the Padres’ PA," said Liatner. "He played it straight. He used inflection without yelling and screaming. He loved what he did. And he took it very seriously. There are young Padres fans out there who can recite DeMott’s introduction of Hernandez because their fathers and grandfathers passed it down.”

It's amazing to know that DeMott was a part of the franchise when they had one of their best seasons ever in 1984, winning 92 games and reaching the World Series. He had a blast following each and every game and reciting the plays to fans.

DeMott would also go on to do radio work for other notable sports teams such as the Portland Trailblazers and the Florida Panthers. No matter where he went, he always took his passionate spirit with him and made sure his presence was felt. It most certainly was in San Diego and fans will always remember his greatest punchlines.