One of the most recognizable voices in San Francisco 49ers history Don Klein passed away Wednesday at a retirement home in Santa Rosa, California at the age of 95 according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Klein is best known for calling “The Catch” during the 1981 NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana threw a pass to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone that sent the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Article Continues Below“Third-and-3. He has the ball, Montana rolling out to the right … looking toward the end zone … throwing under pressure … throws his pass … Caught by Clark! Clark’s got a touchdown! Dwight Clark has it! It’s a touchdown for the 49ers!”
There are a few different calls of the famous play but the one that is most well known is the one involving Klein's voice. The one that is usually played on NFL Films is the one called by Klein.
“NFL Films had us sign a release before the game,” he said in the 2002 interview. “I think they paid us $50. And they will use my call or Vin Scully’s, from the network TV.” He had seen the replay and heard his own voice thousands of times, he said.
Klein called games for the 49ers and the Stanford Cardinal among other teams in a career that consumed 56 years of his life. Even though he isn't here anymore on the earth his voice will live on forever with the call of “The Catch” and many others throughout his long career in the broadcast booth.