Bisons Supporter Tim Russert Passes Away

The Buffalo Bisons organization is saddened to hear the news today of the passing of Buffalo-native and NBC News Washington Bureau Chief, Tim Russert. The longtime political analyst passed away on Friday afternoon at the age of 58.

"This is truly a sad day for the Buffalo Bisons organization and the entire Western New York community," said Mike Buczkowski, Vice President/General Manger of the Buffalo Bisons. "Tim was a great friend of the Bisons and a positive ambassador for our great city to the rest of the country."

"Our Condolences go out to his wife, Maureen, his son, Luke, and the Russert family."

Russert was a familiar face to Bisons fans. For the past 10 seasons, Russert recorded a video message from his office in Washington, D.C. that was played on the Bisons Big Board on Opening Day. Along with welcoming fans to the ballpark for the start of a new season, Russert would call the Bisons team out onto the field for the first time each year.

On June 5, 2005, Russert returned to Buffalo and made a special guest appearance at Dunn Tire Park. The first 4,000 fans in attendance that day received a complimentary Tim Russert Bobble Head doll. Russert addressed the fans before the game and then handed a baseball to his son for a ceremonial first pitch. He then stayed throughout the game to autograph several bobble heads as well as copies of his New York Times bestseller, Big Russ and Me.

-herd-