Angels' announcer Rory Markas dies

"I think now everybody should just celebrate what a good person he was," broadcast partner Terry Smith told AM 830.

Markas, 54, made the memorable call of the final out of the 2002 World Series, as Darin Erstad camped under a fly ball in centerfield: "Erstad says he's got it! Erstad makes the catch! The Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!"

Markas had returned to the Angels' booth this season after suffering a blood clot in his brain in November 2008, as discussed in this story by Diane Pucin. 

"We're not going to be together -- traveling together, getting a bite to eat together, in the booth together," Smith said. "I just can't believe that's not going to happen."

Markas, a longtime Southern California broadcaster, also had announced games for USC and the Clippers and had worked for Channel 2, Channel 11 and Prime Ticket.