Sportscaster Rory Markas Dies at 54

Palmdale - Rory Markas, a play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and reporter & sportscaster for FOX 11 News, has died, the team announced on Tuesday. He was 54.

Markas died at his Palmdale home last night, said Angels vice president Tim Mead.

"We have lost one of the faces of our organization," Mead said. "He was a tremendous broadcast talent ... This is just a very tough pill to swallow."

Markas, who had worked for the Angels since 2002, in November 2008 suffered a blood clot in his brain. The cause of death was not immediately confirmed, but various reports cited a possible heart attack.

Before joining the Angels, Markas was a play-by-play announcer for the USC baseball team on the Trojan Radio Network, a KNX sports reporter and a sports anchor on FOX 11. From 1994-97, he was the lead announcer for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers on the Clippers radio network.

A Chatsworth native and Palmdale resident at the time of his death, Markas attended Chatsworth High School, Los Angeles Valley College and Cal State Northridge.

He was honored with several broadcasting awards, including four Golden Mike Awards for radio reporting, and two Associated Press Sportscasting Awards. He also received the 2008 Radio Play-by-Play Award from the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association.

KNX sports reporter Randy Kerdoon, who went to high school with Markas and worked with him in Salt Lake City, said Markas took the Angels job and "ran with it."

"Rory had made his mark on that (Angels) job. And of course, he had his catch phrases, you know: 'Just another Angels victory.' We will all remember that," he said, adding that he was still "stunned and shocked" by the news.

Markas was a play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers television network (1992-94) and as a substitute radio play-by-play announcer with the Brewers radio network from 1984-1994. He spent six seasons calling Pacific Coast League baseball, including three years with the Salt Lake City Gulls and three years with the Vancouver Canadians.

His career included stints as an on-air sports talent for CBS2 (1990-97) and Prime Ticket (1987-90).

Markas, who was single, is survived by his mother, Billie, and brothers Gary and Troy.

Funeral plans are being made.