P.A. announcer Steele eyes an Oct. 3 cameo

A familiar element has been missing at the Oakland Coliseum all season.

Health issues have kept public address announcer Roy Steele from calling a single A's home game. It's unknown if Steele, a fixture behind the microphone since the team arrived in Oakland in 1968, will be able to return.

The A's have a first-class replacement in Dick Callahan, the longtime P.A. voice of the Warriors who currently calls Cal football games. But lots of fans have wondered if Steele's distinctive baritone will ever fill the Coliseum again.

"He says he hopes to be back," said Chester Farrow, the A's scoreboard operator and a good friend of Steele's. "It has to do with regaining some weight and strength."

Steele, 77, suffers from achalasia, a disorder of the esophagus that limits his diet and has caused his weight to drop significantly. He missed a large chunk of games over the last three seasons due to the condition.

But fans could be in for a treat Oct. 3. Steele has agreed to call the last few innings of that day's game against the Los Angeles Angels, as Callahan will have to leave early to work Cal's football game against USC.

The plan is tentative, as Steele has his good and bad days.

"It would be a big treat for the fans," said Troy Smith, the A's senior director of stadium entertainment. "The biggest issue with Roy's condition is he doesn't know

Callahan says he's "keeping the seat warm" for Steele, labeled by broadcaster Jon Miller as "the Voice of God"

"I respect the iconic atmosphere (associated) with Roy Steele," Callahan said. "I don't look at it as replacing him. He doesn't get replaced."