ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves say longtime broadcaster Pete Van Wieren has died after a battle with cancer.

Van Wieren passed away Saturday at age 69.

Affectionately known as "The Professor" for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and long hours of research, Van Wieren was part of a landmark team that ushered in the "SuperStation" era on TBS along with Ernie Johnson and Skip Caray.

In 1976, Braves owner Ted Turner started beaming Braves games on a once-obscure local television station to homes around the nation via satellite. The team didn't have much success through the 1970s and '80s, but Johnson, Caray and Van Wieren became household names to baseball fans, especially in areas that didn't have their own local broadcasts.

Van Wieren spent 33 years with the Braves before retiring.