Bob “Woody” Popik, the man who played the hits at Baltimore Ravens and Orioles home games for more than a decade, has died after weeks-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 59.
News of Popik’s death was shared on his Facebook account, where dozens of friends and family members paid tribute to the longtime stadium DJ.
The news also reached Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who paid tribute to Popik, also known by the nickname “Woody,” during his press conference on Dec. 10.
“We’re offering condolences to the Popik family for the passing of Woody Popik, our longtime stadium announcer/DJ, who did a great job for all those years,” he said in a clip shared on X, formerly Twitter. “Our stadium is loud and full of energy thanks to Woody and people like Woody. We appreciate him and we appreciate his family and we offer our heartfelt condolences for their loss.”
Despite being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic in October, Popik was optimistic when Parade spoke to him by phone from the hospital in November as he was preparing to be moved to a hospice facility.
“You can tell it in my voice I’m not down; I’m not depressed, I’m not overwhelmed thinking about what I have,” he said. “I’ve been given six to nine months to live, and I take it in stride, and I am going to fight until every breath is out of my body. I’m not giving up, and I’m remaining positive. I believe that you need to remain positive to beat this. And that’s what I continue to do.”
Full disclosure, I was Facebook friends with Popik. We met through the Rockin’ the Suburbs podcast, but we haven’t met in person. However, we did occasionally exchange messages and are both fans of the Smiths. I quoted him in an article for AARP the Magazine marking the 50th anniversary of punk rock and how bands like the Ramones, who got their start in New York punk club CBGB’s, are now played at sporting events in stadiums.
Bud Verge, a fellow Rockin’ the Suburbs listener, DJ on the Rockin’ the Suburbs internet radio station, and a former Baltimore Orioles coworker of Popik’s, reminisced about Popik in a private group chat he allowed us to share.
“One night, late in the O’s game, after multiple rain delays, I was home already as the box office was closed up and I usually watched the rest of the game on TV.. [My wife] Terrye mentioned Woody should play “Blame it on the Rain” by Milli Vanilli at the ballpark. I texted him and said Terrye wanted to hear the song. Not 5 minutes later, Bobby played it and we heard the song as the broadcast gave an update. Friend forever,” Verge wrote.
“Woody’s gift was that you knew he was gonna play a song anyway, but made it feel like he was playing it just for you.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.