Tim McCarver, a two-time World Series winner and an award-winning announcer who was well-known across the country and in three Major League cities, passed away on Thursday in Memphis at the age of 81. Heart failure was the direct cause of death.
McCarver, who debuted in the Major Leagues with the Cardinals in 1959, retired after a career spanning seven decades. A 21-year Major League playing career was followed by a successful shift to broadcasting, where he won several awards and was widely regarded as baseball’s answer to football’s John Madden. McCarver had a knack of breaking down complex baseball concepts for the casual fan, and his English was flawless, though a little tinged with a nice Memphis drawl.
McCarver won an Emmy for his efforts in the booth, and in 2012 he was honoured with the Ford C. Frick Award from the Hall of Fame. To honour his contributions to sports broadcasting, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Source: CNN
Commissioner Rob Manfred stated in a statement, “Tim McCarver was an All-Star, a World Series Champion, a revered teammate, and one of the most important voices our game has known.” Over his 21-year career, Tim played an integral role for the Cardinals and the Phillies. His insightful analysis and meticulous attention to detail in the broadcast booth helped bring the players and coaches to the audience. Tim’s style improved the game-watching experience for viewers of the Mets, Yankees, and Cardinals on our largest stages.
Tim’s influence on sports broadcasting and his illustrious career in America’s pastime are appreciated by all of us at Major League Baseball. My heart goes out to Tim’s loved ones and all the fans who got their start watching our beautiful game thanks to him.
From 1980 to now, McCarver has provided analysis and play-by-play for the Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Cardinals, and Giants. McCarver’s meteoric rise to prominence came through his work as a commentator for the Mets, which led to a 28-year analyst career at ABC, CBS, and FOX, during which he called a record 24 World Series and 20 All-Star Games. In 1985, McCarver covered his first World Series game after Howard Cosell was called away, and in 2003, he broke Curt Gowdy’s record by reporting his 13th consecutive Fall Classic on national television.
About Tom Mccaver
On October 16, 1941, James Timothy McCarver entered the world. He, like many baseball commentators, spent time as a player before becoming an analyst. He was a Major League catcher for 21 years, playing for the Cardinals, the Phillies, the Expos, and the Red Sox. With the Cardinals, he had his greatest seasons and won the World Series in 1964 and 1967. McCarver had a breakout performance at the plate in Game 5 of the 1964 World Series against the Yankees, going 11 for 23 with five RBIs and the game-winning home run in the 10th inning. He even scored while stealing in Game 7. Even though the Cardinals lost the 1968 World Series to the Detroit Tigers in seven games, he went 9-for-27 with a home run and four RBIs, earning him his second All-Star nod and finishing second in National League MVP vote that season.
