Tim McCarver died at the age of 81. He was a former All-Star catcher and a long-time announcer for the World Series.
McCarver spent 21 MLB seasons playing for the Cardinals, Phillies, Expos, and Red Sox. He was a member of the Cardinals teams that won the World Series in 1964 and 1967. In 1966 and 1967, he was chosen to play in the All-Star game.
McCarver played in 1,909 regular-season games and hit.271 with 97 home runs and 645 RBIs. His WAR (wins above replacement) was 28.3 for his whole career.
He then became one of baseball’s best-known broadcasters. He called 24 World Series for ABC, CBS, and Fox and worked as a color analyst for the Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Cardinals.
McCarver said in 2012 after he got the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame,
We mourn the passing of Tim McCarver, an All-Star catcher and decorated baseball broadcaster for generations of fans. He was 81. https://t.co/af8eb0Yyuf pic.twitter.com/6P9LLlDMJD
— MLB (@MLB) February 16, 2023
“I think there is a natural bridge from being a catcher to talking about the view of the game and the view of the other players,” “It is translating that for the viewers.”
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Joe Buck was McCarver’s broadcast partner on Fox for 18 years. After McCarver’s last World Series call in 2013, Buck gave him a heartfelt farewell.
“As we say goodbye, I speak on behalf of Major League Baseball – and I know everybody at Fox – when I say thank you for the credibility you bring us night after night in October,” Buck said. “Personally, I’ll tell you that as a kid in our first World Series in 1996, scared to death, scared out of my wits, fearful of being found out as some fraud, as some broadcaster’s kid getting to do it, I looked to my right and knew that I was covered. Because of you. Just as my dad knew. You’re the best to ever do this in this sport and it has been an honor and a privilege.”
Rob Manfred, the commissioner of MLB, said something about McCarver’s legacy.
“Tim McCarver was an All-Star, a World Series Champion, a respected teammate, and one of the most influential voices our game has known,” Manfred said. “As a player, Tim was a key part of great Cardinals and Phillies teams in his 21-year career. In the booth, his analysis and attention to detail brought fans closer to our game and how it is played and managed. Tim’s approach enhanced the fan experience on our biggest stages and on the broadcasts of the Mets, the Yankees and the Cardinals.”
Tim McCarver’s death is a real loss for baseball fans, but he will always be remembered for the many memories he made and the adjustments he made to the sport. Follow our Twitter page for more updates.
