Jim Price, a radio commentator for the Detroit Tigers and a World Series winner, died on the night of Monday August 7th, 2023 at the age of 81.
After his last season as a player in 1971, the catcher became one of the first people to work as a voice for ESPN. In the early 1990s, he started to talk about the Tigers on TV, but then he switched to radio.
Before he became a sportscaster, Price was the Tigers’ backup catcher in 1968, when the team won the World Series. Price played for the Tigers for parts of five seasons, from 1967 to 1971, and hit.214 with 18 home runs.
Chris Ilitch, owner and CEO of the Detroit Tigers, said in a statement that everyone on the team was very sad to hear about Jim Price’s death.
Jim was a winner on the field, in the box, and in the community as a whole. Jim’s commitment to the Tigers and the city of Detroit is shown by the fact that he worked for the team for most of his life and did what he loved.
Check out some of the articles we’ve included in the obituary:
- Terri Belli Obituary: Gone But Not Forgotten
- Mark Margolis Obituary: Saying Goodbye to a Hollywood Icon!
Jim Price’s Legacy
Price was a well-liked member of the Tigers organization. He was a player and a goodwill ambassador in his community, and he also worked in the radio booth for more than 30 years.
Price worked with legendary Tigers announcers like Ernie Harwell and Frank Beckmann for 24 years. He also called games with the current Tigers play-by-play man, Dan Dickerson.
“This is such sad news,” Dickerson said in a statement Tuesday:
“Jim and I were together for 24 seasons, and experienced both ends of the spectrum with our beloved Tigers — from a tough season in the first year after Ernie retired, to two trips to the World Series. Jim helped get me through that first season, which made what happened three years later all the sweeter.”
Detroit Tigers Twitter post: We mourn the passing of Jim Price, a treasured member of the Tigers organization for decades. He spent all five years of his playing career wearing the Olde English ‘D’, including the 1968 World Series championship season.
We mourn the passing of Jim Price, a treasured member of the Tigers organization for decades.
He spent all five years of his playing career wearing the Olde English ‘D’, including the 1968 World Series championship season.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 8, 2023
During his time in the box, Price was best known for his folksy catchphrases. He would say “buggywhip” for a big hit, “yellowhammer” for a devastating curveball, and “the art of pitching” when a pitcher threw a gem.
Price and his wife, Lisa, also started a charity for people with autism called Jack’s Place in 2002. The charity was named after their son.
Price’s health was getting worse, so he missed a lot of Tigers games this season and hadn’t been on the road much since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy Dierks, a former player for the Tigers, has recently filled in on reports. This season, Bobby Scales and Cameron Maybin have also helped out.
Willie Horton, a Tigers special assistant and Price’s partner on the 1968 team, said:
“This is an incredibly sad day for the Tigers family,” “Jimmy was one of a kind, and one of the best ambassadors for the organization since he retired as a player. He was an incredible teammate and friend to so many, and his impact will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with Lisa and all of Jim’s family.”
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