Former All-Star and Hall of Fame broadcaster Tim McCarver passed away Thursday at the age of 81 in Memphis, Tennessee. He spent 60 years working in the game of baseball, winning two World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals and covering 23 World Series as a broadcaster.
McCarver’s 21-Year Playing Career
Tim McCarver played 21 years in the Majors for the St Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Montreal Expos. He was a two-time All-Star with the Cardinals. He caught legends such as Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton. Known for his eye, he only struck out more than forty times in a season twice during his long career in which he hit .271.
Called 23 World Series
After his playing career, Tim McCarver called 23 World Series, mostly for FOX, during his broadcasting career. In 2001, during Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, McCarver famously called Luis Gonzalez‘ walk-off hit off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. McCarver told longtime partner Joe Buck that “Rivera throws inside to left-handers. Left-handers get a lot of broken-bat hits into shallow outfield, the shallow part of the outfield. That’s the danger of bringing the infield in with a guy like Rivera on the mound.” Moments later, Gonzalez hit an inside pitch to shallow left field, giving the World Series win to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Tim McCarver is survived by his daughters Kathy and Kelley, and grandchildren Leigh and Beau.
