Tim McCarver
James Timothy McCarver (October 16, 1941 – February 16, 2023) was an American professional baseball catcher, television sports commentator, and singer.[1][2] He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1959 to 1980 for four teams, spending almost all of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. A two-time All-Star, he helped the Cardinals to the 1964 World Series title, batting .478 in the Series, including a three-run home run in the tenth inning to win Game 5. In 1966, he became the first catcher since the 19th century to lead the National League (NL) in triples with 13. McCarver was runner-up for the 1967 NL Most Valuable Player Award, behind teammate Orlando Cepeda, after batting .295 and leading NL catchers in assists and fielding percentage.
Tim McCarver
.271
97
645
Traded to the Phillies after the 1969 season, he was later re-joined by pitcher and St. Louis teammate Steve Carlton, becoming his regular catcher as the team won three division titles from 1976 to 1978. After increased use as a pinch hitter in his last several seasons, in September 1980, McCarver became the 18th major league player to play in four decades.
After his playing career, McCarver became a television color commentator, most notably for Fox Sports after previous stints with the other three broadcast networks. He eventually set a record by calling 23 World Series as well as 20 All-Star Games, earning three Emmy Awards in the process. In 2012, McCarver was named the Ford C. Frick Award recipient. He was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2016,[3][4] and the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2017.
Playing career[edit]
Early life[edit]
McCarver was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended Christian Brothers High School. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. After playing in the minor leagues with the Keokuk Indians and the Rochester Red Wings, McCarver reached the Major Leagues for the first time at 17.[5]
McCarver spent the 1960 season with the Memphis Chicks, the 1961 season with the Charleston Charlies, and the 1962 season with the Atlanta Crackers, receiving brief promotions to the major leagues in the 1960 and 1961 seasons. In 1963, he was promoted to the Major Leagues for good.[5]
St. Louis Cardinals[edit]
McCarver hit the tie-breaking home run in the 10th inning, winning Game 5 of the 1964 World Series for the Cardinals. In 1966, McCarver was named to the All-Star Team, scored the winning run in the 10th inning of that 1966 All-Star Game, and became the first catcher to lead the National League in triples, with 13.[6] In 1967, he finished second to teammate Orlando Cepeda for the National League Most Valuable Player award.[7]
McCarver was a member of two World Series champion teams in St. Louis. He was the favorite catcher of the notoriously temperamental Bob Gibson, and he fostered a relationship with young pitcher Steve Carlton that would keep him in the Major Leagues later in his career. In 1968, McCarver was the Cardinals catcher as they won the NL pennant but were ultimately defeated by the Detroit Tigers in a seven-game World Series.[8]
Later career[edit]
After the 1969 season, the Cardinals traded McCarver, Curt Flood, Joe Hoerner, and Byron Browne to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Allen, Cookie Rojas, and Jerry Johnson.[9] On June 14, 1972, the Phillies traded McCarver to the Montreal Expos for John Bateman. The Expos used McCarver as an outfielder.[10] The Cardinals re-acquired McCarver from the Expos for Jorge Roque after the 1972 season.[11] The Boston Red Sox purchased McCarver from the Cardinals towards the end of the 1974 season.[12] The Red Sox released McCarver in June 1975.[13] He signed with the Phillies a week later.[14]
During his first stint with the Phillies, McCarver caught Rick Wise's no-hitter on June 23, 1971.[15][16] At the end of the season, the Phillies traded Wise to the Cardinals for Steve Carlton, reuniting McCarver with his former teammate. During the 1972 season, the Phillies traded McCarver to the Montreal Expos, where, on October 2, he caught the second of Bill Stoneman's two career no-hitters.[17] McCarver finished his career as Carlton's personal catcher for the Phillies in the late 1970s.[18]
McCarver retired after the 1979 season to begin a broadcasting career.[19] McCarver briefly returned to duty in September 1980,[20] becoming one of 31 players to appear in Major League games in four decades (1950s–1980s).
He caught 121 shutouts during his career, ranking him 9th all-time.[21]
Music career[edit]
On October 9, 2009, McCarver released a cover album of jazz standards entitled Tim McCarver Sings Songs from the Great American Songbook.[38][39]
Personal life[edit]
McCarver married his high school sweetheart, Anne, on December 29, 1964. They had two daughters.[5]
McCarver died of heart failure in Memphis, on February 16, 2023, at age 81.[40][25]
Baseball
Broadcasting
The minor league baseball stadium in Memphis was christened Tim McCarver Stadium in 1978 and [44] was replaced by a new downtown stadium (named AutoZone Park in a naming rights arrangement) in 2000.