Tim McCarver, a 21-year MLB veteran and Hall of Fame broadcaster, passed away on Thursday afternoon.
He was 81 years old.
McCarver was born in Memphis on October 16, 1941 and grew up in the city.
He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the University of Memphis and made his MLB debut on September 10, 1959 at the young age of 17.
He spent parts of 12 seasons in St. Louis, winning two World Series titles and helping the Cardinals reach the Fall Classic again in 1968.
He was also behind the plate for Bob Gibson‘s 17-strikeout performance in Game 1 of that series.
On Twitter, MLB paid their respects to the MLB legend and beloved broadcaster.
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
In addition to his time in St. Louis, McCarver played parts of nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and made brief stops with the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos.
McCarver was also a two-time All-Star.
Following the end of his playing career, McCarver became a broadcaster.
For several years, he worked alongside Joe Buck calling baseball games on FOX Sports, including postseason and World Series games.
He retired from FOX after the 2013 season and then joined the Cardinals broadcast team with Bally Sports Midwest.
The Hall of Fame broadcaster worked Cardinals telecasts from 2014-19.
He opted out of telecasts for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.
McCarver could often be seen on the field at Busch Stadium on Opening Day, standing amongst the Cardinals Hall of Famers and wearing the signature red jacket.
He was a beloved figure in baseball for several years and will be missed.
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