Memphis native Tim McCarver, an All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster, dies at 81
Tim McCarver, a former Major League Baseball player and announcer, died Thursday in Memphis due to heart failure, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced.
Born and raised in Memphis, McCarver was 81.
A three-sport athlete, McCarver graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1959. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals and played minor league baseball in Memphis the next year. McCarver, a catcher, took over full-time behind the plate in 1963. His 21-year career was highlighted by two World Series championships and two MLB All-Star Game appearances.
After additionally playing for Philadelphia, Montreal and Boston, McCarver slid into the broadcast booth, lending his voice to 23 World Series and 20 All-Star Games during stints at ABC, CBS and FOX. He was the recipient of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting in 2012. Following his days at FOX, McCarver called about three dozen games a year for the Cardinals’ TV network.
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In 1977, the former minor-league home of the Memphis Blues at the Fairgrounds was renamed Tim McCarver Stadium. He was part of the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame's inaugural induction class in 2019
“Tim McCarver was an All-Star, a World Series Champion, a respected teammate, and one of the most influential voices our game has known," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a news release. "In the booth, his analysis and attention to detail brought fans closer to our game and how it is played and managed."
Evan Barnes contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tim McCarver, All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster, dies
