Tim McCarver has passed away

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

Even though his decline as an announcer is noted if you were hearing his voice the moment felt huge. People like to rag on announcers like Joe Morgan or McCarver or Joe Buck but there’s something awesome and nostalgic about watching an old game, even just a regular season Sunday Night or tational game and Pedro is on the mound and Buck and McCarver or Joe Morgan and Jon Miller (who is incredible) are on the call.

This reminds me, Apple and Amazon video have a series for sale called Baseball's Best. Each episode is a complete game broadcast. They're in standard definition, and available for $1.99 each. There are two Pedro games available: his relief appearance in the '99 ALDS, and the 17K 1-hitter against the Yankees in 1999. The latter is the Fox NY broadcast: McCarver does color. I haven't watched it in years, but that might change soon.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Even though his decline as an announcer is noted if you were hearing his voice the moment felt huge. People like to rag on announcers like Joe Morgan or McCarver or Joe Buck but there’s something awesome and nostalgic about watching an old game, even just a regular season Sunday Night or national game and Pedro is on the mound and Buck and McCarver or Joe Morgan and Jon Miller (who is incredible) are on the call.

To the bolded, I agree. He was the lead analyst for CBS and when Fox bought up the rights, he's the guy they poached for their lead team. Similar to the way FOX snapped up John Madden (and Pat Summerall) when they bought the NFL rights out from under CBS. They wanted some consistency in the transition and McCarver was that for baseball.

McCarver was very good at the job for a long time. Maybe he hung around for a bit too long in the end (and I did my share of bitching about his later years), but he was an all-time great.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Setting aside his announcing style, he clearly loved the game and that alone made him palatable behind the mic. He certainly had his perspective but I always felt as though he was inviting others in to something good he had found when discussing baseball.

RIP and gratitude for his role as part of our soundtrack of pure joy.

I think baseball in particular allows for this more than any other sport. It's a very strange sport with ebbs and flows, very specific regular commercial breaks, long stretches where nothing happens then moments where everything happens all at once.

He was a great fit for a sport with built-in time to chill and ride the vibes.

 

[Archer1979]

As mentioned earlier, McCarver was considered the John Madden of baseball when he hit the national scene, and rightfully so. He was really one of the better ones to weave his baseball stories with insight of the game. Biggest problem that I had when he first started doing Sox games was his story about joining the Sox on Labor Day weekend, getting shut out by the Orioles, and not seeing his team cross the plate the whole weekend.

Other than that, he also really was big during the Yankees run in the late 90's. So it may have been more timing than anything else when it comes down to why a lot of us weren't thrilled with his commentary.

But he was a top rate color man. May he Rest in Peace.

 

[cornwalls@6]

As mentioned earlier, McCarver was considered the John Madden of baseball when he hit the national scene, and rightfully so. He was really one of the better ones to weave his baseball stories with insight of the game. Biggest problem that I had when he first started doing Sox games was his story about joining the Sox on Labor Day weekend, getting shut out by the Orioles, and not seeing his team cross the plate the whole weekend.

Other than that, he also really was big during the Yankees run in the late 90's. So it may have been more timing than anything else when it comes down to why a lot of us weren't thrilled with his commentary.

But he was a top rate color man. May he Rest in Peace.

Agree with the bolded. I laugh now at my silliness in 2003/04 regarding his supposed pro-MFY/anti-Sox bias. That was all us, in our desperate, paranoid state of still chasing the holy grail. He was an excellent color guy, and refreshing reminder of life before the paid by the word babble-hounds we have with so many them now. There's been some great tributes this week on Mad Dog radio, with Buck, McDonough, and others. Don't know if they archive interviews, or for how long, but definitely worth checking out.

 

[Dotrat]

I have fond memories of other members lampooning him through the early, JV years of my membership here, and I spent many a broadcast rolling my eyes during his sunset years in the booth. But he not only loved the game he played, he inspired that love in others as well. That he did this by being both a good person and a fine teacher is that much sweeter for him and his legacy. RIP.

 

[chechusma]

Keith Olbermann on his podcast today devoted the first block of the show (usually reserved for political ranting in the manner of KO) to his friendship with McCarver, and how McCarver “saved” his love of baseball 40 years ago.

I know that YMMV on Olbermann, but I personally found it touching:

https://omny.fm/shows/countdown-with-keith-olbermann/2-17-23

 

[Zedia]

Fire Joe Morgan probably ruined McCarver for me as an announcer but I did enjoy the “Not So Great Moments in Sports” specials he did for HBO in the 80s. Some of them are on youtube:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjjpcQl7TTY&t=2795s