Shenk: Tim McCarver was the game's version of John Madden

February 20, 2023

Truly a Baseball Treasure

By Larry (Baron) Shenk

Philadelphia Phillies

James Timothy McCarver carved out a legendary career both on the field and in the broadcast booth over six decades, truly a baseball treasure. He died at age 81 in his hometown of Memphis on Feb. 16.

He wore a major league uniform for four decades, 21 years to be specific. He played in three World Series. As a broadcaster he blew those numbers out of the batter’s box. Tim worked postseason on network television for 29 consecutive years, including 23 World Series. Both are records for an analyst. Evidently, he was doing something right.

Playing Career

Signed by the Cardinals ($75,000) on June 8, 1959, when he was 17 years old after graduating from Christian Brothers High in Memphis, Tenn. That same summer he played for class-D Keokuk and triple-A Rochester before making his major league debut as a pinch hitter against the Braves in Milwaukee on Sept. 10 ... He was behind the plate for the next three games, including catching Bob Gibson for the first time. “I went to the mound to talk with Gibbie,” Tim remembered. “He glared at me. What do you want? The only thing you know about pitching it is hard to hit.” ... Played in three World Series with St. Louis, winning two ... Traded to the Phillies following the 1969 season ... Caught Rick Wise’s 1971 no-hitter in Cincinnati ... Between 1972 and his final season (1979) he played for the Expos, Cardinals, Red Sox and back with the Phillies in 1975 ... Played on the 1976-77-78 division champion Phillies. Was signed to a contract on Sept. 1, 1980, with the Phillies and appeared in six games to become the first four-decade catcher ... Finished with a .271 lifetime average for 1,909 games ... Two-time All-Star with St. Louis.

Broadcasting Career

When McCarver was winding down his playing career, Bill Giles (Phillies executive vice president) asked Timmy if he had any interest in a broadcasting career. He did and started with Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Andy Musser and Chris Wheeler in 1980, working on TV ... After two seasons with the Phillies, he moved the New York Mets (1983-98), New York Yankees (1999-2001) and San Francisco Giants (2002). He also broadcast nationally with ABC, CBS, NBC, The Baseball Network and FOX, winning three Emmy Awards ... Acclaimed as baseball’s best analyst, the John Madden of baseball ... His final World Series telecast was 2013, Game 6 in which Boston defeated St. Louis ... Honoured with the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence in 2012 ... Part-time analyst on Cardinals’ FOX Sports Network, 2014-19 ... Hosted the nationally syndicated Tim McCarver Show, 2000-17.

Hall of Fame lefty Steve Carlton, left, with his personal catcher, Hall of Fame broadcaster Tim McCarver

Tim and Lefty

As a St. Louis rookie, Carlton once displayed his mindset to McCarver who loved to tell the story, “I was shaving after a game when I realized somebody was standing behind me. It was Steve, this tall skinny kid with a big Adam’s apple. He looked me in the eye and said, ‘You should call more breaking pitches.’ I lost it. ‘Who do you think you are telling me how to call a game?’ After being released by Boston in 1975, Phillies GM Paul Owens brought him back to the Phillies. Tim evolved into “Carlton’s catcher.” From 1976 through most of 1979, McCarver was in the lineup when Carlton started. At one point, he caught 90 consecutive Carlton starts. Lefty’s record during that stretch: 48-26. Overall, with the Phillies, Carlton was 81-45 with McCarver behind the plate.

Was it the case that Carlton was more comfortable throwing to McCarver? “No, not really,” said Tim. “It was a difference of opinion with many people. After having faced Lefty and having talked to hitters, I knew the slider was his best pitch. Others felt he should throw more fastballs, but the hitters told me the slider was the killer. If you recall, a lot of hitters would shake their heads after swinging at that pitch.”

Later on Tim kidded, “When Lefty and I leave this world, they should bury me 60 feet, six inches from him.”

Phun Phacts

**When Tim caught his first pro game in the minors in 1959, broadcaster Brent Musburger was umping in the class-D league. When the Phillies honoured Tim during the 2012 alumni weekend, McCarver threw out the first ball. Carlton was the catcher and Musburger, the umpire.

**He hit an inside-the-park grand slam with the Cardinals and a “single” grand slam with the Phillies. With the bases loaded, he homered into the RF seats. But he passed Garry Maddox while rounding first base and was credited with a single and three RBIs, 1976 in Pittsburgh.

**He and fellow catcher Mike Ryan each broke a finger on their right hand in the same inning (sixth) in San Francisco in 1970. Both wound up in the hospital and on the disabled list. “When I got to the hospital,” McCarver recalled, “the nurse said, ‘We’ve been waiting for you Mr. Ryan.’ I said, “No, I’m McCarver. Ryan is catching at Candlestick, she said, ‘Ryan is supposed to be on his way here with a broken hand.’ I just stood there and looked at her.”

**Phillie Phanatic made its debut in April 1978. McCarver joined the new mascot on Channel 6’s Captain Noah Show, Phanatic’s first public appearance.

**Ballpark in Memphis was named Tim McCarver Field in 1977.

**Small talk was not Tim’s cup of tea, especially the first day of spring training. Remember him passing out a business card one year in Clearwater. “Had a good winter,” “Family is fine,” “Drove here from Memphis,” and “I’m ready to go.”