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RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

G-Fafif Feb 16 2023 12:09 PM

The analyst who changed the way Mets fans understood baseball from 1983 to 1998 has died at 81. Four-decade player, too.

metsmarathon Feb 16 2023 12:14 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

damn. he was great, and really set the bar for future baseball analysts. at least in the humble opinion of my formative years. He wasn't as good, i don't think, once he moved on to fox, but damned if he and ralph didn't make for a terrific tv booth.

kcmets Feb 16 2023 12:22 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Phwam! RIP.

metirish Feb 16 2023 12:23 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

I'm so sad to read this , my early years of MLB fandom was with Tim doing games on FOX , absolutely loved him and learned a lot about a game I knew little about.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 16 2023 12:25 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

McCarver, I thought, was so much better than those who preceded him. Those were great Mets years, watching the powerhouse Davey Johnson Mets with McCarver, et. al. in the booth. The best ever, probably. On a personal level, and I don't exactly know why, but I'm deeply, deeply saddened to hear of this loss. For some unknown reason that I can't quite put my finger on, yet, McCarver's death is really making me sense my own mortality. More so than Seaver, for example. Almost to the point that I have a bad feeling in my stomach from learning this.

A Boy Named Seo Feb 16 2023 12:42 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

For some reason, I was surprised he was 81 already and then I remembered how old I am. Like mm, McCarver was a huge voice in my formative years as a Mets fan. Is McCarver on the Mets TV broadcasters Mt. Rushmore? He's gotta be on it or very close, right? Murphy Nelson Cohen McCarver Kiner FRAN HEALY (jk)

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2023 12:46 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Tim McCarver should be in the Mets Hall of Fame. Ralph was comatose throughout the 1982 season when he was partnered with Lorn Brown. Adding Tim to the broadcast team (and Steve Zabriskie too) really brought him back to life. The Mets became a lot of fun to watch, not only because of the great stuff that was happening in the field, but also because of the great stuff that was happening in the booth.

Marshmallowmilkshake Feb 16 2023 12:51 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Very distinctive voice and delivery. You always knew it was him.

metirish Feb 16 2023 01:02 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1626305197965299713[/TWEET]

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 16 2023 01:04 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

I agree with above, his hiring came as the Mets were going high class all the way. He was so astute he made everyone who listened to him smarter about baseball

Edgy MD Feb 16 2023 01:19 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Yeah, he had a combination of knowledge, style, and insight that's hard to equal. I associate him as much with the revitalization of the Mets brand as Johnson, Cashen, Doublepon, Gorman, etc. When he was announced as the new Mets announcer, my Dad said, "Oh, he got it — good for him." My Dad certainly didn't follow baseball as closely as I did, and I mostly knew McCarver as the guy who hit a grand slam on July 4, 1976, but got called out for passing Garry Maddox on the basepaths. I probably also had some inkling of his longtime association with Steve Carlton, but it surprised me that my Dad knew he was up for the job and I didn't. My Dad explained that McCarver had stayed at his hotel for a week before the interview, and had left behind several books he had read about public speaking, announcing, dialect, diction, and the like. Dad had tracked him down and told him the hotel still had some of his property, and McCarver thanked him and told him he was done with the books and that he could keep them or donate them to a library. Dad was impressed that the guy did all that professional research and came to the city a week early to get a feel for the town. Anyhow, he's always been on my shortlist for Mets Hall of Fame. I imagine most of us learned more about baseball from him than anybody. It always seemed funny that so many great New York baseball voices — McCarver, Bob Murphy, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell, Lindsey Nelson ... — were from the South.

A Boy Named Seo Feb 16 2023 01:21 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, he had a combination of knowledge, style, and insight that's hard to equal. I associate him as much with the revitalization of the Mets brand as Johnson, Cashen, Doublepon, Gorman, etc. When he was announced as the new Mets announcer, my Dad said, "Oh, he got it — good for him." My Dad certainly didn't follow baseball as closely as I did, and I mostly knew McCarver as the guy who hit a grand slam on July 4, 1976, but got called out for passing Garry Maddox on the basepaths. I probably also had some inkling of his longtime association with Steve Carlton, but it surprised me that my Dad knew he was up for the job and I didn't. My Dad explained that McCarver had stayed at his hotel for a week before the interview, and had left behind several books he had read about public speaking, announcing, dialect, diction, and the like. Dad had tracked him down and told him the hotel still had some of his property, and McCarver thanked him and told him he was done with the books and that he could keep them or donate them to a library. Dad was impressed that the guy did all that professional research and came to the city a week early to get a feel for the town. Anyhow, he's always been on my shortlist for Mets Hall of Fame. I imagine most of us learned more about baseball from him than anybody. It always seemed funny that so many great New York baseball voices — McCarver, Bob Murphy, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell, Lindsey Nelson ... — were from the South. What an incredible story

Lefty Specialist Feb 16 2023 01:53 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

He helped make the 80's fun. He meshed well with Ralph and Steve Zabriskie. He really did have that knack for calling what would happen before it did. He started to decline in the 90's, and he became repetitive, hammering on one theme to the point of annoyance. I fell into and out of love with him. But he was the voice of summer for a long time. RIP, Timmy.

metirish Feb 16 2023 01:54 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Very cool story, Edgy

Frayed Knot Feb 16 2023 02:04 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Edgy MD wrote: ... I mostly knew McCarver as the guy who hit a grand slam on July 4, 1976, but got called out for passing Garry Maddox on the basepaths. "I didn't pass him, he lapped me" was TMcC's explanation to the ump as to how he wound up on the wrong side of the fleet-footed Maddox.

whippoorwill Feb 16 2023 02:11 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Yep he made the good Mets years even more fun. I also liked him as a Phillies player when I was very young and just soaking up everything baseball that I could find.

kcmets Feb 16 2023 02:14 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

I have to clear my conscience on this sad day. I often complained that Tim over-did, over-analyzed, and over-Tim'd. A lot. I was wrong. And I'm never wrong sometimes.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2023 02:21 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

http://ultimatemets.com/cards/TimMcCarver1973.jpg>

Marshmallowmilkshake Feb 16 2023 02:25 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

That's an awesome story!

Edgy MD Feb 16 2023 02:37 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Tim being Tim, circa 1984. Never heard analysis like this before. It's far from standard now. [YOUTUBE]7OPqBnjGzII[/YOUTUBE]

MFS62 Feb 16 2023 03:00 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Seems we all learned something from Tim. I remember his insight about the third baseman "guarding the line" late in the game. Tim noted that if the third baseman plays in, then he is cutting down the angle and protecting against balls hit to his left as well as his right. It made sense, and when he said it, I wondered why no-one else had ever realized that. RIP Later

Edgy MD Feb 16 2023 04:59 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Tim dishes to Dave and Teri, 1987. [YOUTUBE]HSG1yBITeBk[/YOUTUBE]

G-Fafif Feb 16 2023 05:18 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

And this is still the game that Tim built.

whippoorwill Feb 16 2023 05:51 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Edgy MD wrote: Tim dishes to Dave and Teri, 1987. [YOUTUBE]HSG1yBITeBk[/YOUTUBE] Lol what was up with Teri? She seems in a huff

Edgy MD Feb 16 2023 07:17 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

She liked to cause trouble on the ol' Dave show.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2023 05:14 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

His baseball career spanned a large portion of the sport itself. He didn't quite go back to the segregation days (although did debut the same year the BoSox finally got their first black player) but did admit to growing up with the prejudices that his generation in places like Memphis were taught about black people*, something most people tend to hide or deny when they spend as much time in the public eye as he eventually did. He came of age in the pre-draft/bonus-baby era and was a bonus baby himself, something which gave him much higher initial status than that of Bob Gibson who took the then less common (particularly for black players) college route to MLB. Started in a 16-team/no-division era and was still in the game or in the booth through expansion to 30 teams and multiple playoff rounds, the creation of the player's union, the DH, Astroturf, and inter-league play. Fortunately for him he won't be alive during the permanent ghost-runner era - in fact it wouldn't surprise me if that's what killed him. Minutia: - playing in four-decades - the bicentennial grand slam that wasn't (although at least he got 3 RBIs, 2 more than Ventura was credited for) - his longtime association with two HoF pitchers - room-mates with Bob Uecker (now THAT must have been one funny-ass room) * A story McCarver tells on himself was of being on a team bus drinking an orange soda (not sure why I remember the flavor of the soda although I associate orange soda with the south) when Gibson asked if he could have a sip. McCarver said he looked at Gibson's big dark lips and thought about all the things he was taught about black people and the thought of getting the soda can back after one had taken a sip of it and stammered .... uh, I'll let you have the last part when I'm almost done. Gibson, who didn't really want the orange soda as much as he wanted to test this young white boy out, gave him a sly 'I got you' look. Obviously things got better from there.

MFS62 Feb 17 2023 07:51 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

And this is still the game that Tim built. Well said. Later

metirish Feb 17 2023 10:45 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/IABSociety/status/1626312830503776257[/TWEET] There's an Irish American Baseball HOF ☘️

kcmets Feb 17 2023 11:11 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Anyone know what Sean is up to these days?

metirish Feb 17 2023 11:17 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

=kcmets post_id=118464 time=1676657484 user_id=53] Anyone know what Sean is up to these days?

Florida last I heard , from someone that knows him

G-Fafif Feb 17 2023 12:09 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

From last April, re Shaun Clancy… https://phpbb3.ultimatemets.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29421&p=88100&hilit=Foley's+Publix#p88100

kcmets Feb 17 2023 12:29 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Thanks, G-F! Where else can one get important Metly answers to important Metly questions in under an hour but here? In mid-February!

Edgy MD Feb 17 2023 01:04 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Ralph was comatose throughout the 1982 season when he was partnered with Lorn Brown. Adding Tim to the broadcast team (and Steve Zabriskie too) really brought him back to life. The Mets became a lot of fun to watch, not only because of the great stuff that was happening in the field, but also because of the great stuff that was happening in the booth. Ralph becoming disengaged when his band broke up, but reluctantly revitalized after seeing an opportunity to join this new guy's act. That whole story is all captured here in a cool one minute and 29 seconds. [YOUTUBE]Xq5dnNpEud4[/YOUTUBE]

Benjamin Grimm Feb 17 2023 01:34 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

That was a delight to watch.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2023 02:25 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Probably hasn't been anything on Channel 9 as good since.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2023 02:32 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Frayed Knot wrote: Minutia: - playing in four-decades - the bicentennial grand slam that wasn't (although at least he got 3 RBIs, 2 more than Ventura was credited for) - his longtime association with two HoF pitchers - room-mates with Bob Uecker (now THAT must have been one funny-ass room) His dust-up with Deion Sanders

kcmets Feb 17 2023 03:55 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Frayed Knot wrote: Probably hasn't been anything on Channel 9 as good since. Made me tear up, But I'm a Mets mush sometimes...

metirish Feb 17 2023 04:21 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

That was amazing

The Hot Corner Feb 17 2023 04:51 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

I remember McCarver from his his national broadcasting stints as being one of the most knowledgeable and insightful announcers. He covered the game and educated the listeners without trying to make himself the focal point. He was truly one of the best. May he rest in peace.

stevejrogers Feb 21 2023 06:29 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Learn something new everyday. Tim McCarver made an album! [url]https://www.bizarrealbums.com/

Frayed Knot Feb 25 2023 04:10 PM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Tim McCarver made an album! [url]https://www.bizarrealbums.com/ Don McGee, host of WFUV's 'Mixed Bag' program as well as a big baseball/Mets fan, acknowledged the passing of McCarver on his Feb 18th program (just catching up to it now via station archives) and he played Timmy's version of THERE USED TO BE A BALLPARK HERE. He didn't announce the vocalist until after the set was complete but I certainly knew it wasn't Sinatra's version as I was listening. So while it was definitely a less than professional vocal, it at least wasn't awful. Maybe a C+ grade? The rest of the set, in an acknowledgement to the famous story about Gibson barking at McCarver to get back behind the plate during a mound visit, consisted of the Beatles GET BACK and Ray Charles' HIT THE ROAD JACK

metirish Feb 26 2023 07:04 AM Re: RIP Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

GKR had a really nice chat about Tim during the game yesterday evening, Keith remembered it was he that took Tim's roster spot when he got called up to the Cardinals.