Tim McCarver, two-time World Series champion and TV broadcaster, dies at 81

[Vintagedeputy]

I enjoyed him as a ballplayer, but his broadcasting to me was nauseating. I'll remember the good playing days though....RIP.

[Collectorsince62]

17 year old Tim McCarver plays his first home game. Wearing uniform #51 and leading off for the Cardinals he singles in the 1st and scores his first career run. He walks in the 2nd and singles again in the 4th as the Cards beat the Phillies 6-4. When he signed this scorecard, he opened it up and was commenting on what he remembered about that game. It was really fun to hear him reminisce. The first game I ever attended was at old Busch Stadium. Tim McCarver hit a home run off Sandy Koufax. I was hooked.

[Peter_Spaeth]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...ter-dies-at-81

What a picture of him and Gibson.

[FrankWakefield]

I'm maybe not remembering this correctly, but I recall Mike Shannon saying something once about back in the day, no one wanted to interrupt Bob Gibson when he was pitching. On a hot summer day in July or August, Gibson had gotten into a jam, in the late innings. Manager Schoendienst wanted someone to go talk to Gibson and settle him down, but Schoendienst would say something to a coach to go out and talk to Bob Gibson. It'd be high humidity and in the high 90s. No one wanted to go out there and interrupt Gibson . One day, when some coach was forced out to the mound, play stopped, the infielders and McCarver gathered at the mound as Bob Gibson glared at each of them. The coach tries to say something about how to pitch the next batter. McCarver says something, and Gibson looks at him and says "what the hell are you doing out here? The only thing you know about good pitching is that you can't hit it." The story went that McCarver turned and returned to the plate.

I'm annoyed with myself, I've been digging around trying to find a McCarver card. I know I have a near set of 1967 Topps, but can't find that binder tonight. and I have several 60's cards, I think 62, and I'm certain I have a 64, 65, 66... But I can't locate the box that they should be in. Grrrrr... I did find a Morris Berg business card indicating that he was with the Commerce Department in Washington DC, as well as two 90 year old golf cards depicting Bobby Jones. But no McCarver card. This thread needs a card.

Nice scorecard and ticket stubs, Collectorsince62!!!!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I'm maybe not remembering this correctly, but I recall Mike Shannon saying something once about back in the day, no one wanted to interrupt Bob Gibson when he was pitching. On a hot summer day in July or August, Gibson had gotten into a jam, in the late innings. Manager Schoendienst wanted someone to go talk to Gibson and settle him down, but Schoendienst would say something to a coach to go out and talk to Bob Gibson. It'd be high humidity and in the high 90s. No one wanted to go out there and interrupt Gibson . One day, when some coach was forced out to the mound, play stopped, the infielders and McCarver gathered at the mound as Bob Gibson glared at each of them. The coach tries to say something about how to pitch the next batter. McCarver says something, and Gibson looks at him and says "what the hell are you doing out here? The only thing you know about good pitching is that you can't hit it." The story went that McCarver turned and returned to the plate.

I'm annoyed with myself, I've been digging around trying to find a McCarver card. I know I have a near set of 1967 Topps, but can't find that binder tonight. and I have several 60's cards, I think 62, and I'm certain I have a 64, 65, 66... But I can't locate the box that they should be in. Grrrrr... I did find a Morris Berg business card indicating that he was with the Commerce Department in Washington DC, as well as two 90 year old golf cards depicting Bobby Jones. But no McCarver card. This thread needs a card.

Nice scorecard and ticket stubs, Collectorsince62!!!!

McCarver told a wonderful story about how he learned from Gibson to challenge his own prejudices. After a game, McCarver tells Gibson, a colored gentleman is waiting to see you. Gibson replies, oh, what color is he?

[ALR-bishop]

McCarver also told a story about going to the mound in a game after Gibson had issued a couple of walks "to calm him down". Gibson tells him, "McCarver get back behind the plate, the only thing you know about good pitching is that you can't hit it"

McCarver got to play on some great Cardinal teams, unlike his successor Ted Simmons

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

McCarver also told a story about going to the mound in a game after Gibson had issued a couple of walks "to calm him down". Gibson tells him, "McCarver get back behind the plate, the only thing you know about good pitching is that you can't hit it"

McCarver got to play on some great Cardinal teams, unlike his successor Ted Simmons

Right, Frank posted that above.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Collectorsince62

The first game I ever attended was at old Busch Stadium. Tim McCarver hit a home run off Sandy Koufax.

I have scored programs from 257 of the 397 games that Koufax pitched, and one of them happens to be your first game at Busch on June 21, 1963.

The other scorecard (with a ticket stub) is McCarver's first career HR on July 13, 1961 off Tony Cloninger.

Rest in Peace, Tim McCarver.

[ALR-bishop]

In 1963 and 1964 "old" Bush stadium was the formerly Sportsman's Park on Grand Avenue. In 1966 the Cardinals moved to the then "new" round Bush Stadium downtown. They moved across the street to their current Stadium in 2006. I attended my first World Series game in 1964 and second in 1967, and my last in game 6 in 2011.

[Collectorsince62]

[QUOTE=doug.goodman;2316183]I have scored programs from 257 of the 397 games that Koufax pitched, and one of them happens to be your first game at Busch on June 21, 1963.

Doug - I kept the scorecard and ticket stubs from that first game I ever attended and still have them. Koufax was one pitch away from a third straight shutout when McCarver homered. Musial then pinch hit and drew a walk. Sandy was taken out but Curt Flood grounded out to end the game. My Dad took me to that game because he wanted me to see Stan Musial play before he retired. To my everlasting chagrin, we left early and didn't see the McCarver homer or the Musial at bat. My Dad wanted to go to a nearby rib joint and beat the crowd. Ugh! So I never saw Musial play . . . but it made meeting him years later that much better.

[FrankWakefield]

Great memories, Collector!

I saw Mr. Musial in 1963. Dad wanted to get me to a game to see him, as did your Dad. And my Dad sometimes fell victim to the 'beat the crowd' crowd. I can't fault that...

And over the years, I've gotten quite a few people to a ball game, even though the closest teams are 4 hours away.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Collectorsince62

I kept the scorecard and ticket stubs from that first game I ever attended and still have them ... To my everlasting chagrin, we left early.

The thrill of victory ... the agony of defeat.