This was just released by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Tim McCarver, long-time MLB analyst for Fox Sports was named the 2012 Ford C. Frick winner for Broadcasting Excellence. Now McCarver and “Broadcasting Excellence” hardly go hand-in-hand. To me, the best moments for McCarver and “Broadcasting Excellence” are when he’s off the air.
For some reason, critics have raved about McCarver since he joined the New York Mets announcing team back in the 1980’s. He was originally part of the Philadelphia Phillies radio team but was dropped because the team didn’t think he was anything special. But when he moved to New York, suddenly the media press corps raved about him and he got a job with ABC in 1985 joining Al Michaels and Jim Palmer to form one of the most boring announcing teams of all-time. It was no fault of Al Michaels, but Palmer and McCarver could make an exciting game sound like a wake.
After ABC lost the MLB contract to CBS in 1989, McCarver was teamed with legitimate Broadcasting Hall of Famer Jack Buck from 1990-91 and then Sean McDonough from 1992-93.
McCarver rejoined ABC for the ill-fated Baseball Network from 1994-95, calling three games of the 1995 World Series with Michaels and Palmer.
Then in 1996, McCarver was hired by Fox Sports and with Joe Buck, formed one of the worst announcing teams ever. They have called the World Series in 1996, 1998, and from 2000 until the present.
Throughout his broadcasting career, McCarver has been verbose, dry, humorless and Master of the Obvious. There used to be a very funny “ShutUpTimMcCarver.com” website that compiled some of his worst statements over the years (i.e., “A walk is as good as a home run”), but that is no longer up and running.
Fans all over the country have disliked McCarver’s commentary, but he continues to be overrated by media critics and this award from the Baseball Hall of Fame not only is undeserved, but continues the inexplicable love affair with an analyst who’s time has come not only to leave the booth, but the game entirely.
I give you the press release from the Baseball Hall of Fame.
TIM McCARVER NAMED 2012 FORD C. FRICK AWARD WINNER FOR BROADCASTING EXCELLENCE
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Tim McCarver, who has served as a national analyst on networks for three decades and simultaneously shined as part of broadcast teams with four big league clubs, has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
McCarver becomes the second primary television analyst to win the Frick Award, joining Tony Kubek, who received the honor in 2009. McCarver will be honored as part of Hall of Fame Weekend 2012, July 20-23, in Cooperstown, New York.
“Tim McCarver has been the face and voice of baseball’s biggest moments on national television,” said Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson. “His wit and intuition, combined with his passion for the game and his down-home style, delivers a trusted insight for viewers. Tim’s journey in reaching baseball broadcasting’s highest honor has connected generations of New York Mets fans as well as audiences across the country for more than 30 years.”
Born Oct. 16, 1941 in Memphis, Tenn., McCarver was a gifted high school athlete who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after graduation in 1959. Scouted by Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey, McCarver debuted in the major leagues the year he signed at the age of 17, and by 1963 was the Cardinals’ starting catcher. The next season, McCarver helped the Cardinals win the World Series title, hitting .478 in St. Louis’ seven-game victory over the Yankees.
McCarver remained with the Cardinals through 1969, earning two All-Star Game selections while finishing second in the National League MVP voting in 1967. That season, McCarver and the Cardinals won the World Series, and the following year St. Louis again won the National League pennant. McCarver was traded to the Phillies following the 1969 season and spent 11 more seasons in the majors with the Red Sox, Expos, Cardinals and Phillies. He retired following the 1980 season.
Almost immediately after his retirement, McCarver began calling Phillies games for WPHL in Philadelphia. He moved on to the Mets in 1983, where he worked at WOR as the team’s primary television analyst through 1998. During this time, McCarver debuted on NBC’s Game of the Week before serving on ABC’s baseball coverage from 1984-89.
When CBS took over the World Series package in 1990, McCarver teamed with Jack Buck – the 1987 Frick Award winner – and later Sean McDonough from 1990-93. He broadcast national games on The Baseball Network from 1994-95, before joining FOX in 1996 when that network took over the World Series rights. Throughout much of that time, McCarver continued to broadcast for teams, including the Yankees (1999-2001) and the Giants (2002). McCarver also covered the 1988 Winter Olympic Games for ABC and served as an anchor for CBS’s coverage of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. He has won six national Emmy Awards for “Best Sportscaster/Analyst.”
McCarver will be honored at the Hall of Fame’s Awards Presentation on Saturday, July 21 in Cooperstown, along with 2012 J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner Bob Elliott, who was announced on Tuesday. Ron Santo, who was elected on Monday by the Golden Era Committee, will be inducted as part of Hall of Fame Ceremonies on July 22, along with any electees who emerge from 2012 Baseball Writers’ Association of America election, to be announced Jan. 9.
McCarver was chosen from a list of 10 finalists selected in October, featuring three fan selections from an online vote and seven broadcasters chosen by a research committee from the Cooperstown-based museum. The final ballot contained a mix of pioneers and current-day broadcasters: Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Tom Cheek, Ken Coleman, Jacques Doucet, Bill King, Tim McCarver, Graham McNamee, Eric Nadel and Mike Shannon. Cardenas, Doucet, McCarver, Nadel and Shannon were the living candidates. In September, a total of 37,212 votes were cast in the Museum’s online fan poll for inclusion on the final 10-name ballot, with Shannon, Cheek and Doucet as the top three fan poll selections.
The 20-member electorate, comprised of the 15 living Frick Award recipients and five broadcast historians/columnists, includes Frick honorees Marty Brennaman, Jerry Coleman, Gene Elston, Joe Garagiola, Jaime Jarrin, Milo Hamilton, Tony Kubek, Denny Matthews, Jon Miller, Felo Ramirez, Vin Scully, Lon Simmons, Bob Uecker, 2011 Frick Award winner Dave Van Horne and Bob Wolff, and historians/columnists Bob Costas (NBC), Barry Horn (Dallas Morning News), Stan Isaacs (formerly of NY Newsday), Ted Patterson (historian) and Curt Smith (historian).
The Ford C. Frick Award is voted upon annually and is named in memory of the sportswriter, radio broadcaster, National League president and Baseball commissioner. The complete list of recipients includes:
FORD C. FRICK AWARD RECIPIENTS
1978
Mel Allen 1989
Harry Caray 2001
Felo Ramirez
Red Barber 1990
By Saam 2002
Harry Kalas 1979
Bob Elson 1991
Joe Garagiola 2003
Bob Uecker 1980
Russ Hodges 1992
Milo Hamilton 2004
Lon Simmons 1981
Ernie Harwell 1993
Chuck Thompson 2005
Jerry Coleman 1982
Vin Scully 1994
Bob Murphy 2006
Gene Elston 1983
Jack Brickhouse 1995
Bob Wolff 2007
Denny Matthews 1984
Curt Gowdy 1996
Herb Carneal 2008
Dave Niehaus 1985
Buck Canel 1997
Jimmy Dudley 2009
Tony Kubek 1986
Bob Prince 1998
Jaime Jarrin 2010
Jon Miller 1987
Jack Buck 1999
Arch McDonald 2011
Dave Van Horne 1988
Lindsey Nelson 2000
Marty Brennaman 2012
Tim McCarver Voters were asked to base their selections on the following criteria: longevity; continuity with a club; honors, including national assignments such as the World Series and All-Star Games; and popularity with fans. To be considered, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two.
I have pretty much agreed with most all of the choices, but I vehemently protest this year’s recipient.
