Tim McCarver’s storied broadcasting career as a Major League Baseball game analyst might be over.
According to Dan Caesar of the St.Louis Post-Dispatch, McCarver likely won’t be in the St. Louis Cardinals TV booth this year and at 79-years-old, the former catcher may never return to the broadcast.
After leaving his position as a national game analyst alongside Joe Buck for FOX in 2013, McCarver joined FOX Sports Midwest in a part-time role the next season. He signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals last February to work around 30 games during the 2020 season, but McCarver opted out of baseball’s abbreviated schedule amid concern for the coronavirus pandemic.
With Cardinals broadcasters scheduled to call every game from St. Louis to limit travel, the commute would still be a difficult task for McCarver considering he resides in Florida. Although a decision on his future with the Cardinals hasn’t been made yet, McCarver isn’t scheduled to be part of their cast of broadcasting analysts as of now.
But McCarver did tell Caesar of the Post-Dispatch that he’s healthy and even received the first of two COVID-19 vaccine shots earlier this week.
“Everything is fine with me, I’m very healthy — and plan on keeping it that way,” McCarver said Thursday. “I just have to use common sense.”
Even though he’s vaccinated, the 79-year-old is unsure if he wants to return to the Cardinals broadcast booth, taking a wait and see approach on a decision he plans to make once COVID restrictions are lifted.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
I am sad that Tim McCarver may not return. He is honest which is refreshing and I enjoy hearing his insights and experiences as a player.