Tigers mourn loss of longtime broadcaster Jim Price
DETROIT — Jim Price, who adopted a profession as a Tigers backup catcher with a 31-year tenure as a beloved voice broadcasting Tigers video games on radio and tv, has handed away at age 81.
“All of us with the Detroit Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of Jim Price’s passing,” stated Tigers chairman and CEO Chris Ilitch. “Jim was a champion on the field, in the broadcast booth, and throughout the community. That Jim was with the organization for much of his life, doing what he loved, is such a powerful sign of his dedication and loyalty to the Tigers and the city of Detroit. Those are among the many reasons Jim was one of my mother and father’s favorite people, and they had such a strong relationship for many years. The thoughts of my family, and everyone across baseball, are with Jim’s wife, Lisa, and the entire Price family.”
Born in 1941 in Harrisburg, Pa., Price signed with the Pirates out of highschool and spent seven years of their farm system earlier than the Tigers bought his rights and introduced him as much as pair with All-Star Bill Freehan.
Price performed 5 years in Detroit, hitting 18 house runs with 71 RBIs to go together with a .214 profession common. His second profession house run was a walk-off homer to beat the White Sox at Tiger Stadium on Aug. 21, 1968, and he performed within the Tigers’ World Series victory over the Cardinals that fall.
Price went into business after his taking part in profession resulted in 1971 however dabbled in broadcasting through the years as a approach to keep concerned within the recreation. He joined the Tigers after Mike Ilitch bought the membership within the early Nineties, and he grew to become a part of the workforce’s new cable broadcast workforce alongside former Tigers nice Jim Northrup, Detroit broadcasting legend Frank Beckmann and later the nice Ernie Harwell, who had referred to as Price’s video games as a participant.
The Price-Harwell partnership carried over to over-the-air tv, then to radio, the place they labored collectively from the late Nineties till Harwell’s retirement in 2002. Though Price was properly generally known as an analyst, he would additionally do play-by-play for components of video games. Once Dan Dickerson took over major play-by-play duties in 2003, he and Price grew to become a well-recognized soundtrack for summers in Michigan because the Tigers rose from 119 losses in 2003 to the World Series in 2006 after which a decade as perennial contenders. Price, true to his first career, would check with catchers and their tools as “the tools of intelligence” quite than the instruments of ignorance, because the oft-used saying went. Every on-air point out of a city or metropolis in Michigan, giant or small, would deliver a point out of “nice area” from Price. His broadcasting type and persona fostered such a following {that a} Jim Price Fan Club started.
“This is such sad news,” Dickerson stated in an announcement. “Jim and I have been collectively for twenty-four seasons, and skilled each ends of the spectrum with our beloved Tigers — from a tricky season within the first 12 months after Ernie retired, to 2 journeys to the World Series. Jim helped get me via that first season, which made what occurred three years later all of the sweeter.
“My favourite reminiscences working with Jim have been the times when Al Kaline would cease within the sales space — and I’d get to listen to them inform tales, swap some tall tales, simply make one another snort about one thing from the previous, or present day. The ’68 workforce was my workforce — the workforce that bought me hooked on baseball, and I beloved listening to all concerning the wildly totally different personalities that made up that workforce. And studying about issues just like the origins of Jim’s well-known ‘Yellowhammer’ — his colourful description of a very good breaking ball. Jim stated it got here from teammate Pat Dobson and was named after a fowl. So sooner or later, we seemed it up — and positive sufficient, a Yellowhammer is a fowl that’s identified for its capacity to sharply dart down and away, identical to a very good curveball.
“We both got such a kick out of discovering that, and it always added to the moment whenever Jim would break it out — and then we could share a laugh, knowing the history behind the word. ‘Buggywhip,’ ‘Qualify the speed of the runner,’ ‘Cut the pie,’ ‘Yellowhammer’ — these folksy ‘Jim-isms’ were what made him such a fan favorite. As well as the way he connected us to the past, and to one of the greatest teams [he always said ‘the greatest’] in franchise history. Every time I see a good curveball, I can’t help but think of Jim. I’m sure he won’t mind if I break out the occasional yellowhammer when I do. He will be missed.”
Price was additionally an lively voice in the neighborhood, not only for the Tigers causes however for autism, a trigger near his coronary heart. Jack’s Place for Autism, named after Price’s son, supplies sources, companies, packages and assist for households to create a nurturing atmosphere for kids and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Tigers made Autism Awareness Day an annual occasion at Comerica Park.
“This is an incredibly sad day for the Tigers family,” stated Price’s Tigers teammate and 1968 World Series champion Willie Horton. “Jimmy was one of a kind, and one of the best ambassadors for the organization since he retired as a player. He was an incredible teammate and friend to so many, and his impact will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with Lisa and all of Jim’s family.”
Price handled well being points lately, together with a number of battles with most cancers that he fought and gained. He started to pare again his broadcast schedule lately, specializing in house video games, however quietly took absences from video games at Comerica Park this summer time. He was on the air with Greg Gania for the Tigers’ mixed no-hitter towards the Blue Jays on July 8, his next-to-last recreation.
“He’s given almost all of his adult life to the Tigers, as a player, as a broadcaster,” stated supervisor A.J. Hinch, who performed with the Tigers with Price on the decision in 2003. “He’s done so much for the organization and throughout the game. Sad to get that news today. We’ll think of his family and all the Tiger fans who loved him.”
