Tim McCarver oral history interview, 1967 or 1968
Tim McCarver oral history interview
Date1967 or 1968
DescriptionAn interview of Tim McCarver that was conducted by the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis, Missouri. Content of the interview include:
Side One -- Track 1 - On being known as Tim his whole life, even though his actual name was James; tougher to be a good hitter when you're a catcher because there is quite a strain on your legs and your whole body when you're catching, especially in a hot town like St. Louis; been lucky to avoid injuries, only one split finger in the Minor Leagues (00:00:00 to 00:01:21.5)
Track 2 - On starting out in Keokuk, IA after he was signed out of Memphis; from there spent part of ‘59-‘6 with St. Louis; first complete year in the Minor Leagues was with Atlanta and then was called up to St. Louis in '63 and has been there ever since; still lives in Memphis in the off season (00:01:21.5 to 00:02:04)
Track 3 - On outside interests, owning a restaurant in Memphis and attending school at Memphis State University in the off season, studying marketing; enjoys quail and duck hunting (00:02:04 to 00:02:49)
Track 4 - On controlling his temper when he's behind the plate, not wanting to be thrown out of the ball game because it hurts your team (00:02:49 to 00:03:21)
Track 5 - Family joins him during the summer and spring training; they look forward to spring training, the physical work is tough on the body, but his wife and family, one little girl and one on the way, go with him to spring training, they spend time on the beach and in the nights; hoping for a healthy baby; happy with another little girl; if he had a boy, wouldn't encourage him to be a ballplayer unless that was what he wants, would never push his children to do what he does; child should decide for himself (00:03:21 to 00:05:08.5)
Track 6 - On being the players' representative for the Cardinals, having one of the highest paid ball clubs in baseball, management has been tremendous from Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst right on down, they have been fabulous; the improvements that have been made even in his short baseball career have been fantastic; on needing to improve certain areas in baseball, just like any other business; young ballplayers have it tough in terms of salary, but are expected to keep up with the Major League way of living, one area to be improved; travel has improved recently; wasn't married until after the Series in '64, didn't want to get married young; married at 23, but wanted to plant his feet firmly in the big leagues before he got married (00:05:08.5 to 00:07:56)
Track 7 - On always liking the fans, like to kibbitz with them in a friendly way, but when you're fighting for the pennant, don't have as much time, having a lot of women fans, try to treat them all with courtesy and respect; doesn't mind signing autographs; Stan Musial was always an example to all of the younger players, he never was overloaded that he couldn't stop and sign an autograph for anybody that would ask him, a pretty good policy (00:07:56 to 00:09:26)
Track 8 - We have a beautiful addition to the great city of St. Louis with this new stadium that has been built, the fans should appreciate it and know what they have, so many cities striving for even half of what St. Louis has; they are mighty lucky to have what they have (00:09:36 to 00:10:20)
Side One -- Track 1 - On being known as Tim his whole life, even though his actual name was James; tougher to be a good hitter when you're a catcher because there is quite a strain on your legs and your whole body when you're catching, especially in a hot town like St. Louis; been lucky to avoid injuries, only one split finger in the Minor Leagues (00:00:00 to 00:01:21.5)
Track 2 - On starting out in Keokuk, IA after he was signed out of Memphis; from there spent part of ‘59-‘6 with St. Louis; first complete year in the Minor Leagues was with Atlanta and then was called up to St. Louis in '63 and has been there ever since; still lives in Memphis in the off season (00:01:21.5 to 00:02:04)
Track 3 - On outside interests, owning a restaurant in Memphis and attending school at Memphis State University in the off season, studying marketing; enjoys quail and duck hunting (00:02:04 to 00:02:49)
Track 4 - On controlling his temper when he's behind the plate, not wanting to be thrown out of the ball game because it hurts your team (00:02:49 to 00:03:21)
Track 5 - Family joins him during the summer and spring training; they look forward to spring training, the physical work is tough on the body, but his wife and family, one little girl and one on the way, go with him to spring training, they spend time on the beach and in the nights; hoping for a healthy baby; happy with another little girl; if he had a boy, wouldn't encourage him to be a ballplayer unless that was what he wants, would never push his children to do what he does; child should decide for himself (00:03:21 to 00:05:08.5)
Track 6 - On being the players' representative for the Cardinals, having one of the highest paid ball clubs in baseball, management has been tremendous from Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst right on down, they have been fabulous; the improvements that have been made even in his short baseball career have been fantastic; on needing to improve certain areas in baseball, just like any other business; young ballplayers have it tough in terms of salary, but are expected to keep up with the Major League way of living, one area to be improved; travel has improved recently; wasn't married until after the Series in '64, didn't want to get married young; married at 23, but wanted to plant his feet firmly in the big leagues before he got married (00:05:08.5 to 00:07:56)
Track 7 - On always liking the fans, like to kibbitz with them in a friendly way, but when you're fighting for the pennant, don't have as much time, having a lot of women fans, try to treat them all with courtesy and respect; doesn't mind signing autographs; Stan Musial was always an example to all of the younger players, he never was overloaded that he couldn't stop and sign an autograph for anybody that would ask him, a pretty good policy (00:07:56 to 00:09:26)
Track 8 - We have a beautiful addition to the great city of St. Louis with this new stadium that has been built, the fans should appreciate it and know what they have, so many cities striving for even half of what St. Louis has; they are mighty lucky to have what they have (00:09:36 to 00:10:20)
Object numberBL-2001-00092-005
Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer
McCarver, Tim
Subject
McCarver, Tim
Classificationsaudio/visual materials
Collection NumberBA RMA 003 St. Louis Cardinals oral history collection
Dimensions7.17592592592593E-03
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Object number: BL-2001-00092-017
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
1968 February 08
Object number: BL-2001-00092-016
Schoendienst, Red, 1923-2018
circa 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-010
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
1967 or 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-015
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
circa 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-008
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
circa 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-007
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
1967 or 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-001
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
circa 1968