Mariano Rivera isn’t the only person who will participating in his last All-Star Game Tuesday in New York.
It’s also the grand finale for Tim McCarver.
However, unlike Rivera, who will receive a huge ovation when he enters the game, Fox isn’t planning any tributes to the retiring McCarver on what will be his 22nd and last All-Star telecast.
Joe Buck said he would feel a sharp pain in his side courtesy of McCarver if he started waxing poetic about his long-time partner.
“I have a song I’ve written and will perform in the eighth inning,” Buck joked.
Seriously, Buck said, “No, we won’t go there. Tim would not be into that.”
It has been a remarkable run. It dates back to 1966, when McCarver played in the first of two All-Star Games as a player. Then in 1986, he called his first All-Star Game for ABC.
I asked McCarver to reflect back on some of his All-Star memories. He got some help from Buck, who recalled a special moment they shared together at the 1999 All-Star Game in Boston.
As a player: “The team in 1966 had Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron hitting one through three in the lineup and Sandy Kofax pitching in his last All-Star Game start. Tony Perez won the 15-inning game in 1967 and Tom Seaver finished it. I faced Tom Seaver for about 13 years after that game and I don’t think I ever saw him throw any harder. He was young, strong as a bull and my hand hurt for about two weeks after that. That’s a fact.“
As a broadcaster: “The 15-inning game in Yankee Stadium to send the Grand Old Lady on her way in 2008 was just a tremendous game, the longest game in All-Star Game history. We were on the edge of our seats, as I’m sure a lot of fans were throughout. That game as a whole stands out to me because of the venue. The old Yankee Stadium. That game was the most enjoyable and the longest of all our games. It sure didn’t seem like the longest as it was so exciting.”
Buck on the 1999 All-Star Game in Boston: “The Ted Williams moment at Fenway Park. Both Tim and I were stranding in the booth as Ted Williams was making his way around the warning track and in the strongest motion took the cap off of his head and lifted it up to the fans. Our producer was telling me to talk and I couldn’t speak. I was so choked up. Thank god I didn’t because Tim and I would’ve ruined the moment. It was so powerful and to also be quiet and let the natural audio of Ted Williams talking to Tony Gwynn and Mark McGuire and the other guys who just naturally congregated around him. That happened organically and we stayed with it. We were supposed to go to a commercial break and it was one of the great calls by a great producer in Mike Weisman to stay with that moment. Had we gone to commercial that moment after the ceremonial first pitch would have been on replay but instead we got it live.”
McCarver on ’99: “I think that emotion then carried through to the game as Pedro Martinez started that game and struck of five of the six hitters he faced. It was a phenomenal performance on a phenomenal night.”