How did Tim McCarver die? Cause of death explored as former MLB catcher and HOF broadcaster passes away at 81

Tim McCarver, a Hall of Fame broadcaster and former catcher, passed away in his home state of Tennessee. One of the few players to play in the MLB in four different decades, McCarver was recognizable to fans of varied ages.

McCarver was born in October 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee. He began playing baseball at Christian Brothers High School. It was there where he met his future wife, Anne. The two married in 1964 and remained together until his death nearly six decades later.

McCarver was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame as well as the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2012, he also received the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, one of the highest honors the institution can bestow on a broadcaster.

He passed away due to heart failure on February 16 in Memphis at the age of 81. He's survived by his wife and two daughters.

"Tim McCarver, a 21-year MLB veteran and longtime FOX Sports broadcaster, died Thursday. He was 81 years old." - @ Fox Sports: MLB

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Tim McCarver's early career

After emerging early as a top player on his high school team, Tim McCarver began to garner attention from big-league teams before he had even graduated. It soon became clear that the 6' 0" catcher had a promising career ahead of him.

McCarver was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals right out of high school. He made his first MLB appearance for the Cardinals in 1959 when he was just 17. In 1963, he made the starting lineup as a catcher and would never return to the minor leagues.

In 1966, McCarver hit .274/.319/.424 with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs. That year, he was named to the NL All-Star team and became the first catcher in league history to lead the league in triples, garnering 13 of them.

Before the 1970 season, McCarver was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He would spend a few seasons with the Boston Red Sox in the mid-1970s. However, McCarver eventually returned to the Phillies to end his career in 1980. At the time of his retirement, he had caught 121 shutouts in the MLB.

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What did Tim McCarver do after retirement?

Immediately following his playing career, McCarver embarked on a second occupation. He began working as a broadcaster for NBC Sports, occasionally covering the "Game of the Week" feature program.

He called the 1985 Kansas City Royals' World Series win for ABC. In the 1990s, he joined Joe Buck of the Fox Network. He and Buck covered every World Series for Fox between 2000 and 2013.

"Never forget when Tim McCarver predicted Luis Gonzalez's walk-off hit in the 2001 World Series. RIP" - @ Fox Sports: MLB

McCarver was lauded for his understanding of the game, particularly the dynamics between pitchers and catchers. Drawing on his decades of baseball experience and catching Hall of Famers, McCarver knew the game inside out.