A Sense of Doubt blog post #3096 - "Nice Area" - RIP Jim Price - Detroit Tigers Catcher and Broadcaster
Deaths of key figures in my life are coming in bunches now.
Price was the back-up catcher to Bill Freehan on that 1968 World Series winning Detroit Tigers team. He had many memorable moments, including a walk-off at an important date in the pennant race leading up to the playoffs.
For years, I found him incredibly annoying. He would say "nice area" any time any city or location was mentioned. This was his running joke with Harwell as the great broadcaster would always assign a hometown to any Tigers fan who caught a foul ball followed by Price's "Nice Area."
Here was a sweet man who loved Baseball, loved the Detroit Tigers, had great (though somewhat old school) knowledge of the game, and a wonderful charity -- Jack's Place for Autism, in honor of his son.
He's part of the nostalgia and old school feelings of Baseball that radiate from my childhood with the AM transistor radio in its fake leather (plastic) pouch under my pillow as I fell asleep to the sounds of Tigers baseball, games that usually went past my bedtime, even in the summer.
Thank you Jim Price. Your love for Baseball and the joy it brings was infectious.
I am sorry I was ever irritated with you.
We mourn the passing of Jim Price, a treasured member of the Tigers organization for decades.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 8, 2023
He spent all five years of his playing career wearing the Olde English ‘D’, including the 1968 World Series championship season.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38157960/jim-price-former-detroit-tigers-catcher-analyst-dies-81
Jim Price, former Tigers catcher and analyst, dies at 81
DETROIT -- Jim Price, a former Detroit Tigers catcher who played on their 1968 championship team and a broadcast analyst for decades, has died. He was 81.
The Tigers announced his death Tuesday and had a moment of silence before their game against the Minnesota Twins. No cause of death was given.
Price played for the Tigers from 1967 to 1971, backing up All-Star and Gold Glove-winning catcher Bill Freehan. He hit .214 with 18 homers and 71 RBIs in 261 career games and played for Detroit's 1968 World Series championship team.
He began working as an analyst on radio broadcasts for the Tigers in 1998 and later was a part of their TV coverage.
Price, who had battled cancer since 2008, called Detroit's combined no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 8 and did his final broadcast the next day.
Price, who was from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, played three sports at Hershey High School and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 after turning down scholarship offers to play college football.
Price and his wife, Lisa, started a nonprofit foundation called Jack's Place -- named after their son, who was diagnosed with autism, to provide services for people and families affected by the neurological disorder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2023/08/longtime-tigers-broadcaster-passes-away-at-81.html
Longtime Tigers broadcaster Jim Price passes away at 81
- Published: Aug. 08, 2023, 3:02 p.m.
Former Tigers player and longtime broadcaster Jim Price passed away on Aug. 7, 2023, at the age of 81. (Photo used with permission, courtesy of Ilitch Companies)
DETROIT -- Jim Price, a catcher on the Detroit Tigers’ 1968 championship who later spent decades working for the club in the broadcast booth, passed away Monday night. He was 81.
Price had been in poor health but was still doing commentary with longtime partner Dan Dickerson on home radio broadcasts as recently as last month.
“This is such sad news,” Dickerson said in a team release. “Jim and I were together for 24 seasons and experienced both ends of the spectrum with our beloved Tigers – from a tough season in the first year after Ernie retired to two trips to the World Series. Jim helped get me through that first season, which made what happened three years later all the sweeter.”
Jimmie William Price was born in 1941 in Harrisburg, Pa., and originally signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Hershey (Pa.) High School. He spent seven years in the Pirates’ minor-league system before being purchased by the Tigers in 1967. He went on to spend the next five seasons as backup catcher to Bill Freehan.
Price joined Tigers radio broadcasts in 1998 and also spent several seasons doing TV broadcasts during the 1990s.
“My favorite memories working with Jim were the days when Al Kaline would stop in the booth and I’d get to hear them tell stories, swap some tall tales, just make each other laugh about something from the past, or current day,” Dickerson said. “The ‘68 team was my team -- the team that got me hooked on baseball -- and I loved hearing all about the wildly different personalities that made up that team.”
Price was known for his colorful catchphrases like “yellow hammer” for a good breaking ball; “buggy whip” for a well-struck hit; “the art of pitching” for a well-pitched game; and “nice area” for any mention of a city, town or suburb in Michigan.
“These folksy ‘Jim-isms’ were what made him such a fan favorite,” Dickerson said. “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.”
Tigers chairman and CEO said he and his family were deeply saddened to learn of Price’s passing. Ilitch’s mother Marian and late father Mike were especially close to Price.
“Jim was a champion on the field, in the broadcast booth, and throughout the community,” Ilitch said. “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.”
Jim Price, a member of the 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers, is shown in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP
In 2002, Price and his wife, Lisa, founded Jack’s Place for Autism, a foundation named after their son, to benefit families affected by autism.
Price has not been a regular presence on road broadcasts since the 2020 COVID pandemic limited his travel.
His presence at home games became more sporadic this season, although he was in the booth for the Tigers’ combined no-hitter on July 8, which was one of his last games.
Bobby Scales was also brought on board before the season to handle some of Price’s workload. Former Tigers players Andy Dirks and Cameron Maybin have filled in on some radio broadcasts.
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2308.10 - 10:10
- Days ago = 2960 days ago
- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
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