Jim Price (baseball)

Infobox MLB retired
name = Jim Price


width =
caption =
position = Catcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1941|10|13
deathdate =
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = April 11
debutyear = 1967
debutteam = Detroit Tigers
finaldate = September 13
finalyear = 1971
finalteam = Detroit Tigers
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .214
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 18
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 71
teams =
* Detroit Tigers (by|1967–by|1971)
highlights =
* World Series champion (1968)
hofdate =
hofvote =
hofmethod =

Jimmie William Price (born October 13, 1941, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Detroit Tigers from 1967 to 1973. He is also the current radio analyst for the Detroit Tigers on The Detroit Tigers Radio Network.

Playing career

Price was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, and was listed as a top prospect in the Pirates early 1960s yearbooks. His Major League debut came with the Detroit Tigers in 1967 after his contract was purchased from the Pirates. 1967 was also his best year, when he hit .261 in 44 games. He also played on the 1968 Tigers, who won the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. During his time with the Tigers, Price served as the backup catcher to starter Bill Freehan.

Broadcasting career

Price began his broadcasting career on the Tigers' cable telecasts with PASS Sports in 1993. Currently, Price serves as a color commentator on the Tigers' radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson. As a former catcher, Price offers insight into baseball strategy, especially into pitching strategy. Since he handled pitchers in his major league career, Price informs fans about approaches to various hitters. He often refers to the Tigers as "we." [Rubin, Neal. (October 10, 2006) "Jim Price doesn't hide his stripes during broadcasts." Detroit News.] Price also formerly called play-by-play of the middle innings of each broadcast, and often announced that a player "will touch 'em all" after hitting a home run.

Price has been criticized by his colleagues. In an October 2006 interview, former teammate and broadcast partner Jim Northrup stated that Price was to blame for his 1994 firing. Northrup said, "Price was totally worthless and he still is. He got us fired." [Mott, Geoff (October 1, 2006) "Northrup shares his memories, opinions." Saginaw News. ] Former Tigers pitcher Denny McLain stated that Price was a butt-kisser and a “back-stabbing (expletive)” and “one of the laziest, most untalented guys I’d ever seen in the major leagues.” [McGraw, Bill (March 1, 2007) "Denny McLain: Tigers Resented Kaline, Price Had No Talent." Detroit Free Press. ]

Price - whose son, Jackson, is autistic - was instrumental in the formation of Jack's Place For Autism, a non-profit organization designed to assist families affected by the disability.

He was inducted in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995.

ee also

* 1968 Detroit Tigers season

References

External links

*
* [http://www.wxyt.com/listingsEntry.asp?ID=17091&PT=BASEBALL Jim Price bio at WXYT.com]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/P/Price_Jim.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.jacksplaceforautism.com/]