Jim Price (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Jimmie William Price is a former catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played with the Detroit Tigers
from 1967
to 1973
. He is also the current color commentator
for the Detroit Tigers
on The Detroit Tigers Radio Network.
in 1960
, and was listed as a top prospect in the Pirates early 1960s yearbooks. Price's best minor league season was 1963, when he hit 19 home runs and batted .311 for the Kinston Eagles of the Single-A Carolina League
. For his efforts he was named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year. His Major League debut came with the Detroit Tigers in 1967
after his contract was purchased from the Pirates. 1967 was also his best major league season, 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
.
. Currently, Price serves as a color commentator
on the Tigers' radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson
on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network
. 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." 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
.
– 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.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1967
1967 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim Stadium: National League, 2-1 ; Tony Pérez, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
to 1973
1973 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over New York Mets ; Reggie Jackson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 24 at Royals Stadium: National League, 7–1; Bobby Bonds, MVP-Other champions:...
. He is also the current color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on The Detroit Tigers Radio Network.
Playing career
Price was originally signed by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in 1960
1960 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over New York Yankees ; Bobby Richardson, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5-3*All-Star Game , July 13 at Yankee Stadium: National League, 6-0...
, and was listed as a top prospect in the Pirates early 1960s yearbooks. Price's best minor league season was 1963, when he hit 19 home runs and batted .311 for the Kinston Eagles of the Single-A Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. For his efforts he was named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year. His Major League debut came with the Detroit Tigers in 1967
1967 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim Stadium: National League, 2-1 ; Tony Pérez, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
after his contract was purchased from the Pirates. 1967 was also his best major league season, when he hit .261 in 44 games. He also played on the 1968
1968 in baseball
-The Year of the Pitcher:In Major League Baseball, the trend throughout the 1960s was of increased pitching dominance, caused by enforcing a larger strike zone beginning in 1963...
Tigers, who won the World Series
1968 World Series
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
over the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in seven games. During his time with the Tigers, Price served as the backup catcher to starter Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
.
Broadcasting career
Price began his broadcasting career on the Tigers' cable telecasts with PASS Sports in 19931993 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies ; Paul Molitor, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dave Stewart*National League Championship Series MVP: Curt Schilling...
. Currently, Price serves as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on the Tigers' radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson
Dan Dickerson
Dan Dickerson is an American sportscaster, best known for his current position as the lead radio play-by-play voice of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network, joined by color commentator and former Tigers catcher Jim Price.-Early life and education:Dickerson...
on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network
Detroit Tigers Radio Network
The Detroit Tigers Radio Network is a network of 34 radio stations that covers much of Michigan, Northwest Ohio and Northern Indiana that air Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers games and related programming. The network airs all 162 regular season games, some Spring Training games, and all...
. 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." 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
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
.
Notable awards and charity work
Price – whose son, Jackson, is autisticAutism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
– 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.