Mike Shannon
Encyclopedia
Thomas Michael Shannon (born July 15, 1939) is an American
-born former Major League Baseball
player and current radio
sportscaster
.
Shannon is a radio broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals
. He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri
and played with the Cardinals during some of the team's most successful years. Additionally, he is the proprietor of Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood in downtown St. Louis.
in 1957. He attended the University of Missouri
before leaving to begin his professional baseball career. Shannon has commented that if football players were paid better during his era, he probably would have stayed at Missouri, and sought a professional football career. He believed himself a better football player, and his former coach, Frank Broyles
, commented that had he stayed in school, Shannon might have won the Heisman Trophy
.
in 1962. In 1964, he became the team's regular right fielder
, shifting to third base
(in order to make room for the newly acquired Roger Maris
) in 1967. Shannon played in three World Series
for the Cardinals. He hit a game-tying two-run homer off Whitey Ford
in the Game 1 of the 1964 World Series
against the New York Yankees
, which St. Louis won 9-5. In Game 3 of the 1967 World Series
against the Boston Red Sox
, Shannon hit a key home run off Gary Bell. In Game 7 of the 1968 World Series
against the Detroit Tigers
, Shannon's solo home run off Mickey Lolich
was the Cardinals' only run off Lolich as the Tigers clinched. Shannon also hit the last home run in the original Busch Stadium (Sportsman's Park
) in 1966 and the first one in the second Busch Stadium (Busch Memorial Stadium
). In 1970, he contracted nephritis
, a kidney disease, which ended his playing career.
on AM 1120 KMOX doing the color commentary. Following Buck's death in 2002, he was named the team's lead radio voice, teaming with Joel Meyers
(2002), Wayne Hagin (2003–2005), and John Rooney
(2006–present). In 2006, he moved to AM 550 KTRS
which had won broadcasting rights for the Cardinals. For the 2011 season KMOX regained the rights for Cardinals Broadcasting and Shannon returned to his former employer.
Shannon received an Emmy Award
for his work on Cardinal broadcasts in 1985, Shannon is a 1999 inductee of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
On Saturday nights after a Cardinals home game, Shannon traditionally hosts a sports chat show from his restaurant, which is one block north from Busch Stadium.
Shannon's trademark home run call is "Here's a long one to left/center/right, get up baby, get up, get up...oh yeah!"
During the 1980s, Shannon worked as a backup analyst (behind the main analysts, Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek
) for NBC's Game of the Week
telecasts (typically working with play-by-play man Jay Randolph
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born former 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...
player and current radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
.
Shannon is a radio broadcaster for 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...
. He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and played with the Cardinals during some of the team's most successful years. Additionally, he is the proprietor of Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood in downtown St. Louis.
Early life
Shannon was born and raised in south St. Louis. He attended grade school at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic School, and graduated high school from Christian Brothers College High SchoolChristian Brothers College High School
Christian Brothers College High School , is a Lasallian Catholic college preparatory school for young men in St. Louis, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis and is owned and operated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers Midwest District.-Early years :The school...
in 1957. He attended the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
before leaving to begin his professional baseball career. Shannon has commented that if football players were paid better during his era, he probably would have stayed at Missouri, and sought a professional football career. He believed himself a better football player, and his former coach, Frank Broyles
Frank Broyles
John Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976...
, commented that had he stayed in school, Shannon might have won the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
.
Playing career
Shannon began his big-league career with the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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 1962. In 1964, he became the team's regular right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, shifting to third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
(in order to make room for the newly acquired Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
) in 1967. Shannon played in three World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
for the Cardinals. He hit a game-tying two-run homer off Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.-Early life and career:...
in the Game 1 of the 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
against the New York Yankees
1964 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 62nd season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 99-63, winning their 29th pennant, finishing 1 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox. New York was managed by Yogi Berra. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they were defeated...
, which St. Louis won 9-5. In Game 3 of the 1967 World Series
1967 World Series
The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
against the Boston Red Sox
1967 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season, often referred to as The Impossible Dream, consisted of the Red Sox shocking New England and the rest of the baseball world by winning the American League Championship and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1946...
, Shannon hit a key home run off Gary Bell. In Game 7 of the 1968 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...
against the Detroit Tigers
1968 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
, Shannon's solo home run off Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
was the Cardinals' only run off Lolich as the Tigers clinched. Shannon also hit the last home run in the original Busch Stadium (Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
) in 1966 and the first one in the second Busch Stadium (Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
). In 1970, he contracted nephritis
Nephritis
Nephritis is inflammation of the nephrons in the kidneys. The word "nephritis" was imported from Latin, which took it from Greek: νεφρίτιδα. The word comes from the Greek νεφρός - nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation"....
, a kidney disease, which ended his playing career.
Broadcasting career
Shannon joined the Cardinals' promotional staff in 1971; a year later he moved to the team's radio booth. For almost three decades Shannon was paired with Hall of Fame announcer Jack BuckJack Buck
John Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
on AM 1120 KMOX doing the color commentary. Following Buck's death in 2002, he was named the team's lead radio voice, teaming with Joel Meyers
Joel Meyers
Joel Meyers is an American sportscaster and former play-by-play announcer of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association on Fox Sports West and KCAL. Meyers left the Lakers at the end of the 2010-2011 season when the team did not renew his contract.-Career:Meyers joined the Lakers...
(2002), Wayne Hagin (2003–2005), and John Rooney
John Rooney
John Rooney is an American sportscaster, currently best known for his role as a radio broadcaster for Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals.-Early career:...
(2006–present). In 2006, he moved to AM 550 KTRS
KTRS
KTRS may refer to:* KTRS , a radio station licensed to St. Louis, Missouri, United States* KTRS-FM, a radio station licensed to Casper, Wyoming, United States...
which had won broadcasting rights for the Cardinals. For the 2011 season KMOX regained the rights for Cardinals Broadcasting and Shannon returned to his former employer.
Shannon received an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for his work on Cardinal broadcasts in 1985, Shannon is a 1999 inductee of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
On Saturday nights after a Cardinals home game, Shannon traditionally hosts a sports chat show from his restaurant, which is one block north from Busch Stadium.
Shannon's trademark home run call is "Here's a long one to left/center/right, get up baby, get up, get up...oh yeah!"
During the 1980s, Shannon worked as a backup analyst (behind the main analysts, Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek
Tony Kubek
Anthony Christopher "Tony" Kubek is a retired American professional baseball player and television broadcaster....
) for NBC's Game of the Week
Major League Baseball Game of the Week
The Major League Baseball Game of the Week is the de facto title for over-the-air, nationally televised coverage of regular season Major League Baseball games...
telecasts (typically working with play-by-play man Jay Randolph
Jay Randolph
Jennings "Jay" Randolph, Jr. is an American sportscaster whose career has spanned more than fifty years.-Early life and career:...
).
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
- Biography - Mike Shannon's Restaurant