Former New York Mets broadcaster Tim McCarver has passed away. He was 81.

McCarver played 21 major league seasons (1959-1980) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos.

One of my favorite stories McCarver told was about his relationship with Bob Gibson:

“I remember one time going out to the mound to talk with Bob Gibson,” McCarver once said. “He told me to get back behind the plate; that the only thing I knew about pitching was that it was hard to hit.”

After retiring as a player, McCarver moved to the broadcast booth. He started with the Phillies (1980-1982), then moved to the Mets from 1983-98. He later worked for Fox, ABC AND NBC. McCarver was honored with the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.

“He had his core beliefs about the game and about the right way to play, and he was never afraid to share them, and he was never afraid to criticize if somebody’s play didn’t fit in those parameters,” said Joe Buck told Sports Illustrated. “He was always the first one in the clubhouse the next day ready to let a manager or a player have their say. So, he would criticize but he would also face the person that he criticized the night or the day before.”