Mike Shannon, a 50-year-old radio announcer and two-time World Series champion for the St. Louis Cardinals, died Saturday at age 83 of complications from long-distance Covid-19, his family said.
After a playing career with the Cardinals cut short by kidney disease, Shannon spent 50 years on the team’s radio shows. He was known for his “Get up, baby!” Call when the Cardinals hit a home run.
A native of St. Louis, Shannon joined the National League in 1962 with the Cardinals. He played third base and outfield for nine seasons and helped the team win World Series titles in 1964 and 1967.
Shannon debuted on the Cardinals Radio Network in 1972 with Hall of Famer Jack Buck. Together, they have tuned in nearly three decades of games on 1120 KMOX. Shannon became the lead singer after Buck’s death in 2002 and retired after the 2021 season.
In 2014, he was officially in the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame inductee and was named Sportscaster of the Year for Missouri by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) in 2002, 2003 and 2014. In 1985, Shannon received his first Emmy Award for Sports Broadcasting.
In addition to radio, Shannon served as a pre-game analyst for Fox Sports Midwest. He also worked with NBC’s Baseball Game of the Week and St. Louis Cardinals NFL football games broadcast.
“The St. Louis Cardinals were saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Cardinals Hall of Famer and beloved St. Louisan Mike Shannon,” said Bill DeWitt, Jr., the Cardinals’ owner and chief executive officer. “Mike’s unique connection with Cardinals fans and his teammates was reflected in his unbridled passion for the game, the Cardinals and the St. Louis community. On behalf of the entire Cardinals organization, we extend our condolences to Mike’s family and friends, and his many fans.”
“My father’s life was defined by his dedication to his family, his friends, the Cardinals organization and the St. Louis community,” his son Tim Shannon said on behalf of the Shannon family. “My father lived his life to the fullest and squeezed every last drop.”
Shannon is also survived by sons Michael Jr. and Dan and daughters Patricia, Peg and Erin; his wife Lori, 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His first wife, Judy, died in 2007.
Source: Deadline
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