Former Cardinals third baseman, outfielder, and broadcaster Mike Shannon passed away last night at the age of 83, per a team announcement.
“The St. Louis Cardinals were saddened to learn this morning of the passing of Cardinals Hall of Famer and beloved St. Louisan Mike Shannon,” Cardinals owner Bill Dewitt Jr. said in a statement. “Mike’s unique connection to Cardinals fans and his teammates was reflected in his unbridled passion for the game, the Cardinals, and the St. Louis community.”
Shannon played for the Cardinals for nine seasons, from 1962 until 1970, when his playing career ended after he contracted nephritis. He won the World Series twice with the club, in both 1964 and 1967. In 1967, Shannon finished 7th in NL MVP voting, joining Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and winner Bob Gibson among Cardinals who finished in the top 10 that season. During his career, Shannon hit both the final home run in the original Busch Stadium and the first home run by the Cardinals in the second Busch Stadium. Overall, Shannon slashed .255/.311/.387 for his career, good for a roughly league average 97 wRC+.
Shortly after his retirement, Shannon joined the club’s broadcast booth in 1972. He would go on to spend 50 years as the voice of the Cardinals on the radio until his retirement following the 2021 season. Shannon was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.
We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to Shannon’s family, friends, and the many fans mourning him today.
This is a very sad news. Rest in peace.
McCarver, Groat, and now Shannon all passed in last few months. RIP ‘64 Cards.
It’s like cardinals baseball is dying along with its greats…
Some of my fondest childhood/young adult memories were McCarver and Shannon calling moments…
RIP to a true Cardinal legend and, ambassador for the game.
RIP Mike. You were the soundtrack to my childhood and I’ll always think of you and Jack bantering back and forth while solidifying the foundation of my Cardinal fandom.
RIP Mike. You were the soundtrack to my childhood and I’ll always think of you and Jack bantering back and forth while solidifying the foundation of my Cardinal fandom. Thank you for also being a champion of the City when others often tear it down.
A sold ball player, an infectious laugh, I will miss those “Shannonisms,” such as when he was at Shea Stadium and told Cardinal fans listening on KMOX, “What a great moon there is tonight! I wish you folks back in St. Louis could see it.” RIP Mike.
Don’t you love unintentional screw-ups? One of my favorites was when it was the first warm day of the season at Wrigley Field and Marla Collins broke out the short shorts. Harry Caray announced, “Hey, Marla’s not wearing her pants today!” And then proceeded to giggle, snort and guffaw for the next minute or so.
Condolences to the Shannon family. Long time tenured contributor to the St. Louis faithful, and fun to know a few of those interesting facts upon his life.
RIP Mike.
Legend. Thank you Mike. RIP.
If there was a hall of fame for announcers that had no idea what inning it was or who was even playing, he’d be in on the first ballot. Shame he gambled all of his money away at the race track and had to shut down his restaurant, terminate employees, and guest appear at fundraisers just to cover his horse waging losses. He’ll be missed by some, but not many.
Yikes. You are a bad person
Real d..k move!
@Sliderwitcheese, do me a favor & stay away from my funeral (and keep your paws off my eulogy)
Hey Curly, that’s what I want at my funeral. For people to look at me in the box and say ” That guy sure owes me a lot of money”.
@DCartrow, loan me $75.00 I’m short on my rent. By the way, you look good in pine…
I’m available for funerals, contact me at 555-tough luck
*555-tough luck
ran out of time…Nyuck,nyuck,nyuck
As long as you pine away at my loss, Curls.
Just loaned my las seventy Five bucks to Ace who gave me 76 better reasons to do so.
I do think the Cardinals did a terrible thing in continuously letting him broadcast.. he was clearly not in a frame of mind where he should have been on a microphone like that. I felt bad for the guy anytime I was listening to him.
Slider, sometimes it is best to skip over making a comment. This was that time for you. We already have too much negativity and divisiveness in this country, be better.
Slider sounds like the that relative that got no mention in the will and speaks at the funeral…
Do us a favor and mind your own business. Completely wrong to say
The next time you have something to say would be a perfect time to keep it to yourself.
It doesn’t look good for you to act like the south end of a northbound gelding.
“Better that people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Mark twain
Or Samuel Clemens… depending on what version of English you speak?
Contrary to your contrarian contrariness, Mike’s demise casts a giant pall over the baseball world, and indeed the world itself.
Lights will be dimmed in St. Louis, Broadway in New York, Paris, and beyond. Remove your hat please.
I believ Rogers Hornsby gambled everything at the track.
Mike Shannon was an excellent broadcaster until his later years.
Trevor Bauer, is that you!? Thought you were in Japan? Did they kick you out of America entirely?
So very sad to hear this news. Mike was loved as a player and announcer. His radio show that was aired at his restaurant after the game with former and current players was absolutely the best ever for baseball fans. When he did not appear with the red jacket crew at the opening ceremony, I was very concerned. My sympathy to all who loved him.
Legend in STL
So long Mike. We will miss you.
“Get up, baby! Get up! Ohh-ho yeah!”
The day Bob Shepphard passed I drank a 40oz of Olde English 800 next to the Brooklyn Bridge in his honor.
Rest In Power Mike 🙁
muted slidersucks
What took you so long? Got rid of him weeks ago.
I discovered that when you mute someone, you mute the whole conversation he/she/it is involved in. So now I just say ‘neeh!’ and move on.
Well, the coward won’t troll your next conversation.
True. It’s a consideration.
Such a shame….Jack and Mike were just perfect together. Jacks been gone for about 20 years, it was so nice years after moving from St. Louis, to put KMOX and hear a voice from my childhood still broadcasting Cardinal games.
Reset in peace Mr Shannon.
Cue up Henry Gross’s only hit song.
That deserves 144 likes.
:>)
Did you know that song was written about one of The Beach Boys golden retrievers? It had just died and he was visiting Brian Wilson’s house, I think.
I did not. However, having lost pet dogs more than once, it hits one harder than a non-pet owner might think.
GOD BLESS Mike Shannon !
RIP Mike Shannon, you will be missed/ Condolences to your family. I will miss hearing Mike’s play by play’s on KMOX radio.
You should be used to it by now since he retired and hasn’t done a broadcast since 2021, but make sure you chime in with the rest of these fakes that know nothing about Mike Shannon.
You should retire.
Jack and Mike were a tremendous team, in the booth. Jack really brought Mike along, as a color guy.
Mike had an extreme knowledge of the game, with great insight. Jack was excellent at asking a question in just the right way to draw that insigh out of Mike.
I learned so much about the game, and about the Cards, from listening to Mike.
Back in my childhood I remember sitting on the deck outside of my grandparents house with my grandpa listening to the Cardinal games, it is a fond memory that would be brought up on the rarity of listening to radio over the last decade and a half or so.
I listened to Mike Shannon on the radio, was not a Cardinal fan, loved the Braves and still do. The problem is I could not get the Braves so I listened to the Cardinals. I remember Harry Carey would sing a tune “the Cardinals are coming falalala, falalala. Harry left and I remember listening I believe to Jack Buck and Mike Shannon. Both of these announcers were great. TBS came and my listening days ended. Mike Shannon Rest In Peace. Heaven has gained a baseball angel today.
Harry Carey and Jimmy Piersall were the best broadcast team I’ve ever heard when they did White Sox games on TV. The Cards have been my favorite NL team forever but, living in Chicago, I wasn’t fortunate enough to hear Mike Shannon on KMOX. But I was lucky enough to see him play.
Agree.
I remember when Harry blurted out to Piersall “You’re crazy” and Piersall, without missing a beat, replied: “You’re right and I’ve got papers to prove it”!
The link is to the wrong Mike Shannon
There’s two?
(:-o
Remember him as both a player and broadcaster.
Long story short, I used to have to drive to KC for work several years ago and caught some Cardinals broadcasts. I thought those guys were entertaining.
Many great memories growing up listening. Hilarious at times. RIP
I’m actually old enough to remember when Mike and the Cardinals would come to Shea Stadium and kick the living crap out of the NY Mets. As a fervent Yankees fan, I had a whale of a good time!
I started listening to Mike and Jack Buck during Mike’s first year, 1972. Cardinals have lost so many red jackets over the past 5 years or so. Hard to see these childhood memories go by. RIP Moon Man.
RIP
A genuine legend in St. Louis as much as Phil Rizzuto was with the Yankees and Rich Ashburn was with the Phillies.
One nitpick: Mr. Shannon hit the last home run at Sportsman’s Park and the first home run at Busch Memorial Stadium.
Mike Shannon was always great to listen to.
It was fitting that St Louis Cardinals last year went out a got a replacement for Mike Shannon.
In Chip C a new generation of St Louis Cardinals fans will be able to
enjoy like fans enjoy Mike Shannon
The baseball reference link is to the wrong player’s stats.
They eventually fixed it.
Bummer! I am not a Cardinals fan, but I always liked listening to Mike Shannon. I am also ancient enough to remember him as a player.
Shannon moved from RF to 3B to accommodate the arrival Roger Maris in St. Louis, and both were rewarded with a World Series win. As a lifetime Yankees fan, I was happy for Roger, and of course, disgusted with the Yankees treatment of Mr. Maris.
I will not speak ill of the recently departed Mr. Shannon, but it couldn’t have helped that the cards absolutely suck.
I still remember sitting at my computer 20 years ago and hearing Mike Shannon say, “Welcome back to beautiful. Milwaukee Wisconsin where the fans here are enjoying an ice cold Bud Lite.” I stopped for a second and giggled. Miller Lite Mike, Miller Lite.
As a Cubs fan living in StL, he was the only thing I liked about the Cardinals. Always respectful to the opposing team and fun to listen to when at work with Cards fans. Class act.