Joe Buck, other big names decline Cards play-by-play TV gig

Joe Buck Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Buck, other big names decline Cardinals play-by-play TV gig

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 1/5/23

Nearly three weeks ago, the St. Louis Cardinals and TV broadcaster Dan McLaughlin parted ways after his third DWI arrest since 2010. Three big targets who made sense to replace him included Joe Buck, Bob Costas and Greg Amsinger, but none of the broadcasters with Missouri ties are interested.

"It's not the right time in my life," Buck told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I don't think it's fair to just do a few games, you have to be committed to this."

He said his move from Fox Sports to ESPN last spring was a move to scale back work, not add to it.

Costas, 70, the former NBC broadcaster, told the St. Louis newspaper that he turned down the gig because of his age.

"If there ever was a local team I would have done, it's the Cardinals," he said. "But that time has long passed and isn't going to happen."

Added Costas: "Whoever they hire should be a very good baseball broadcaster who can give them 20, 30 years."

On an ESPN Radio appearance, Amsinger — a studio host for the MLB Network — said: "When you're a St. Louis guy, growing up, it's a dream job. One of the best in the industry ... but what I am doing right now is so special to me."

Greg Amsinger of @MLBNetwork reports that he has declined an opportunity to discuss the @Cardinals p-b-p job and will remain at MLB Network on a new four year contract.
— Randy Karraker (@RandyKarraker) December 28, 2022

With in-house options John Rooney and Ricky Horton declining interest, maybe the Cards shift to finding their next play-by-play voice outside the organization.

Could it be a decorated broadcaster who's already familiar with the Cardinals organization, such as Bob Carpenter, the current TV broadcaster for the Nationals, or Bob Ramsey, who is in his 37th season as the voice of St. Louis University men's basketball team?

Could the team go with someone like Aaron Goldsmith or Matt Schumacker, both from the St. Louis area and young enough to be the "voice of Cardinals" baseball for the next generations of Cardinals fans?

Stay tuned.

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