Tigers announce passing of longtime radio analyst and World Series champion Jim Price

The Detroit Tigers announced the news of franchise legend Jim Price's death on Tuesday.

Price, one of the longtime voices of the Tigers on radio as well as a member of Detroit's 1968 World Series championship team, died at 81 years old.

“All of us with the Detroit Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of Jim Price’s passing,” Tigers Chairman and CEO, Chris Ilitch, said in a statement. “Jim was a champion on the field, in the broadcast booth, and throughout the community. That Jim was with the organization for much of his life, doing what he loved, is such a powerful sign of his dedication and loyalty to the Tigers and the city of Detroit. Those are among the many reasons Jim was one of my mother and father’s favorite people, and they had such a strong relationship for many years. The thoughts of my family, and everyone across baseball, are with Jim’s wife, Lisa, and the entire Price family.”

Price was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 but made his MLB debut in 1967 with the Tigers. He was a backup catcher to Bill Freehan and a pinch hitter. In five MLB seasons, all with Detroit, price notched 129 hits and 18 home runs with a career batting average of .214.

He became a color analyst for the Tigers in 1993 and has called games alongside the likes of Ernie Harwell and Dan Dickerson—two of the most cherished voices in Detroit sports.

“This is such sad news,” Dickerson said. “Jim and I were together for 24 seasons, and experienced both ends of the spectrum with our beloved Tigers—from a tough season in the first year after Ernie retired to two trips to the World Series."

Price was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.