If you grew up listening to baseball in Michigan, you didn't just hear the score. You heard a philosophy.
Detroit Tigers Jim Price wasn't just a former catcher or a guy with a microphone; he was the person who turned a random Tuesday night game in July into a masterclass on the "art of pitching." He had this way of making you feel like you were sitting right there in the dugout, maybe leaning against the railing with a bag of seeds, just talking shop. He passed away in August 2023 at the age of 81, and honestly, the radio booth hasn't felt quite the same since.
People loved him. Some people poked fun at the "Jim-isms," sure. But everyone respected the man because he lived and breathed the Olde English "D" for over half a century.
The Backup Who Became a Legend
Jim Price didn't start his career as a Tiger. He was actually a Pennsylvania kid, a three-sport star at Hershey High School who almost played football for Joe Paterno at Penn State. Can you imagine that? Instead, he took a $15,000 bonus to play baseball for the Pirates.
He eventually landed in Detroit in 1967 because he didn't want to go back down to the minors. The Tigers bought his contract for cash, and he spent the next five years as the primary backup to the legendary Bill Freehan.
Being a backup catcher is a grind. You don't play every day. You're basically there to be the "tools of intelligence," as Jim liked to call the catcher's gear. He played in 64 games during that magical 1968 season. He wasn't the superstar, but he was a World Series champion. That 1968 team stayed in his blood forever. He called them "the greatest," and he wasn't just being biased. He truly believed it.
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After he retired in 1971—partly because he was tired of making "no money" and losing his edge on the bench—he didn't just disappear. He stayed in Detroit. He worked as a manufacturer’s rep. He dabbled in early ESPN broadcasts, even calling the first live sports broadcast in the network's history (it was a professional softball game, believe it or not).
Understanding the Detroit Tigers Jim Price "Arsenal"
When Jim finally joined the Tigers broadcast team full-time in the 90s, he brought a specific vocabulary with him. If you're a die-hard fan, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
The Yellowhammer and Other Jim-isms
He didn't just call a curveball a curveball. It was a "Yellowhammer." Where did that come from? He said it originated with his teammate Pat Dobson, named after a bird that darts down and away. It sounded fancy, but it was just Jim's way of explaining how a pitch worked.
Then there was the "Buggywhip." That was a quick, wristy swing.
And you can't forget "Nice area." Jim said this about basically every town in Michigan that got mentioned on the air. It became a running joke. Fans would wait for it. "We've got a listener tuning in from Alpena." "Nice area," Jim would chime in without missing a beat.
He had a whole list of these:
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- "Cut the pie" (when a fielder takes a specific angle).
- "The Big Man" (his nickname for Miguel Cabrera).
- "Art of Pitching" (his favorite topic of conversation).
- "He sawed him off!" (when a pitcher got a hitter on the hands).
Working With the Greats
Jim had the rare privilege of working alongside some of the absolute icons of the industry. He was in the booth with Ernie Harwell from 1999 to 2002. Think about that for a second. That's like a masterclass in broadcasting every single night.
But his longest and most famous partnership was with Dan Dickerson. They spent 24 seasons together. Dan was the polished play-by-play guy, and Jim was the "color" in every sense of the word. They went through the 119-loss disaster of 2003 together, and they saw the World Series runs in 2006 and 2012.
Dan often says that Jim helped him get through those early years after Ernie retired. Jim wasn't bitter about the game. He didn't look down on the modern players. He just loved the strategy of it all.
A Legacy Beyond the Diamond
One thing people sometimes overlook about Jim Price was his heart. He and his wife, Lisa, founded Jack’s Place for Autism in honor of their son, Jackson. They did an incredible amount of work to provide support and resources for families in Michigan dealing with autism.
He was a champion on the field, but he was a bigger champion for the community.
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He fought cancer for over a decade, but he rarely let it stop him. He went years without missing a game. He actually called a combined no-hitter against the Blue Jays just a month before he passed away. That’s how he went out—watching the team he loved do something historic.
How to Honor Jim’s Memory Today
If you want to keep the spirit of Jim Price alive while watching the Tigers this season, here is what you do:
- Watch the catcher's feet. Jim was obsessed with how catchers set up. If they move too early, they "give it away." Pay attention to the "tools of intelligence."
- Look for the Yellowhammer. When a pitcher snaps off a beautiful, 12-to-6 curveball, say it out loud. "That's a yellowhammer."
- Support Jack's Place. If you're looking for a way to give back, check out the foundation Jim and Lisa started. It's a huge part of his actual legacy.
- Appreciate the "Nice Areas." Next time you're driving through a small Michigan town, remember Jim's optimism. There’s something good to say about every place.
Detroit Tigers Jim Price was a one-of-a-kind voice. He wasn't trying to be a "professional broadcaster" in the corporate sense. He was just a ballplayer who loved to talk. And for those of us listening at home, that was more than enough.
Next time you hear a game on the radio, listen for the echoes of those old catchphrases. The booth is a little quieter now, but the "art of pitching" lives on every time a pitcher digs in on the mound.
To really dive into the history of the 1968 team or to see how the current Tigers are holding up the "tools of intelligence," you can check out the latest team stats and community initiatives on the official Tigers website or visit the archives at the Detroit Historical Society.