In his book "The Wrong Stuff", the legendary Bill Lee wrote about McCarver's time with the Red Sox:
McCarver was great. I called him "Old Second Inning," due to his habit of having to take a dump in the john between the first and second inning of every game. He had the most reliable body clock in the world; we used to set our watches by him. Timmy had been on three pennant winners - and two world champions - with the Cardinals. He was a tremendous addition to our club. He had no arm left, but he possessed an invaluable knowledge of the game and the art of setting hitters up. He was our morale-booster, possessed of an incisive wit that allowed him to put the game in its proper perspective and to pass along constructive criticism in a matter that was well received. He was also a gentleman. You could make the rounds with him at night, secure in the knowledge that the moment you passed out, Timmy would be there to catch you and load you into a cab, sending you safely home.
McCarver was released after Fisk returned to action. Timmy was hitting .381 when they let him go, but even if he had been hitting .081 it was a bad move. Contenders need veterans like him who accept their role, have the best interests of the club at heart, and can deliver in the pinch. Management figured, "Well, he can't throw any more, and we've got two backup catchers who are younger than he is." They failed to see the intangible virtues he brought to the team. It wouldn't be the last time they would make that mistake.
www.usatoday.com
brewerfanatic.com
