Jim Value, a former Detroit Tigers catcher who would go on to be the voice broadcasting the baseball video games, has died. He was 81.

“All of us with the Detroit Tigers are deeply saddened to be taught of Jim Value’s passing,” Tigers chairman and CEO Chris Ilitch mentioned in a assertion. “Jim was a champion on the sector, within the broadcast sales space, and all through the group. That Jim was with the group for a lot of his life, doing what he beloved, is such a strong signal of his dedication and loyalty to the Tigers and the town of Detroit.”

Ilitch continued, “These are among the many many causes Jim was considered one of my mom and father’s favourite folks, and so they had such a robust relationship for a few years. The ideas of my household, and everybody throughout baseball, are with Jim’s spouse, Lisa, and your complete Value household.”

Value was born on October 13, 1941, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He performed for the Detroit Tigers between 1967 and 1971 taking part in in 1968 when the staff received the World Collection over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Following his time with the Tigers, Value would go on to play skilled softball with the Detroit Caesars in 1979. Shortly after, Value would seem in ESPN’s first-ever stay sports activities broadcast giving colour commentary. This look led the previous baseball participant to a profession in broadcasting. It was in 1993 when Value began masking the Detroit Tigers and moved to the staff’s radio community in 1998 giving private and invaluable perception from his time as a catcher. He can be on the broadcast sales space up till a month earlier than he died.

“That is such unhappy information,” Value’s longtime broadcast associate Dan Dickerson mentioned. “Jim and I had been collectively for twenty-four seasons, and skilled each ends of the spectrum with our beloved Tigers – from a tricky season within the first yr after Ernie retired, to 2 journeys to the World Collection. Jim helped get me via that first season, which made what occurred three years later all of the sweeter.”

Value was inducted into the Kinston Skilled Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1995.