Compiled by staff
The tributes are rolling in for beloved Cardinals broadacster and Cardinals Hall of Famer Mike Shannon as the news that he passed away was released by the Cardinals. Scroll down for the Cardinals press release with information.
Tributes to Mike Shannon:
From the St. Louis Cardinals: “He was our voice, our friend, and an icon for generations. We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Cardinals legend and St. Louis native son Mike Shannon.”
Rob Rains: “For a generation of Cardinals fans, Mike Shannon was the voice of summer. Listening to him and Jack Buck on the radio was a way of life. You could tell by his voice whether the team was winning or losing. “His enthusiasm for the game he grew up playing was part of what made him special. He also had his own style and while he might not have always used the correct word or phrase, nobody cared. He was ours he was St. Louis, he was part of us, and that never wavered. He will be missed.”
Ozzie Smith: “The Cardinals have lost another legend. Mike Shannon was a Cardinal mainstay and unmistakable voice of Cardinal Nation. There will never be another Mike Shannon. May he Rest In Peace as he joins these other amazing men in Cardinal heaven.
Adam Wainwright: “Today is a sad day. Thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Shannon family. I had the great fortune to know Mr Shannon for 20 years. His love of @Cardinals baseball and St Louis as a whole was always on full display. A great story teller and friend. He will be missed
“So many times I’ve travelled to other states only to hear that they fell in love with Cardinals baseball from listening to the great Mike Shannon on the radio. I’m thinking of his iconic cackle right now…”Heh heh big boy.” Rest in Peace.”
Dave LaPoint: “RIP Mike Shannon.It was an honor to call you friend. You are a true gift to the game. Have one waiting for me ‘big boy’.”
Frank Cusumano: “Rest in Peace the great Mike Shannon.”
Wendy Wiese (former KMOX Radio co-worker with Shannon: “Love you always Mike. Together again.” and she posted this photo of Wendy, Jack Buck and Mike Shannon
Earl Austin, Jr.: “We saw good by to a St Louis legend today. Thanks to my friend Mike Claiborne, I had the honor of being a guest on his Friday night post game show “Live at Mike Shannon’s” from his restaurant. It was an incredible two hours. The first hour, we talked one of my book projects. The second hour we just sat back and listen to Mike free style with one great story after another. It was funny and captivating. I’ll never forget that night. He was priceless. Our city mourns today.”
Rene Knott: “The news of Mike Shannon’s passing breaks my heart. No one was nicer and more genuine with me than Mike. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I just know that laugh and “Big Boy” are echoing in heaven right now. #RestInPeace”
Randy Karraker: “Sad news. Great guy.”
Bally Sports Midwest released this: We mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Mike Shannon, a native St. Louisan who represented the soundtrack of summer for Cardinals fans for 50 years.
Roger Dean Stadium released this: “We join many in mourning the loss of Cardinals legend and St. Louis native Mike Shannon. We always knew Spring Training was upon us when we heard the unparalleled voice of Mike echoing throughout Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.”
Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr: “All of us at Major League Baseball mourn the passing of Mike Shannon, a beloved figure in the rich history of the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis native was a homegrown success, a member of two World Championship teams and a highly respected broadcaster. His close relationship with Cardinals fans demonstrates the unique impact that Baseball has linking generations of fans. On behalf of MLB, I extend my deepest condolences to Mike’s family, his friends across the game, and Cardinals fans everywhere.”
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Cardinals Press Release:
The St. Louis Cardinals organization and the St. Louis community were saddened this morning to learn of the passing of popular Cardinals broadcaster, former player and St. Louis native son Thomas Michael “Mike” Shannon at the age of 83. Shannon, who was preceded in death by his first wife, Judy, is survived by their sons Michael Jr., Tim and Dan, and daughters Patricia, Peg and Erin; his wife Lori, 18 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Shannon, who was a member of three Cardinals World Series teams in 1964, 1967 and 1968, spent over 60 years with the Cardinals organization, including 50 as a member of the team’s radio broadcasts. Shannon was recognized in recent years by the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a finalist for the prestigious Ford C. Frick broadcasting award and he was enshrined in the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.
“The St. Louis Cardinals were saddened to learn this morning of the passing of Cardinals Hall of Famer and beloved St. Louisan Mike Shannon,” said Cardinals’ Owner & Chief Executive Officer Bill DeWitt, Jr. “Mike’s unique connection to Cardinals fans and his teammates was reflected in his unbridled passion for the game, the Cardinals, and the St. Louis community. On behalf of the entire Cardinals organization, we share our condolences with Mike’s family and friends, and his many fans.”
“My dad’s life was encapsulated by his devotion to his family, his friends, the Cardinals organization and the St. Louis community,” stated his son, Tim Shannon, on behalf of the Shannon family. “My dad lived his life to the fullest, and he squeezed every drop from it.”
Throughout his years as a broadcaster for the Cardinals, Shannon also made appearances for the Cardinals on their television broadcasts, including as a pre-game analyst for Fox Midwest. He also worked with NBC’s Baseball Game of the Week and called St. Louis Cardinals NFL football games on radio.
A St. Louis native, Shannon broke into the big leagues with the Cardinals in 1962 and became the regular right fielder during the 1964 World Championship season. During the 1964 Series opener vs. New York, he hit a game-tying, two-run homer as St. Louis went on to defeat the Yankees in seven games. In 1967 Shannon was moved to third base to make room for newly acquired right fielder Roger Maris, as the Cardinals went on to win two straight National League pennants in 1967 and 1968 as well as the 1967 World Series.
Mike’s nine-year (1962-1970) playing career was cut short by a kidney disease and he joined the Cardinals front office in 1971 as assistant director of promotions and sales and entered the broadcast booth in 1972, where he remained for 50 years. His many years with the organization gave Shannon a unique insight in his commentary. He was honored throughout the 2021 season for his 50 years of service with the ball club.
Shannon received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. A gifted athlete, he was a High School All-American football player at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, and in 1957 was named the Missouri prep Player of the Year in both basketball and football – the only player ever to receive both in the same year. He would attend the University of Missouri as a college quarterback before signing a contract to play for the Cardinals.
Shannon was named St. Louis Ambassador’s 1993 Sportsman of the Year, received the 1985 Emmy Award for Sports Broadcasting, St. Louis chapter, and received the Sportscaster of the Year award for the state of Missouri from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) in 2002, 2003 and 2014. In 1999, Shannon was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his on-air career and as a player on the field, and in May 2013 the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame named Mike a Missouri Sports Legend, the 26th such honor given. In 2009, he was selected to be a member of the Academy of Missouri Squires and he was honored as St. Louis Press Club Media Person of the Year in 2010.
Mike Shannon Autographed framed photo: CLICK HERE.
