It was to be a milestone for Dan McLaughlin, his Silver Anniversary season behind the mic to make play-by-play for Cardinals television.
Dan McLaughlin is seen in the broadcast booth before a game between the Cardinals and the Red Sox on Tuesday August 5, 2014 at Busch Stadium.
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But 2023 will not be his 25th year in the role, which would have been his 26th season overall working on Cards TV shows about what is now Bally Sports Midwest.
McLaughlin, who was arrested Dec. 4 for driving while drunk for a third time — this time a felony charge as a “persistent” offender — is leaving the company by mutual consent, McLaughlin, BSM and Cardinals officials said Thursday.
“Dan McLaughlin will not be returning as the Cardinals’ TV play-by-play announcer at Bally Sports Midwest,” the team and the Telecaster said in a joint statement. “Dan has been the voice of unforgettable Cardinals moments for 24 years. We thank him for his contributions to Cardinals baseball, to Cardinals fans, and for his many charitable endeavors.”
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McLaughlin has worked for the ball club under a contract separate from his arrangement with Bally Sports Midwest.
He made his own statement about the situation.
“I’ve spent the last few days contemplating my steps to take care of my health and the well-being of my family and myself,” he said. “I’ve come to the conclusion that my only focus needs to be on my recovery from when I started, and that of my wife and (four) children.
“As a result, I am stepping down from my duties at Bally Sports Midwest,” he added. “I thank all the people of Bally for their support over the years and wish them well. As I move forward, I ask for your patience and privacy. Many Thanks. God bless you.”
He said he would have no further comments.
He had previously been suspended until December from St. Louis University basketball broadcasts shown on BSM. It is now clear that he will not return to this role either. Scott Warmann, who stepped in last week, will have the remainder of that schedule.
McLaughlin was barely able to keep his job after the second arrest in 2011 and 13 months after his first incident. He knew he was lucky to have survived and said he understood he couldn’t make another big misstep.
“This is absolutely the last chance,” he then said.
Bally Sports Midwest general manager Jack Donovan was also McLaughlin’s boss when he had his previous arrests. Donovan was instrumental in getting the announcer to return both times, and after the second he said, “It was made clear that this was a very serious issue.”
Donovan could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Last week, when the latest incident became public, McLaughlin said he was “deeply remorseful” for his actions.
“No excuses,” McLaughlin told the Post-Dispatch. “I’m dealing with it and seeking the treatment I need.”
His next court hearing on his latest charges related to his December 4 arrest in Creve Coeur is scheduled for February 7 at the St. Louis County Justice Center.
McLaughlin, 48, had a rapid rise in the sportscasting business, from an intern at KMOX (11:20am) in the 1990s to working on the pregame TV show Cards for a season before making a limited appearance in 1999 the cabin switched seven years ago to become the club’s sole TV play-by-play broadcaster.
It’s possible McLaughlin could be back at BSM or the ball club in some ways later. However, a spokesman for Bally Sports Midwest said a nationwide search would be underway to find a replacement for him in the dressing room.
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Our previous story: Cardinals announcer Dan McLaughlin charged with 3rd DWI stopped at Creve Coeur
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