Twins saddened by death of Herb Carneal

Radio broadcaster spent 45 seasons as 'Voice of the Twins'

04/01/2007 1:00 PM ET

Minneapolis, MN -- The Minnesota Twins are saddened by the death of long-time radio broadcaster Herb Carneal. Carneal, 83, passed away this morning at his home in Minnetonka due to congestive heart failure.

"This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of baseball fans across the Upper Midwest," Twins President Dave St. Peter said. "Herb Carneal's voice was the signature element of Twins baseball for multiple generations of fans. Clearly, he was one of the most beloved figures in Minnesota sports history. The Minnesota Twins will proudly dedicate the 2007 season to the memory of Herb Carneal."

Hired away from the Baltimore Orioles in 1961, where he was part of the play-by-play team for five years, Carneal had been behind the microphone for all but the first of the Twins' 46 seasons in Minnesota. He became an institution not only in the state of Minnesota, but throughout the vast reaches of the Upper Midwest, to which his voice carried.

Carneal was the recipient of the Ford C. Frick award, baseball-broadcasting's highest honor, in 1996. The award is presented annually to broadcasters who make major contributions to baseball and its fans. He was also inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Metrodome's baseball press box was renamed in his honor in 2005.

Carneal is survived by his daughter Terri and grandson Matthew. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced when they become available.