St. Louis Cardinals play-by-play broadcaster Dan McLaughlin will no longer be in the booth for the organization, he announced Thursday along with Bally Sports Midwest and the Cardinals. Here’s what you need to know:
- McLaughlin was arrested for driving while intoxicated on Dec. 4 and later charged with felony persistent DWI, according to the Creve Coeur (MO) Police Department.
- McLaughlin served as the television play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals for more than 20 seasons, and called Saint Louis Billikens and Missouri Valley Conference basketball game telecasts.
- The Cardinals and Bally Sports Midwest issued a joint statement Thursday: “Dan has been the voice of memorable Cardinals moments for 24 years. We thank him for his contributions to Cardinals baseball, to Cardinals fans, and for many charitable efforts.”
Backstory
McLaughlin was seen the evening of Dec. 4 failing to maintain a single lane on northbound I-270 by police after they received two separate reports of a suspicious vehicle believed to be operated by an impaired driver. He was then stopped and arrested based on the results of a field sobriety test and the officer’s personal observations, according to police.
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He previously plead guilty to driving while intoxicated in November 2010 and November 2011. After his second arrest, McLaughlin was suspended from play-by-play duties by then-employer FOX Sports Midwest, including the Cardinals’ World Series run, but returned to the booth in 2012.
He was a finalist for the 2022 Missouri sports broadcaster of the year from the National Sports Media Association.
What they’re saying
McLaughlin issued a statement Thursday: “I have spent the last several days reflecting on my next steps towards addressing my health and the well-being of my family and me. I have come to the conclusion that my sole focus needs to be on my recovery, which I have started, and that of my wife and children. As a result, I am stepping away from my duties at Bally’s Sports Midwest. I thank all of the people of Bally’s for their support throughout the years and wish them the best. As I move forward, I please ask for your patience and your privacy. Thank you. God Bless.”
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(Photo: Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports)
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