Growing up in St. Louis, Bob Carpenter caught what he calls the “baseball bug” at an early age. “I remember my friends telling me I would actually do play-by-play broadcasts while we were outside playing a ball game,” the veteran of professional baseball play-by-play recalls.

Known throughout the Midwest as the “voice of the St. Louis Cardinals,” Carpenter has also gained national attention as one of ESPN’s most popular college basketball play-by-play announcers. But being in the spotlight hasn’t blinded this University of Missouri-Kansas City alumnus, whose faithful commitment to his passion, his community and UMKC earned him heartfelt nominations for this award. Carpenter will receive the 2005 Alumni Achievement Award from the College of Arts & Sciences at a gala event Oct. 27.

It may surprise Carpenter’s fans to learn the hearty voice of the St. Louis Cardinals once belonged to a painfully shy young man. Although his love of sports broadcasting was obvious from an early age, Carpenter says his time at UMKC gave him opportunities to grow, both in experience and confidence.

“Choosing UMKC was one of the best decisions I made in my younger years,” Carpenter says. “The broadcast journalism program within the College gave me hands-on opportunities a larger school may not have, including being able to do some shifts on KCUR 89.3 FM.

“Coming to UMKC got me out of my shell by putting me in a great cosmopolitan atmosphere with plenty of exposure to major league sports, which fit right in with what I loved doing. My time there stretched me and prepared me to get out and work in my chosen field.”

Since graduating with honors from the College of Arts and Sciences (with an emphasis on radio, television and film), Carpenter has made his way up the ladder of fame in sports broadcasting.

His experiences include Major League baseball, NFL, World Cup soccer, U.S. Open tennis, Master’s golf and NCAA basketball. He has been the voice of the New York Mets, the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers, finally coming “home” to the St. Louis Cardinals.   

He has been nominated for a total of five Emmys, winning two for Cardinals baseball, and was the international broadcast play-by-play announcer of the 2005 NCAA Final 4.

Carpenter also made a contribution to baseball many broadcasters and fans alike consider a godsend: Bob Carpenter’s Baseball Scorebook (www.bcscorebook.com).

But despite a busy work and travel schedule, Carpenter strives to stay grounded.   

“Sometimes people make too big a fuss over me because of what I do, and it can be embarrassing.  There are many people in society who do more important things than I do, like teaching and law enforcement. But I feel very fortunate to be doing what I truly love.”

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.  UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban affairs.