Former Major League Baseball pitcher and YES analyst Jim Kaat has established himself over the past several decades as one of the most well-respected personalities in baseball.

Kaat made his major league debut in 1959 with the Washington Senators. Over his 25-year playing career, he compiled an impressive 283 wins and an ERA of 3.45 with six different major league teams. Kaat was a three time All-Star and won a record 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1960-1965. He earned a World Series ring as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 and played in his final game on July 1, 1983 with the Cardinals.

After playing the game, he turned his love of baseball into a 22 year career in broadcasting. Kaat won 7 Emmy Awards for sports broadcasting and was nominated for many more.  

In 1996 and 1998, respectively, he was on the team that won New York Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Live Sports Coverage - Single Program" for coverage of Dwight Gooden's no hitter and David Wells' perfect game. In 1998, MSG Network's Yankee telecasts, of which he was a part, also won the New York Emmy for "Outstanding Live Sports Coverage Series - Professional." In 1995, Kaat was nominated for a New York Emmy award in the "On Camera Achievement" category. See Jim Kaat's complete Emmy Award list below.

While at MSG, Kaat also provided pre-game insights on the Yankees Score Card half-hour pre-game show that aired prior to most Yankees telecasts. In 1995, he also called the Yankees/Mariners playoff series for the Baseball Network and ABC Sports.

Previously, Kaat spent one year as the chief analyst on ESPN's Baseball Tonight and was also the primary analyst for CBS Sports when it held the rights to Major League Baseball from 1989-93.

Prior to working at CBS, Kaat handled a variety of analyst duties with WTBS (Atlanta), ESPN and NBC Sports. While in Atlanta, he also did play-by-play and analyst work for WSB-AM radio. In 1988, Kaat covered Olympic baseball on NBC and handled the college World Series, and the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series for ESPN. During the same season, Kaat was the primary analyst for Minnesota Twins games on CBS affiliate WCCO-TV before moving to CBS Sports.

During the 1986 season, he was the analyst and play-by-play announcer for WPIX-TV, working 100 New York Yankees games. In 1984 and 1985, Kaat was the chief correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, and covered the World Series. Kaat began his baseball broadcasting career during the strike season of 1981 as an analyst working for the Home Team Sports Network, covering minor league games before resuming his playing career for two more seasons.

Achievements & Awards:

·      Kaat was a member of the 1965 Minnesota Twins team that won the American League pennant. He started three games in the 1965 World Series, matching up with Sandy Koufax on all three occasions, including a complete game victory in Game 2.

·      His best season was in 1966, when he won a league-leading 25 games. He finished fifth in the MVP voting and was named the American League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News.

·      Kaat was an All-Star three times (1962, 1966, and 1975).

·      Kaat won 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards for defensive skill (1962-1977).

·      Pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982, Kaat earned a World Series Champions ring working in four games out of the bullpen.

·      In 1983 he became the last major league player to have played in the 1950’s and the last "original" (pre-Twins) Washington Senator player to retire.

·      From 1997 – 2005, Kaat won 7 Emmy Awards for excellence in sports broadcasting.

·      At the time of his retirement, Kaat's 25-year career was the longest of any pitcher in major league history. He is now third all-time, behind Nolan Ryan's 27 seasons and Tommy John's 26 campaigns.

Jim Kaat’s Emmy Awards:

1996 – 1997 New York Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Live Sports Coverage, The Battle of New York: Yankees vs. Mets’, New York Yankees Baseball, Jim Kaat, Announcer, June 16, 1997, MSG Network;

1997-1998 New York Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Live Sports Coverage-Single Program: Professional; David Wells Perfect Game, NY Yankees Baseball, Jim Kaat Commentator, MSG Network;

1997 – 1998 New York Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Live Sports Coverage-Series-Professional’, NY Yankees Baseball, Jim Kaat, Commentator, MSG Network;

1999 – 2000 New York Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Live Sports Coverage-Series’, NY Yankees, Jim Kaat, Announcer, April 13, 1999, MSG Network;

2004-2005 New York Emmy Award for ‘On-camera Achievement (Sports): Analysis/Commentary in a Sportscast, Jim Kaat, YES Network;

2004-2005 New York Emmy Award for ‘Live Sports Coverage: Single Program (Professional)’, NY Yankees Baseball- 2005 Opening Night, Jim Kaat, Talent, YES Network.