MILWAUKEE – One of the most familiar voices in Wisconsin sports history was silenced on Monday as Jim Irwin, 77, died from complications of kidney cancer, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Irwin, known for years as the voice of the Green Bay Packers, was 77. He joined WTMJ-AM in 1969 and served as the color analyst on Packers broadcasts until taking the play-by-play role in 1975, working first with Ted Moore and Lionel Aldridge. He worked with former Packers receiver Max McGee for the next 20 seasons, calling Super Bowls XXXI and XXXII and retiring after the 1998 season.
During his 30-year career, Irwin also called games for the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks and University of Wisconsin basketball and football teams. Irwin was a 10-time winner of the Wisconsin sports announcer of the year award and has been inducted in both the Wisconsin Broadcasting Association and Green Bay Packers Halls of Fame.
Irwin also broadcast NCAA and Olympic broadcasts for ABC and CBS sports.
He began his career in 1964 as a sportscaster with WLUK-TV.
