McCarver called his first World Series in for ABC as a last minute replacement for Howard Cosell. Cosell had been removed from the broadcasts altogether after excerpts from his controversial book "I Never Played the Game" (which was critical of Cosell's co-workers at ABC Sports) appeared in "TV Guide". Perhaps McCarver's most notable assignment for ABC prior to the 1985 World Series was as a field reporter for the 1984 National League Championship Series.