Native St. Louisan and former Cardinals announcer Bob Carpenter ended his broadcast career in style over the weekend, being honored and surprised by the team for which he has called games over the last two decades — the Washington Nationals.

The Nats brought in family members and friends, saluted him with a ceremony and had him throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game. The topper came when players came out of the dugout to tip their caps to him up in the broadcast booth before his final game, the team's season finale on Sunday.

Carpenter, 72, long ago had said this would be his final season, but it was business as usual most of the way — including one last series in St. Louis — until Thursday.

"When I picked up my wife at the airport, and then the others a little later, that's

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