Carneal signs one-year deal to stay in Twins' booth

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Herb Carneal will be back for season No. 42.

The longtime Minnesota Twins broadcaster has signed a one-year deal with WCCO Radio to help call the 2003 season.

In 1999, Carneal had signed a three-year contract to continue broadcasting the games.

"I told them that three years would be enough and then I'd be out," Carneal said.

Carneal wanted to be spend more time with his wife, Kathy. But she died from complications of a stroke in June 2000.

Carneal, 79, said he found comfort in the broadcast booth.

"I still feel like I can do the job, I enjoy it and it gives me something to look forward to instead of just trying to think who will I play golf with tomorrow or what will I do tomorrow," Carneal said.

Carneal will continue to work only home games. But instead of doing play-by-play of the first three innings and then the eighth and ninth, he will call the first four innings.

After that, he will turn over the broadcast to John Gordon and Dan Gladden, who will work the remainder of the game.