Carroll was one of nine children of a cotton mill worker, who died in 1966. Growing up in Clanton, Alabama, Carroll went to school and also worked many jobs, including as a curb-service boy at a restaurant, at the cotton mill where his father worked, and loading watermelons onto trucks.
Professional career
Carroll was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1961, and made his major league debut at age 23 on September 2, 1964, hurling two shutout innings against the Cardinals. Carroll was acquired along with Tony Cloninger and Woody Woodward by the Reds from the Atlanta Braves for Milt Pappas, Bob Johnson and Ted Davidson on June 11, 1968. Nicknamed "Hawk" due to his profile likeness of the bird, he was selected to the National League All-Star team in and. He led the National League in saves in 1972 with 37, and finished tied for fifth in the Cy Young Award voting. The 37 saves stood as a National League record until Bruce Sutter broke it in 1984 with 45 saves for the St. Louis Cardinals. Carroll's best seasons were with the Reds from 1968 to 1975, which earned him a place in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. Carroll pitched in three World Series for the Reds, including the 1975 World Series which the Reds won in seven games over the Boston Red Sox. Carroll starred in the 1970 World Series. He appeared in five of the six games, hurling nine shutout innings with 11 strikeouts. Carroll, along with rookie Don Gullett, paced an injury-riddled staff that was otherwise ineffective against Baltimore. Carroll was the winning pitcher in the Reds' only victory against the Orioles. Overall in the postseason, Carroll boasted a 4-2 record with two saves, a blown save, and a 1.39 ERA in 22 appearances, allowing just five earned runs in innings. He was traded by the Reds to the Chicago White Sox for Rich Hinton and minor league catcher Jeff Sovern on December 12, 1975.
Personal life
Carroll and his wife Judy were the parents of daughters, Connie and Lori along with a son, Bret. The Carrolls divorced in 1981. In 1983 Carroll married Frances Nowitzke, who also had three children. During a November 1985 shooting in their home in Bradenton, Florida, Carroll was wounded, and his wife Frances, 53, and son Bret, 11, were shot and killed by Frances' son, Frederick. Carroll's stepson was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Florida’s electric chair. Several years later a new trial was ordered, and Frederick was given a life sentence that continues to be served. Carroll still frequently returns to Cincinnati for the team's annual RedsFest event, including in December 2012. He is also a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
