Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Harry Caray

Harry finds his permanent home, a place where his fun-loving, gregarious behavior will be welcomed and championed forever.

Harry Caray stayed in Chicago to the renown of the fans, joining the North Side Cubs ahead of the 1982 season.  While Harry’s popularity in Chicago was already cemented, the Cubs’ television outlet, WGN-TV, was broadcast nationwide resulting in his popularity to be increased all over through the United States.

Harry became the perfect successor for another beloved long-time Cubs announcer, Jack Brickhouse, who was a staple for the organization from 1941-45 and again from 1948-81.  Brickhouse, an Illinois native, was a fixture for all of Chicago’s major sports, calling games for the White Sox (1940-45, 1948-67), the Bears (1953-77), and the Bulls (1966-73).

Needless to say, Harry had extremely big shoes to fill but proved he was the man to take on Jack’s mantle.

By 1984, the Cubs had won the National League East division title, and Harry’s popularity soared even higher than ever.  His habitual seventh-inning stretch rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” which he had started while with the White Sox, became a beloved tradition at Wrigley Field as he coerced the fans to join him in loudly belting (and slurring) the tune every game.  A now cult-like figure in Chicago, fans began to even don their own thick, black barrel-rimmed glasses in homage to Harry.

Along with his immense popularity, which never faded, neither did Harry’s love for beer.  Known for enjoying “a few” of his favorite Budweiser’s a game, Harry was nicknamed “The Mayor of Rush Street,” a reference the Chicago’s famed neighborhood which held a plethora of famous tavern and bars littered throughout the area.

After suffering a stroke in 1987, Harry’s health began to fade.  Despite being past WGN’s usual mandatory retirement age, the network allowed him to continue, a testament to his popularity and status in Chicago.

However, due to his health, Harry was limited to home games and only road trips to surrounding areas such as Milwaukee and St. Louis.

Harry soldiered on, despite his poor health, bringing the Wrigley fans as well as the millions watching on television nationwide, the most entertaining broadcasting baseball fans could ask for.

One of my personal favorites is Harry’s constant pursuit in trying to pronounce Montreal Expos (and future Cubs) second baseman, Mark Grudzielanek‘s name.

While the Cubs were often in long stretches of futility, Harry would still manage to find a way to entertain the fans, even attempting to say Grudzielanek’s name backwards in order to make us briefly forget the team was mathematically eliminated by late May.

It was one of the many reasons why we loved Harry Caray.