Cubs News: The GOAT will call Sunday’s game on Marquee Network

Veteran baseball broadcaster Pat Hughes has been calling games for the Chicago Cubs on the radio since 1996. This coming Sunday he will make his regular season television debut as he will call play-by-play alongside color commentator Jim Deshaies on Marquee Network. Hughes, 65, has called more than 6,000 MLB games in his career.

Hughes got a taste of television broadcasting with Marquee back in Spring Training when he called a few preseason games with Deshaies. He was able to broadcast from the studios in Chicago while the Cubs played in Arizona. This Sunday’s game will be against the Milwaukee Brewers at home so he will be broadcasting live from Wrigley Field in the TV booth.

Cubs: Another big milestone in the long career of Pat Hughes

Hughes has accomplished a lot in his broadcasting career. Before his stint with the Cubs he had spent 1984-1995 with the Brewers radio crew, getting to work with legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker. For a season in 1983 he was on the Minnesota Twins television crew. It is easy to forget he had such a long career in broadcasting before being part of the Cubs.

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Since coming to Chicago in 1996, he has called more Cubs postseason games than any other broadcaster in franchise history. He called the postseason runs in 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. Cannot fail to mention his distinct honor of calling the long-waited World Series victory in 2016, after which he got to be the master of ceremonies for the parade. Individually he has won nine Illinois Sportscaster of the Year awards and has been a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award. One day, Hughes will be in the Hall of Fame.

In addition to Uecker, Hughes has also worked with Harry Caray, Ron Santo, Chip Caray, Steve Stone, Len Kasper, Keith Moreland and currently Ron Coomer.

After being part of the Cubs broadcast for 25 years he will finally be behind the mic for television. For many, this is something people have wanted to see. Hughes has been loved by the fanbase for so many years, from his patented, “This ball’s got a chaaaaaaance, gone!” call to his detailed descriptions of the uniforms the players are wearing.

It will be fun to hear on TV and hopefully, we will see more of it throughout the summer. He seemed to naturally transfer his skills from radio to TV in spring, which is not as easy as it sounds.

While Marquee has had its ups and downs with the fans so far, the opportunities they have been giving people to be part of their broadcast has been cool to watch. Beth Mowins got to call a game in Spring Training and we have gotten to see a number of former Cubs get to be part of the broadcast. Best of luck to Pat Hughes in his new TV adventure this Sunday.