Cubs: 2022 will mark the 25th season without Harry Caray

Even after more than two decades since his last Chicago Cubs broadcast, Harry Caray is still a beloved figure among fans. His statue sits outside the main entrance of the Wrigley Field bleachers, recordings of him singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” often plays during the seventh-inning stretch and people still enjoy talking about the memories they had of him on WGN. It was roughly five months prior to his death when he did his final WGN Cubs broadcast on September 21, 1997. Caray passed away on February 18, 1998. The 2022 season will be the 25th season of Cubs baseball without Caray at the mic.

Remembering a Cubs legend and the final days of his career

Caray never officially retired from broadcasting, so he did not get a farewell tour in 1997. While his age and health were slowing him down a bit, and he did not go on all the road trips anymore, he wanted to keep going. In the sign-off of his final broadcast, he said, “God willing, hope to see you next year.” His plans to keep going were also evident by WGN bringing in his grandson Chip Caray to share the booth with Harry for the 1998 season in December. Sadly this never came to be as Caray died shortly after.

Since his passing the Cubs have had three primary play-by-play television announcers: Chip Caray, Len Kasper and now Boog Sciambi. All of them featured their own unique quirks and styles, but there will never be another Harry Caray. From 1982 through 1997 he was one of the main reasons to watch the Cubs and why so many people nationwide supported the North Siders. His personality made bad games fun…and there were plenty of bad games over those years.

The landscape of broadcasting has really changed over the years. As fun as he was, much of his schtick would not fly on today’s airwaves. It is also a different era of baseball where the game is much more analytics-driven and broadcasters attempt to help educate fans on how some of that works. Not to mention today’s broadcasting standards and technology have really advanced even since 1997.

Personally, I cannot see Caray talking about Rick Sutcliffe’s xFIP or Andre Dawson’s wRC+ and Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Also do not believe having a case of Budweiser in the booth would fly today, either. At the end of the day, it was a different era when Caray broadcasted, but he is still loved just the same.

The night the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, many fans paid tribute to the late broadcaster. His grave was covered in World Series memorabilia, Old Style cans, green apples and heartfelt notes. Heroes get remembered, legends never die.