Tag / Ron Coomer

by admin

The Hall Comes Calling

Cubs radio play-by-play man Pat Hughes was awarded the 2023 Ford C. Frick Award yesterday, presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.  Hughes, who joined the Cubs booth in 1996, will have spent 28 of his 41 seasons as a broadcaster for the Cubs after starting his career with the Twins in 1983 followed by a twelve-season run with the Brewers.

Hughes joined the Cubs booth in 1996, joining long time color commentator, and Cub legend, Ron Santo.  The chemistry between the two grew to the point where their broadcasts came to be known as “The Pat and Ron Show”.  Following Santo’s death in 2010, Hughes has worked alongside former Cubs Keith Moreland and Ron Coomer.

Along the way, Hughes has called many memorable moments, including eight no-hitters, the 25-inning contest between the White Sox and the Brewers which remains the longest game in American League history, Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game in 1998, Mark McGwire’s record-breaking 62nd home run in 1998, and, of course, the final out clinching the Cubs 2016 World Series title.

Hughes, 67, is the sixth announcer with ties to Chicago to earn the honor, following Ken Harrelson, Milo Hamilton, Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, and Bob Elson.

by jim

You Can Catch It All On WG… Oh, Wait

Wrigley FieldAfter a 90 year relationship, and a 57 year consecutive run, word broke yesterday that the Cubs would be leaving their radio home on WGN after this season and will be moving up the dial to WBBM.  The current broadcast team of Pat Hughes and Ron (It’s Not A) Coomer are expected to make the move as well.  So, really, there should be no difference to anyone who is able to work a radio dial.

Which, based on some of the Internet reaction, may not be many Cub fans.  The main complaints seem to be 1) History! and 2) the lyrics to Go Cubs Go are now factually incorrect.  While the Cubs have been associated with WGN for 90 years, this isn’t their first foray to other stations.  Not to mention, by the time the new deal expires, it is just as likely that as many, if not more people will be listening via the MLB AtBat app or through an online stream.  The broadcast station will likely be irrelevant.

To the second point, the song also claims that the Cubs are going to win today, and that has been inaccurate more often than not in the 30 years since the song was released.