If you've ever eaten at Harry Caray's legendary restaurant in Chicago you already know that he was one of the greatest sportscasters of all time. But I bet you didn't know that he was Italian American, right? He was born Harry Christopher Carabina and was always proud of his Italian heritage. To this day each of his now eight Chicago eateries boast an Italian flavor.
Harry Caray’s unique style and outspoken personality resulted in a rare broadcast distinction. He had a close association with three major league teams — the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs.
From 1945 to 1969, Caray was the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals on KMOX/St. Louis. There he developed not only a solid St. Louis following, but a national following as well. During those years, he called three World Series and one All-Star Game and was named Baseball Broadcaster of the Year seven consecutive times by The Sporting News.Born Harry Carabina on March 1, 1914, in St. Louis, young Harry played semi-pro baseball before entering radio. After learning his trade at stations in Joliet and Kalamazoo, Michigan, he did play-by-play for the St. Louis Hawks and the University of Missouri football team. While at WKZO/Kalamazoo, he worked with a young newscaster named Paul Harvey.
After leaving St. Louis, following a dispute with team ownership, Caray headed west to the Oakland Athletics for the 1970 season. In 1971, Caray moved to the Chicago White Sox, where for ten years he served as their principal voice along with color man Jimmy Piersall.
In 1982, Caray shifted allegiance from the White Sox to the Cubs and became known nationally, as a result of the super station status of WGN Television.
In Chicago Caray was famous for singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during each game's seventh inning stretch. His exuberance, his love of people and the joy that he took in his every endeavor were pure Italian!
Caray died suddenly in 1998, and his funeral was one of the largest in the city’s history.
He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.
H/T Radio Hall of Fame
No comments:
Post a Comment