Harry Caray, a well-known American baseball broadcaster on radio and television, made a significant impact in the field of broadcasting throughout his career. From his early days as a sports editor and news director for WKZO in Kalamazoo to his time as a broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals on KMOX-TV and Radio, Caray’s innovative style of speaking and his ability to openly express his praise or disappointment for players’ performances earned him wide recognition. His tenure as an announcer for the Chicago Cubs on WGN helped propel the channel to become one of the top TV channels in the U.S. Caray’s contributions to broadcasting were acknowledged with the prestigious Ford Frick Award. Additionally, he played a vital role in popularizing the iconic song ‘Take me out to the Ball Game’ during the seventh-inning stretch while working for the White Sox. Caray’s broadcasting career extended beyond baseball, as he also served as an announcer for the Missouri Tigers football team, St. Louis Billikens basketball team, and St. Louis Hawks basketball team during the 1950s and 1960s. Furthermore, he broadcasted eight Cotton Bowl Classic games on radio. Alongside his broadcasting endeavors, Caray also owned a renowned restaurant, Harry Caray’s.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Harry Christopher Carabina, Harry Christopher Caray
- Died At Age: 83
- Died on: February 18, 1998
- Place of Death: Rancho Mirage, California, United States
- Ancestry: Italian American
- Cause of Death: Heart Attack
- U.S. State: Missouri
- City: St. Louis, Missouri
Childhood & Early Life
Harry Caray, originally named Harry Christopher Carabina, was born to an Italian father and Romanian mother. Unfortunately, he lost his father at the age of two and his mother when he was eight. Following his mother’s death, he went to live with his aunt.
Career
Caray briefly played baseball at the semi-pro level and his impressive performance earned him an athletic scholarship from the University of Alabama. However, he decided not to accept the scholarship and instead pursued his dream of joining the St. Louis Cardinals, a baseball team in Missouri. Unfortunately, he was unable to fulfill his goal of becoming a professional baseball player.
Caray worked as a sales correspondent for a short period, which allowed him to attend baseball matches. While listening to baseball match commentary on the radio, he noticed a lack of liveliness in the broadcasts. He wrote a letter expressing his opinion to Merle Jones, the general manager of KMOX, a radio station in St. Louis. This letter led to Caray’s opportunity to work as an announcer at WJOL in Joliet, Illinois. He later joined WKZO in Kalamazoo, Michigan as a sports editor and news director, working alongside well-known radio broadcaster Paul Harvey.
In 1945, Caray became the broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals on KMOX-TV and Radio. It was during this time that he changed his surname to Caray. He broadcasted the World Series of 1964, 1967, and 1968 on NBC. After serving the St. Louis Cardinals for twenty-five years, Caray was dismissed from his job in 1969. He then worked as a broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics for one season.
Caray joined WFLD in Chicago in 1971 as the broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox. He worked at Comiskey Park for eleven seasons, where he became known for singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” In 1977, he began broadcasting with Mary Shane, the first female announcer of baseball. Despite receiving critical acclaim for his work with the Chicago White Sox, Caray faced criticism from the team’s owner and eventually left due to differences with the new team owners.
After leaving the Chicago White Sox in 1982, Caray joined WGN-TV to broadcast for the Chicago Cubs. He gained nationwide recognition for his broadcasting style while working with the Cubs.
Personal Life & Legacy
Caray was fired from his announcer’s job for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969 due to his affair with the daughter-in-law of August A. Busch, Jr., the owner of the Cardinals. He was married to Dorothy and had three children with her. He later married Marian and had two children. On May 19, 1975, he married Delores “Dutchie.”
On February 14, 1998, Caray suffered a heart attack that caused brain damage while dining with his family. He passed away several days later.
Trivia
Caray took great pride in working with his son Skip Caray and grandson Chip Caray in the same broadcast booth during a baseball match on May 13, 1991.