I miss Harry

[bhogg]

I'm watching the 1987 Game where Andre hit 3 homers, drove in all 5 runs, as the Cubs beat the Phillies 5-3.

 

I miss Harry. I miss the simplicity of the game. Watching the broadcast, I miss being an 11 year old kid and getting to watch all those games on WGN; hearing Harry and Steve. . . .hearing the roar of the crowd (even when the Cubs stunk). . . . watching Ryno ALWAYS take the 1st pitch. . . . Ryno sacrificing his stats so the guy on 1st base has a chance to steal a bag. . . . . watching Lee Arthur Smith pitch a 2 inning save.

 

I can't put my finger on it, but there is something that is missing from today's game. . . .something that I wish my son could experience, but he probably will not. Maybe it will be better for him --- I just don't know.

 

 

Something that is very different is Wrigley itself. It looks like a baseball field. The grass kinda looks weak. .. . it's not pristine and perfectly kept. . . . the backstop looks like it's a good distance from the field. . . .. it's just odd looking. Maybe it's the lack of HDTV ;)

 

 

I think that all these bozos that do the 7th inning stretch should be required to watch Harry do it. Harry didnt do a lot of yelling and screaming and acting like a bafoon. He was genuinely excited, led the crowd in the song, and that was that --- it wasn't so much a show as it was a guy just enjoying himself.

 

 

Okay, I'm done :)

[bhogg]

one more thing --- The Hawk looked good in a baseball uni.

 

 

http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/giants/2006/06/15/sp_andre_dawson.jpg

 

 

As you can see, Andre was so freaking awesome that the opposing team's catcher would just give up. . . .set his mitt on the ground and go grab a beer during the Hawk's AB. Smart man. . . .

[tfarks]

Concur.

[rocket]

i think len kasper is a better play-by-play guy, wrigley is still awesome, and baseball is more interesting today than in the 80's

[dew1679666265]

i think len kasper is a better play-by-play guy, wrigley is still awesome, and baseball is more interesting today than in the 80's

 

As much as I love Len and Bob, there will never be a booth duo I prefer over Harry and Steve. It may just be nostalgia, but I've never heard anyone I like better.

[bhogg]

i think len kasper is a better play-by-play guy, wrigley is still awesome, and baseball is more interesting today than in the 80's

 

 

The game is probably no different. I'm not a big fan of the flash and production of it all these days --- that's probably the biggest difference.

 

Wrigley is no doubt a better looking place now. In the 87 footage it has a very worn look. To be honest, the infield looks horrible. . . makes you really appreciate all the plays Ryno made on it.

 

 

It probably all boils down to when we were kids. I think the 80s rule. My folks would go with the 50s and 60s. Some of you young whipper snappers don't particulary care for 80s baseball :)

[C.C.]

i think len kasper is a better play-by-play guy, wrigley is still awesome, and baseball is more interesting today than in the 80's

 

Len seriously needs a Home-run call.

[biittner77]

I never liked Harry Caray. To me he was a whining old drunk that slobbered into the mike. I actually liked DeWayne Staats and Thom Brennaman in comparison. Steve Stone was much better with his other broadcast partners.

[rocket]

i think len kasper is a better play-by-play guy, wrigley is still awesome, and baseball is more interesting today than in the 80's

 

Len seriously needs a Home-run call.

 

why?

[erik316wttn]

It's probably a good thing Harry is no longer announcing.

 

The past 10 years of this team probably would have killed him, anyway.

 

He'd have had to have been friggin Superman not to keel over dead after Game 6.

 

But yeah, I'd give many of my worldly possessions just to hear Harry and Steve in the booth for one last game on WGN.

[jjgman21]

I never liked Harry Caray. To me he was a whining old drunk that slobbered into the mike. I actually liked DeWayne Staats and Thom Brennaman in comparison. Steve Stone was much better with his other broadcast partners.

 

agreed. couldn't stand Harry. couldn't stand that he came from the White Sox, couldn't stand that he still sloberred over the Cardinals.

[MPrior]

i think len kasper is a better play-by-play guy, wrigley is still awesome, and baseball is more interesting today than in the 80's

 

Len seriously needs a Home-run call.

 

why?

 

I second the notion that he doesn't need a home run call. I think he does a fine job as it is, and if he artificially imposes some hokey "signature" call, it'll just seem fake and contrived.

[J.R.]

I revere the old days as much as anyone, but I can honestly say that I love the game more now than I ever did back then. It just keeps getting better.

[circlecitycub]

I was a latchkey kid and when I watched Cubs games after school I felt like I was watching them with Harry. It was fun to have somebody that got just as excited as I did during the game.

 

I like Len but hearing him call a walkoff win for the Cubs is a far cry from the way Harry would do it.

 

http://www.powermaxconsulting.com/Harry%20-%20Play%20By%20Play.mp3

[jjgman21]

I was a latchkey kid and when I watched Cubs games after school I felt like I was watching them with Harry. It was fun to have somebody that got just as excited as I did during the game.

 

I like Len but hearing him call a walkoff win for the Cubs is a far cry from the way Harry would do it.

 

http://www.powermaxconsulting.com/Harry%20-%20Play%20By%20Play.mp3

 

exactly. none of the misjudging flyballs. none of the inability to translate thought into spoken word. none of the slurring. none of the cliches. none of the constant bitching for the 8 innings leading up to those moments.

 

you are right. Len's calls are a far cry from Harry's.

[bhogg]

Did Harry Caray kill your dog?

[jjgman21]

Did Harry Caray kill your dog?

 

no, I just could never stand him and thought he sucked at his job, and I never understood how other Cub fans could, or how he became an icon simply because he was a drunken idiot.

 

 

on the other sentiments you expressed, I am largely in agreement.

[bhogg]

Did you actually listen to Harry? He got a little rough at the end, but I never remember him being who you are describing.

[SouthSideRyan]

Did Harry Caray kill your dog?

 

no, I just could never stand him and thought he sucked at his job, and I never understood how other Cub fans could, or how he became an icon simply because he was a drunken idiot.

 

 

on the other sentiments you expressed, I am largely in agreement.

 

People liked Haray because he was a character, but not a caricature. Additionally he actually knew some baseball.

[NCCubFan]

I enjoyed Harry, but Jack Brickhouse was the best.

[Stu]

Did Harry Caray kill your dog?

 

no, I just could never stand him and thought he sucked at his job, and I never understood how other Cub fans could, or how he became an icon simply because he was a drunken idiot.

 

 

on the other sentiments you expressed, I am largely in agreement.

 

People liked Haray because he was a character, but not a caricature. Additionally he actually knew some baseball.

 

I loved Harry because he was a fan, just like me. I felt like I was having a beer and sitting next to him when I watched the Cubs games. He could get annoying, like when he was all over the place with names, or at the end of the second game of a double header he was broadcasting from the bleachers and he was drunk as a skunk, or the "so and so spelled backwards is .." But at the end of the day he was a fan, and I could always relate to that.

[Pushfrog98]

It's probably a good thing Harry is no longer announcing.

 

The past 10 years of this team probably would have killed him, anyway.

 

He'd have had to have been friggin Superman not to keel over dead after Game 6.

 

But yeah, I'd give many of my worldly possessions just to hear Harry and Steve in the booth for one last game on WGN.

I can't tell if you realize that harry is dead...

[bhogg]

According to Stone's book, Harry didn't drink after 1987.

 

Believe it. . . .. or not. . . . .

[J.R.]

According to Stone's book, Harry didn't drink after 1987.

 

Believe it. . . .. or not. . . . .

 

Harry said the same thing in Holy Cow!.

[bhogg]

Most of his antics were nothing more than an act. I think his love for the game and for the Cubs was genuine, but make no mistake -- he was an entertainer, and dang good one at that.