1995 - The Three Pitch Comeback

[Thed Hoyerstein]

I miss Harry. He and Stoney were the perfect booth to me.

 

I agree, except for the presence of Harry Caray and Steve Stone

 

Yuuuuuuuuuup. Harry was tolerable until the stroke in '87, and even before that you'd only really hear the good announcer side of him for a few innings most games before he had too many drinks. Stone always sucked. Even as a kid I couldn't stand him; he sounded like the evil adult from every [expletive] kids movie ever made.

 

 

This was kind of a damning piece about Harray. Makes him come off as kind of an a$$

 

http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/sports/sports_main_story.php

 

That Josh Levin part was kinda odd. Although not surprising, seems like Harray put his ego/fame before others and even the product on the field (which, admittedly, was horrendous). Feel lucky to have Len in the booth.

[Guest]

I don't need to read an article to know that Harry Caray was a crappy person.

[Guest]

You guys got me feeling all nostalgic...

 

Here's the Alou walkoff from 04...

 

http://www.sendspace.com/file/hlie92

 

one of the all-time worst chip caray calls. "in back-to-back HISTORIC fashion"

 

it was a [expletive] regular season game in april

 

Hahahahahahaah! I thought the exact same thing. It's annoying how many of these clips you gotta watch muted.

 

We went from Steve Stone and Chip Caray to, ultimately, Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies.

 

That's almost as good as Hendry to Epstein.

[imb]

I could find out Harry was a nazi sympathizer and not break a sweat. he's too much of a part of my childhood.

[javy knows my name]

Turns out he was worse than just a grouchy old drunk. He was Roger Ailes.

[bcl412]

I could find out Harry was a nazi sympathizer and not break a sweat. he's too much of a part of my childhood.

 

Yeah, both Harry and Steve are too ingrained in my childhood memories to really hate them.

 

Though Stone has ruined my childhood perception of him by (continuing to be?) being a pompous [expletive] and that call by Harry was pretty terrible (at least during the post game celebration it was) I can see why people wouldn't like him.

[mul21]

It was especially sweet given that I am surrounded by Cincinnati fans. Of course, they would play a huge role in the collapse a few months later.

 

 

That was an extra crappy week for me in 2004. In addition to the Cubs collapse, my grandpa died that week. We all knew it was coming, but the huge Cubs collapse on top of that really sucked, especially since he was a huge Cubs fan and one of the big reasons I am too.

[XZero771679666304]

I could find out Harry was a nazi sympathizer and not break a sweat. he's too much of a part of my childhood.

 

Yeah, both Harry and Steve are too ingrained in my childhood memories to really hate them.

 

Though Stone has ruined my childhood perception of him by (continuing to be?) being a pompous [expletive] and that call by Harry was pretty terrible (at least during the post game celebration it was) I can see why people wouldn't like him.

 

Towards the end Harry was such a mess, and the ineffectual, drunken old man thing went hand in hand with the "lovable loser" culture.

 

I grew up with Harry too, but he simply wasn't any good for several years before his death. My best friend (also huge Cubs fan) used to joke about hoping he would take a spill from the booth while doing his stretch routine and bring the whole thing to a merciful (and memorable) end.

 

Like others, my opinion of Stone changed as I matured, going from admiration to disdain.

[ConstableRabbit]

I miss Harry. He and Stoney were the perfect booth to me.

 

I agree, except for the presence of Harry Caray and Steve Stone

 

Yuuuuuuuuuup. Harry was tolerable until the stroke in '87, and even before that you'd only really hear the good announcer side of him for a few innings most games before he had too many drinks. Stone always sucked. Even as a kid I couldn't stand him; he sounded like the evil adult from every [expletive] kids movie ever made.

 

 

This was kind of a damning piece about Harray. Makes him come off as kind of an a$$

 

http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/sports/sports_main_story.php

 

That Josh Levin part was kinda odd. Although not surprising, seems like Harray put his ego/fame before others and even the product on the field (which, admittedly, was horrendous). Feel lucky to have Len in the booth.

That doesn't really portray him as an ass, except for the Lewin part. Seems more like it's describing a shrewd entertainer, which is exactly what Harry had been up until his time with the Cubs.

 

ETA, and the part about not knowing his kids. That's kind of par for the course for entertainers.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

That's a lot like how I would imagine myself talking to Josh Lewin.

[Careless]

Joe Kmak? How did I miss that guy existing?

Second time his name has gotten that reaction in a thread here this offseason

[J.R.]

Harry was a human being. He had his flaws, certainly - the reason he wasn't a Cardinal for life was that he burned his bridges in the organization and capped his run by having an affair with the owner's daughter-in-law. That's why he was effectively blackballed and could only find work with mavericks like Charlie O. and Veeck, years before he was rehabbed as the lovable Cubbie sage. Cardinals insiders from back in the day would not have been at all shocked to read accounts of him as a two-faced master manipulator, unlike Cub fans who only knew the new persona.

 

However, we also know that he had an extremely difficult childhood. That he fought demons of excess and anguish all his life. That he actually was very insecure.

 

I have read many accounts of and personally witnessed him going out of his way to talk to strangers, to sign autographs, to make a fan's day. He was a flawed human being who brought joy to millions - and me in particular.

[Sammy Sofa]

I really don't give a [expletive] what he was like as a person; he just sucked at his job for most of the time I was watching him do it.

[Guest]

I watched Heath Slocumb pitch for the Peoria Chiefs a few times.

 

Thought he had the stuff to be a part of the Cubs rotation for a very long time. Must have been '87 since I moved to Champaign February '88.

 

ETA: Yep, '87. Steve Trout made a rehab start in Peoria and I was at that game as well.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Dunston has swag!

[SouthSideRyan]

Milo Hamilton is a bitter old coot. Who the hell is going to read his book?

[seanimal]

I could find out Harry was a notre dame fan and not break a sweat. he's too much of a part of my childhood.

 

exactly

[seanimal]

I really don't give a [expletive] what he was like as a person; he just sucked at his job for most of the time I was watching him do it.

 

lol so you were as joyless and sour as a child too?

[Sammy Sofa]

Nah, I had and have plenty of fun despite not enjoying Harry Caray like you. How kooky weird!

[Guest]

i grew up on a lot of harry, and he always just seemed kind of weird to me. like a crazy old man who was being kept in check by stone. i actually liked chip caray when he first took over, and for some reason didn't realize he was bad until like 2003 or 2004.

[Guest]

Randomly stumbled onto this video from the 84 team