Chicago Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes’ eloquence on the microphone has made him synonymous with summer season baseball on the North Side.
Hughes, 67, has been the radio voice for a era of Cubs followers since taking up the function in 1996. The crew will honor him for his contributions by inducting Hughes and former outfielder José Cardenal into the Cubs Hall of Fame.
The late Buck O’Neil — a longtime scout and coach for the Cubs — additionally earned a plaque via his election this 12 months to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The trio shall be inducted Sept. 10.
President of enterprise operations Crane Kenney revealed the information to Hughes through the third inning of Wednesday’s radio broadcast of the Cubs’ 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
“I’m amazed, I really am. I don’t know what to say,” Hughes stated afterward. “How did I get here? I can’t explain it. It’s almost surreal.”
Hughes stated he wished his dad and mom and former broadcast companion and Hall of Famer Ron Santo had been alive for the dignity. He additionally gave a shout-out to Ron Coomer, his companion the final 9 seasons; Trish, his spouse of almost 35 years; and their two daughters.
“You always hope for things like that, but some things are almost so lofty that you don’t really dwell on it because you don’t want to be disappointed,” Hughes stated. “So I did not sit around thinking about it a lot. I thought that’d be pretty cool if I could get there and make the Cubs Hall of Fame. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be part of a Hall of Fame of such a great organization like the Cubs?”
The voting committee consisted of 5 National Baseball Hall of Famers — Andre Dawson, Fergie Jenkins, Lee Smith, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams — and eight media members. To earn induction, a candidate should end among the many high two vote-getters or obtain 75% of the votes. Team historian Ed Hartig helped compile the 14-person poll.
Among the {qualifications} to be thought of are taking part in no less than 5 years for the Cubs, making a big contribution to the group and, for gamers, ending their Cubs profession by 2000 whereas within the franchise’s high 10 of their period in no less than one main statistical class.
The Cubs Hall of Fame, positioned beneath the left-field bleachers, was unveiled final summer season. It at the moment options 56 plaques, which incorporates members of the unique Cubs Hall of Fame (1982-86), their Walk of Fame (1992-98), the crew’s National Baseball Hall of Famers and final 12 months’s honoree, Margaret Donahue.
Cardenal, 78, spent six seasons (1972-77) on the Cubs. The Cuban native hit .296 with a .363 on-base proportion and 114 OPS+ in 821 video games.
Hughes turns into the third broadcaster to earn a spot within the Cubs Hall of Fame, becoming a member of Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray.
“I love baseball history and I love Cubs history,” Hughes stated. “And to think that I’m in there with only two other broadcasters — that I’m the third is very special.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com