Results tagged ‘ Pat Hughes ’
9/10 Hughes, Santo on Frick ballot
Ron Santo and Cubs radio play by play announcer Pat Hughes are among the 41 broadcasters picked from the more than 200 eligible for the 2013 Ford C. Frick Award. The second round of online voting for the award began Monday and will run through Oct. 5 on the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Facebook site. The top three vote-getters among the 41 finalists will be placed on the final 2013 Frick Award ballot, with the other seven finalists determined by a Hall of Fame committee. The final ballot will be announced Oct. 9.
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for excellence in baseball broadcasting. The 2013 Frick Award winner will be selected by a 21-member electorate, with the winner to be announced at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., in early December.
Santo was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame this summer.
The top 41 vote-getters from the first round of online voting were (in alphabetical order): Joe Angel, Richie Ashburn, Alan Ashby, Bert Blyleven, Lou Boudreau, Thom Brennaman, Rodger Brulotte, Joe Buck, Steve Busby, Skip Caray, Joe Castiglione, Tom Cheek, Don Chevrier, Gary Cohen, Jerry Doggett, Jacques Doucet, Dick Enberg, Ed Farmer, Ray Fosse, Hank Greenwald, Tom Grieve, Tom Hamilton, Ken Harrelson, Mark Holtz, Pat Hughes, Jim Hunter, Todd Kalas, Bill King, Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Eric Nadel, Joe Nuxhall, Phil Rizzuto, Ron Santo, Mike Shannon, Charlie Slowes, Dwayne Staats, Steve Stone, Pete Van Wieren, Mike Wilner and Bert Wilson. Every broadcaster, active or retired, who has broadcast at least 10 consecutive years for a team or network was eligible for consideration during the first round of voting. Voting in the Fan Finals begins with a clean slate for each candidate, as vote totals do not carry over from Round One.
Presented annually since 1978 for excellence in baseball broadcasting, the Ford C. Frick Award is given to an active or retired broadcaster with a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two. The Frick electorate includes all living Award-winners and five historians/veteran media members appointed by the Hall of Fame.
8/30 Santo, Hughes on Frick ballot
You can help Ron Santo and Pat Hughes get into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Santo and Hughes are among the 75 candidates vying for the 2012 Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting. This is Hughes’ 16th season as WGN Radio’s play by play announcer. Santo’s last season as the team’s analyst was 2010. The former Cubs third baseman, who died last December, began his broadcasting career in 1990 and teamed with Hughes for 15 seasons.
Fans can cast votes for the Cubs radio broadcasters at the Hall of Fame’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/baseballhall. This is the ninth consecutive year the fans will select three of the 10 names on the ballot for the Frick Award. Voting runs from Thursday through Sept. 30, and fans can cast votes once per day through September.
The Hall of Fame has trimmed the list of fan-eligible candidates to 75, with two representing every current big league team and 15 at-large selections. The selections were based on popularity, longevity and past voting results in the online fan balloting. Eligible candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous Major League broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two.
Results of the fan voting will be announced Oct. 5. The final 2012 Frick Award ballot will be comprised of the three fan selections, along with seven other candidates, determined by a Hall of Fame staff research team. The winner will be announced Dec. 6 at the Winter Meetings.
– Carrie Muskat
6/14 New Ron Santo book
Pat Hughes has a new book out that’s a collection of stories about late Ron Santo. It’s called “Ron Santo: A Perfect 10,” and is available now on Cubs.com, Ronsantobook.com, or at Chicagoland Jewel and Binny’s Beverage Depot locations. Hughes said orders placed by 12 p.m. CT on Wednesday should get delivery in time for Father’s Day on Sunday.
Santo died December 3, 2010, of complications from bladder cancer. Hughes was asked by the Santo family to be the primary eulogist at the funeral in Chicago. That sparked some memories.
The book features more than 40 voices as current Cubs players such as Kerry Wood, Santo’s former teammates like Ernie Banks and Fergie Jenkins, and some family share stories. Ron Santo Jr. encouraged Hughes to write the book after a conversation at the Cubs Convention in January.
“I just want people to remember Ron with a smile on their face,” Hughes said.
– Carrie Muskat
3/10 Salute to Santo
Cubs players will wear No. 10 caps on Thursday in honor of Ron Santo Day at HoHoKam Park. There’s a No. 10 painted on the field behind home plate and a plaque will be unveiled under the broadcast booth. Fans will get a No. 10 sticker and a baseball card with a black and white photo of Santo at Rendezvous Park in Mesa in Spring Training 1965.
“I didn’t know him near as well as Billy [Williams] and Lou [Piniella] and all the veterans and people around Chicago for years and years,” manager Mike Quade said. “When you interview with somebody, it becomes more of an intimate thing and for those six weeks, I did get to know him.”
Santo never hid his love for the Cubs.
“It was sincere,” Quade said of Santo’s passion. “It wasn’t manufactured for the booth or anything else. I never needed to hear the score when I was in Iowa. All those years, I would turn on the radio after my game and listen to three words out of Ronnie’s mouth — or three groans. [If it was groans], I wasn’t sure how bad we were losing but I knew it wasn’t good. If he and Pat [Hughes] were having fun, then I knew we were in good shape.”
– Carrie Muskat
2/26 Moreland nervous but ready
New Cubs radio analyst Keith Moreland arrived at HoHoKam Park on Saturday to get prepped for his first broadcast on Sunday with partner Pat Hughes. Moreland is taking over for the late Ron Santo.
“There’s excitement, obviously, and sadness, too,” Moreland said. “Ron was a great friend and a major part of this organization for 50 years. I have sadness and excitement all at the same time. You can’t replace Ron and all I can do is be me. It’s nice to have a Hall of Fame type guy sitting beside me because Pat makes you feel so comfortable.”
Moreland remembers when he first met Santo, and Santo told the young third baseman that he liked how he played the game.
“He was self-deprecating,” Moreland said of Santo. “He would pick on himself awful bad. He would pick on himself so much, he made it so much fun to be around him.”
Will it be tough to criticize players?
“The first thing is there is no substitute for hustle,” Moreland said. “Effort is the one thing you can control. The game of baseball is a game you cannot control the outcome. You can hit the ball four times right on the button or make five really good pitches in a row and two could leave the ballpark. You don’t have control sometimes of the outcome but you do have control of your effort. If there is a point that I could be critical of it will be effort.”
Is he nervous?
“Heck, yeah, I’m nervous,” Moreland said. “I just hope people allow me to be me. Again, [Santo] is irreplaceable, and that’s not my intention in any capacity. Because of that, I have some apprehension. I get to turn to my right and look who’s sitting beside me — he’s the best straight man in the world.”
Hughes has said he wants Moreland to shine and be the star.
“All I can do is be me,” Moreland said. “There’s nothing other than that. I can butcher the English language with the best of them and I’m not sure what words mean sometimes. I try my best to get a point across of what’s taking place on the field.”
– Carrie Muskat
2/24 Hughes preps for life without Santo
On Sunday, Pat Hughes will begin his 16th season as the radio play by play voice of the Cubs but for the first time, he’ll have a new partner. Hughes begins his first season without popular color man Ron Santo, who died Dec. 3 at the age of 70. Friday would’ve been Santo’s 71st birthday.
“The reality is hitting me this week,” Hughes said.
Former Cub Keith Moreland takes over for Santo in the WGN Radio booth, and makes his debut on Sunday when the team opens Cactus League play against the Athletics. Hughes has worked with Moreland in the past, including two series last year.
“I said, ‘You be yourself and relax,’” Hughes said Wednesday night of his advice to Moreland, who was broadcasting University of Texas baseball and football. “[I told him] ‘I’ll try to make you a star and make you shine.’”
That’s always been one of Hughes’ strongest characteristics on air. He never tried to top Santo and his passion. He’s been a steady voice, letting the emotional Santo show his displeasure or glee at plays on the field.
Santo played for the Cubs from 1960-73, and joined the WGN Radio team in 1990. The Cubs retired his No. 10 in September 2003, and players this year will wear a No. 10 patch on their uniform sleeve in his honor. The 2011 media guide features a montage of Santo highlights from his days as a player and broadcaster.
Hughes has asked fans to be patient with Moreland. No one can replace Santo.
“I really do think we’ll be OK,” Hughes said.
He joked that the pressure really is on Cubs manager Mike Quade and the players.
“The best [Moreland] and I can hope for is a winning team,” Hughes said. “If we’re winning, people will think we’re doing a better job than we are.”
– Carrie Muskat
2/16 Moreland to join Hughes at WGN Radio
WGN Radio Wednesday announced Keith Moreland is the new analyst for Cubs radio broadcasts, taking over for the late Ron Santo. Moreland replaces Ron Santo, who died in December.
“I’m elated,” Moreland said Wednesday. “That’s the only word I can use. I hate to be sitting in this seat because nobody can replace Ron Santo. He was a great friend and a tremendous Cub fan. I can’t do anything but try to be myself.”
Moreland played for the Cubs from 1982-87, as well as the Phillies, Padres, Tigers and Orioles. A native of Dallas, he was a catcher, third baseman and outfielder. The Cubs are special to him and said his favorite game in 1984 was the “Sandberg Game” when Ryne Sandberg hit two game-tying homers off the Cardinals’ Bruce Sutter.
“When you go back and look at your career, it was such an incredible place to be a part of,” Moreland said.
The first WGN Radio broadcast will be Feb. 27, when the Cubs open Cactus League play.
Moreland is optimistic, just like all Cubs fans.
“Before my lifetime is over, we’re going to win a World Series, I’m a firm believer of that,” Moreland said.
– Carrie Muskat
2/9 Hughes waits for new radio partner
The first WGN Radio broadcast of a Cubs’ Spring Training game will be Feb. 27, but the wait continues for the station and the team to announce a new broadcaster to succeed Ron Santo. Pat Hughes will begin his 16th season as the Cubs’ play-by-play man, but first without Santo, who died Dec. 3. Keith Moreland and Dave Otto were reportedly the finalists for the job.
“It’s going to be a different atmosphere and call,” Hughes told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I still miss [Santo], and I will every day for the rest of my life. He was a big part of my life and my family’s life.”
WGN Radio officials have stated the obvious — that they will name someone before the first game, which is the Cubs’ Cactus League opener. Hughes does have a message for devoted followers of the Pat and Ron Show.
“Please, please give the new guy a chance and let us grow as a team,” Hughes said. “It’s almost like it will be for new manager Mike Quade. In my mind, it’s the same. Let them have a chance to be themselves. They’ll make mistakes — we all do. But give them a chance.”
– Carrie Muskat
2/8 Spring Training broadcast schedule
If you’re stuck in the snow and can’t get to Arizona for Spring Training, you’ll be able to follow nearly every Cubs’ Cactus League game via television, radio or Internet radio broadcast. The 2011 spring schedule features eight games televised by Cubs broadcast partners (six by WGN and two by Comcast SportsNet), 11 on the WGN Cubs radio network, and 19 via Internet radio broadcast on Cubs.com. Fans will be able to access the Cubs webcasts on Cubs.com and MLB.com for free by registering for a log-in account with the website. In total, 32 of the 34 games (not including an intrasquad game) are scheduled to be available via one or more broadcast mediums.
Cubs TV play-by-play announcer Len Kasper will join Mick Gillispie, radio broadcaster for Chicago’s Double-A Tennessee affiliate, for most of the Cubs.com radio broadcasts. The first exclusive Cubs.com broadcast will be March 1 from Scottsdale, Ariz., when the Cubs play the Giants.
WGN Radio will broadcast the first two games of the spring — Feb. 27 vs. the Athletics and Feb. 28 vs. the Brewers. Pat Hughes, who enters his 16th season with the Cubs, will handle the play-by-play. The Cubs and WGN Radio have yet to announce his new partner, who takes over for the late Ron Santo.
The first televised spring game will be March 6 when the Cubs host the Dodgers on WGN. Comcast SportsNet’s first game will be March 20 against the Giants from HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
The full broadcast schedule will be posted on Cubs.com later today.
– Carrie Muskat
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