Pat Hughes (sportscaster)

Pat Hughes
Hughes at the 2011 Cubs Convention
Born Vergil Patrick Hughes
(1955-05-27) May 27, 1955
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality American
Education San Jose State University
Occupation Sportscaster
Years active 1978–present
Employer WSCR

Vergil Patrick "Pat" Hughes (born May 27, 1955) is an American sportscaster. He has been the radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1996.

The 2018 season will mark the 36th consecutive year Hughes has served as an MLB announcer. Hughes's MLB career began in 1983 performing as a TV play-by-play man for the Minnesota Twins, after which he spent 12 years in Milwaukee for the Brewers.[1] Hughes also spent 17 years as a radio/TV game-caller for Marquette University basketball. In November 1995, Pat Hughes was selected by WGN Radio in Chicago to be the new "Voice of the Cubs". Hughes partnered with color commentator Ron Santo, former Hall of Fame third baseman for the Cubs, from 1996 to 2010, until Santo died of bladder cancer. Their on-air chemistry came to be known as the "Pat and Ron Show". Besides Santo, Hughes has worked regularly as an on-air partner with other luminaries Harry Caray, Bob Uecker, and Al McGuire.

Broadcasting career

Pat Hughes made Chicago Cubs history in the 2016 World Series. Since baseball broadcasting did not begin until the 1920s, and the Cubs previous World Title had been in 1908, Hughes became the first Cubs announcer ever to say "The Chicago Cubs win the World Series!" Here is Pat's final call of the 2016 World Series: "A little bouncer slowly toward Bryant. He will glove it and throw to Rizzo. It's in time! And the Chicago Cubs win the World Series! The Cubs come pouring out of the dugout, jumping up and down like a bunch of delirious 10-year-olds. The Cubs have done it! The longest drought in the history of American sports is over, and the celebration begins!"[2]

Hughes has announced 57 Cubs postseason games, more than any other Cubs broadcaster.

Pat has called six no-hitters in his career, comprising those tossed by Juan Nieves, Scott Erickson, Carlos Zambrano, Cole Hamels and two by Jake Arrieta.

In April 2018, Hughes is scheduled to broadcast his 6,000th Big League Baseball game. This total includes Cactus League pre-season games, regular season, and post-season contests.

After the end of the 2017 season, Hughes estimated that he had only missed five games for health reasons, despite undergoing three throat surgeries in the preceding years.[3]

After Ron Santo's death in 2010, former Cub Keith Moreland was Pat's partner on Cubs Radio for 3 seasons.

In December 2013, another former Cub—and Chicago native—Ron Coomer joined Hughes. The two called games on WGN Radio in 2014, switching to WBBM in 2015, and to WSCR-"The Score"-in 2016. 2018 will be the 5th season for the Hughes/Coomer Cubs Radio partnership.

In addition to Major League Baseball and Marquette Basketball, Hughes has also covered games for the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL, Minor League baseball teams the Columbus Clippers and the San Jose Missions, both football and basketball games of the University of Wisconsin, and basketball games of Northwestern University.

Pat Hughes graduated from Branham High School in San Jose, California in 1973, and from San Jose State University in 1978 with a degree in Radio/TV Journalism.

Awards and Honors

In 2016, Pat Hughes was a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award, in conjunction with the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association has awarded Hughes seven Illinois Sportscaster of the Year awards (1996, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015), in addition to three Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year awards (1990–92).

In 2017, The National Sports Media Association awarded Hughes with the Illinois Sportscaster of the Year.

In 2017, Hughes was inducted into the Irish/American Baseball Hall of Fame in New York City.

In 2016, Hughes received the Ring Lardner Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism, Broadcast category

In 2014, Hughes was inducted into the WGN Radio Walk of Fame, only the 3rd sportscaster to be honored.

In 2012, Hughes was inducted into the Branham High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Baseball Voices

Pat Hughes is the sole proprietor of "Baseball Voices", commemorative audio tributes to MLB's greatest announcers. On each CD, Pat performs as Producer, Writer, and Narrator. Featured broadcasters include Hughes' former colleagues Harry Caray, Ron Santo and Bob Uecker, as well as Hall of Famers Mel Allen, Red Barber, Marty Brennaman, Jack Buck, Milo Hamilton, Harry Kalas, Denny Matthews, Dave Niehaus, Bob Prince, Chuck Thompson, Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons. After the Cubs 2016 Championship, a Special Edition of Baseball Voices was created entitled "The Chicago Cubs Win the World Series!"

Family and personal life

Born in Tucson, Arizona, Pat Hughes grew up in San Jose, California. Hughes has been married to his wife, Trish, since 1987. They have two daughters, Janell and Amber.

References

  1. ↑ Greenberg, Steve (September 23, 2017). "Cubs voice Pat Hughes on an 'exhilarated' ride he hopes won't end soon". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Listen: Pat Hughes' Call Of Final Play That Clinched Cubs' Championship". CBS Chicago. November 3, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ Haugh, David (December 14, 2017). "Three throat surgeries later, Cubs announcer Pat Hughes gives voice to health scare that threatened career". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
Preceded by
Thom Brennaman		 Chicago Cubs Radio Play-By-Play Announcer
1996–present		 Incumbent
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