Jack Brickhouse and Legendary Broadcasters

Donald: Jack Brickhouse. Born John Beasley Brickhouse. Living life and all its included realities, I’d honestly not thought about him a ton, but, then, someone mentioned his birthday—back on January 24—and it set me to remembering how good Mr. Brickhouse made me feel listening to him. I remembered my man’s amazing talent for announcing. Connecting. He not only announced for the Cubs—play-by-play coverage on WGN-TV for near 35 years—he also touched a number of other sports and events. He called White Sox games, he called a World Series—

John: White Sox and the Dodgers. With legendary Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully.

Donald: That’s right. He also covered the 1952 Rose Bowl and partnered with Chris Schenkel, who was known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice, to cover NBC’s presentation of NFL Championship Games in 1956 and 1963.

Russ: Don, I’m digging your research on this cat. Right on, man.

Donald: I loved watching and listening to this guy. He made it all worthwhile for me. Straight up. Before I allow you all to get in on this talk, let me say Jack Brickhouse didn’t only cover baseball and football, he also covered wrestling, basketball—even boxing.

John: Thanks, Donald, for all of that. I don’t remember a lot about him, but from what I do remember, with his work with the Cubs, White Sox, and Bears, he was Mr. WGN. I, also, enjoyed Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris covering football games. Professional and insightful without getting overwhelmed or over-emotional.

Patrick: I remember Johnny Morris. Didn't he play for the Bears?

John: He did. Also, he hosted the "Mike Ditka Show" during Ditka’s heyday. Shoot, I still watch some of their back-andforth clips on Reddit and YouTube. Very good stuff.

Patrick: While I Google the "Mike Ditka Show" on Reddit and YouTube, Russ, who are you thinking about when talking about announcers?

Russ: John Madden’s “Boom bam, what a play!” Jack Brickhouse’s “Long deep drive, deep to left…back…back…back… hey, hey—home run! Ernie Banks!”

Donald: I remember…

Russ: I know, right? Shoot, Marv Albert announcing basketball was my thing, too. The man can call a game.

Patrick: Nice. Makes me think of Stacey King. I ain’t gon’ lie, it’s taken me some time to feel positive feelings for Stacey. I mean, the man comes up with some wacky stuff. I know y’all know some.

Russ: I got one. “He was late getting over there, but was early enough for a poster!”

John: After Michael Jordan had scored a playoff record 69 points, Stacey said “I’ll always remember this as the night Michael and I combined to score 70 points.”

Donald: Doesn’t he say something about hot sauce?

Patrick: “Gimme the hot sauce!”

Donald: That’s the one. Sounds silly, but he does make the games somewhat exciting.

Patrick: Any honorable mentions or closing comments? Harry Caray for me.

Russ: Howard Cosell, baby.

John: Al Michaels and Vin Scully.

Donald: Thousand pounds of admiration to John Beasley Brickhouse, aka Mr. Jack Brickhouse.

Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org

Vendors Russell Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.