Baseball world mourns Caray's death
Posted: Thur February 19, 1998 at 1:56 p.m. EST
The funeral Mass for Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Harry Caray, who
died Wednesday, will take place Friday, February 27th at Holy Name
Cathedral in Chicago.
Caray collapsed four days earlier with a circulation problem during a
Valentine's Day dinner with his wife. He was 77.
Caray died of cardiac arrest with resultant brain damage at 7:10 p.m.
EST at Eisenhower Memorial Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California. Caray is
survived by his third wife, Dutchie, and 10 children.
A statement from Chicago Cubs president
Andy MacPhail read, "Harry Caray's genuine affection and appreciation for
our game and its fans, spanning a period of over 50 years, is never likely
to be equaled. He will be greatly missed by the Chicago Cubs organization.
This is a sad day for the game of baseball."
Caray was hospitalized after collapsing Saturday night at a nightclub
in Palm Springs. His condition remained critical since his arrival and he
had been breathing with the help of a respirator.
Caray, who suffered a stroke in 1987, called Cubs games for 16 years,
and previously worked for the Chicago White Sox,
St. Louis
Cardinals and Oakland Athletics in
his 53-year career.
A statement from White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf read, "Harry Caray's
death is a tragedy. He was a tremendous ambassador for the game of baseball
and the city of Chicago.
"Millions of fans fell in love with the game by listening to his
colorful entertaining broadcasts of Cardinals, A's, White Sox and Cubs
ballgames over the years. Our sympathies and thoughts go out to his entire
family at this time."
"It's a sad day for baseball," added Milwaukee Brewers
broadcaster Bob Uecker. "Harry loved baseball. He loved people and his job.
There will never be another guy like Harry Caray. For a guy to go on and
keep the adulation of the fans is unprecedented. Harry will be missed by
baseball fans around the country."
Cardinals owner Bob Klaidis, an acquaintance of Caray's from his days
at St. Louis, was at Caray's restaurant in Chicago when he learned of the
broadcaster's death.
"Baseball will never replace him," he said. "He'll be irreplacable and
Harry is upstairs watching."
The restaurant will now sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" every
night at 7:30 p.m. local time. Caray would lead the fans in singing the
song during his seventh-inning stretch at home games in Wrigley Field.
"Harry has been a part of our WGN family for 16 years," said WGN vice
president and general manager Peter Walker. "We will miss him terribly."
Caray gained induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 by winning
the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.
Caray's son, Skip, is a broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves and his
grandson, Chip, is a studio host for baseball coverage on Fox Sports and is
scheduled to join the Cubs' broadcast team this season.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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