Caray gone, not forgotten


Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998	`Collegian Sports Columnist` Caray gone, not forgotten It was a sad week for baseball fans all over the world. The great baseball broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs, Harry Caray, passed away due to heart problems last Wednesday. When I found out Caray passed away, I felt a piece of me die, too. Growing up trying to learn about baseball, I heard a guy on the radio with a deep, animated voice calling a baseball game.
Craig Kackenmeister (cxk289@psu.edu) is a junior majoring in journalism and the Collegian's men's track beat writer.	Caray made me love the great American pastime with his quick remarks about players and the way they would perform. One memory that every baseball fan will remember is Caray's voice being put on the stadium speaker during the seventh inning stretch of every home game at Wrigley Field when he would sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." He would always start the singing and the fans would join in. Caray announced for a lot of different teams, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and White Sox. Ironically, the first game that Caray announced was the St. Louis Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won that game 3-2. Caray was once quoted in the Associated Press saying, "I've threatened to be cremated and have my ashes strewn over Comiskey Park and over Wrigley Field, and I really should hold some ashes back for St. Louis." This quote shows me that no matter where he was covering baseball throughout his career, he would never forget it.
`Chicago Cubs Home page`	I watched interviews this week with players who had memories of Caray and one that stood out in my mind was Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel. When he found out he was playing for the Cubs, he was excited not because he was pitching in the major leagues, but because he would get to meet Harry Caray. That statement alone showed me how much respect players had for Caray. That was just one of the memories expressed by the baseball community. One thing I liked about Caray was he didn't sugar-coat anything. If a player would miss a ground ball, Caray wouldn't hesitate to blame the player and not the field. Another memory was if a player being paid a lot of money would pop out, Caray would get on that player's back.
`St. Louis Cardinals (Harry's former team) Home page`	The fans of the Cubs and Caray showed their mourning over his death. After his death was announced, people who were in his restaurant sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" twice. Fans also showed their support outside of Wrigley Field by piling Cubs hats, key chains, flowers, cards and empty beer cans in remembrance of Caray. In a story from the Associated Press, Caray was quoted as saying, "I've also mentioned this to my wife. I want her to take some of the money I've accumulated and just throw a party where people eat and lift a drink up to me either upstairs or downstairs, and I'll give you two guesses as to where it will be." After reading this quote, I realized how much Caray cared about the fans of the game and of the Cubs. One thing that always amazes me is the Cubs haven't had a strong team in a long time, but Wrigley Field always has a lot of fans in the stands. Could it be the added flavor that Caray brought to the game? It's hard to imagine what Wrigley Field is going to be like now that fans don't have the seventh inning stretch to look forward to anymore. All I know is, I would give anything in the world to have the opportunity to sit in the stands for opening day at Wrigley Field and see how the Cubs honor Caray, especially during the seventh inning stretch. The one thing that I will always remember Caray saying was, "Cubs win, Cubs win." We'll miss you, Harry.