Who Is Harry Caray? Age, Biography and Wiki
Harry Caray was born on March 1, 1914, and passed away on February 18, 1998. Though he has since left this world, his spirit lives on through the love of baseball in Chicago and beyond. Caray was a legendary sportscaster best known for his distinctive voice and larger-than-life personality. His career spanned several decades, leaving an indelible mark not just on the Chicago Cubs but on the very fabric of baseball broadcasting.
Occupation | Sportscaster |
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Date of Birth | March 1, 1914 |
Age | 83 Years |
Birth Place | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Horoscope | Pisces |
Country | U.S |
Date of death | 18 February, 1998 |
Died Place | Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Harry Caray's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While Harry Caray's exact measurements were never the focus of his career, he was known for his robust presence. He stood approximately 6 feet tall and was known for his hearty build. Throughout his life, he embodied a charismatic and engaging figure known for his jovial demeanor and love for the game.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Harry Caray was married to his wife, Marjorie Wardlaw, from 1947 until his passing in 1998. The couple had three children together. Throughout his career, Caray's family played a vital role in his life, supporting his devotion to broadcasting and baseball. There is no information of any significant romantic relationships outside of his marriage, reflecting his lifelong commitment to his family.
Louis. He was 14 when his mother, Daisy Argint, died from complications due to pneumonia. Caray did not have much recollection of his father, who went off to fight in World War I. Caray went to live with his uncle John Argint and Aunt Doxie at 1909 LaSalle Avenue. Caray attended high school at Webster Groves High School.
In his youth, Caray was said to be a talented baseball player. He possessed the tools to play at the next level; out of high school, the University of Alabama offered Caray a spot on its team. Due to financial woes, Caray could not accept. Around this time, World War II was occurring.
Caray tried to enlist into the Armed Forces, but was denied due to his poor eyesight. Not being able to advance professionally on the playing side of baseball, instead he sold gym equipment before looking to another avenue to keep his love of baseball alive: using his voice.
He then spent a few years learning the trade at radio stations in Joliet, Illinois, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. While in Joliet, WCLS station manager Bob Holt suggested that Harry change his surname from Carabina (because according to Holt, it sounded too awkward on the air) to Caray.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 1998, Harry Caray's estimated net worth was around $10 million. He earned a substantial salary through his work with the Chicago Cubs and various broadcasting networks. His engaging personality and popularity led to many lucrative endorsements and appearances, contributing to his impressive financial legacy.
Career, Business and Investments
Harry Caray's career began in the 1940s when he worked as a broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals. His breakthrough came when he joined the Chicago Cubs, where he became a household name. Known for his passionate calls and the legendary "Harry Caray's 7th Inning Stretch," he created an atmosphere that endeared him to fans.
Aside from broadcasting, Caray had business ventures, including a chain of restaurants named after him. His investments and savvy financial choices contributed to his wealth over the decades.
Harry Christopher Caray (March 1, 1914 – February 18, 1998) was an American radio and television sportscaster. During his career he called the play-by-play for five Major League Baseball teams, beginning with 25 years of calling the games of the St. Louis Cardinals (with two of those years also spent calling games for the St. Louis Browns).
After a year working for the Oakland Athletics and 11 years with the Chicago White Sox, Caray spent the last 16 years of his career as the announcer for the Chicago Cubs.
Social Network
Though Harry Caray passed away before the era of social media, his legacy continues to thrive through various fan pages and dedicated websites that celebrate his contributions to sports. Fans often share memories and footage of his iconic broadcasts on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, ensuring that new generations can appreciate his passion for baseball.
In December 1997, Caray's grandson Chip Caray was hired to share play-by-play duties for WGN's Cubs broadcasts with Caray for the following season. However, Harry Caray died in February 1998, before the baseball season began, leaving the expected grandfather-grandson partnership in the broadcast booth unrealized.
Education
Harry Caray attended the University of Missouri, where he studied journalism, laying the foundation for his illustrious career in sports broadcasting. His education in journalism equipped him with the skills necessary to tell compelling stories that captivated audiences for years.
Caray was known for his unabashed homerism, showing absolute support of the team for which he announced.
While advertisers played up his habit of openly rooting for the Cubs from the booth (for example, a 1980s Budweiser ad described him as "Cub Fan, Bud Man" in a Blues Brothers-style parody of "Soul Man"), he had been even less restrained about rooting for the Cardinals when he broadcast for them.
He said later that his firing from the Cardinals changed his outlook and made him realize that his passion was for the game itself, and the fans, more than anything else.
He was also famous for his frequently exclaimed catchphrase "Holy cow!" when his team hit a home run or turned a difficult play on field; he trained himself to use this expression to avoid any chance of accidentally using profanity on the air.
Caray also avoided any risk of mis-calling a home run, using what became a trademark home run call: "It might be ... it could be ... it IS! A home run! Holy cow!" He first used the "It might be ..." part of that expression on the air while covering a college baseball tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the early 1940s.