The Legendary Harry Caray

April 1, 2019
Harry Caray was a larger-than-life personality in the broadcast booth and in his personal life. He made his early reputation as the St. Louis Cardinals' radio announcer but is most remembered for his years in Chicago, first with the White Sox and later with the Cubs, where he cemented his national profile through the WGN cable network. Zminda, veteran sports journalist and a Chicago native, is perfectly situated to track Caray's tumultuous tenure in the Windy City. As the voice of the White Sox, Caray could be hypercritical of players and management. He and his partner, Jimmy Piersall, while adored by listeners, burned more bridges than a retreating army. Once Caray moved to the Cubs, he became more of a homer, building up the team rather than tearing it down, though the frustration in his voice was evident whenever he intoned his signature phrase, describing yet another Cub who popped it up. Zminda draws on personal interviews and press accounts to vividly capture Caray's misadventures, both professionally and personally. Expect significant demand, especially in the Midwest, where Caray is still the standard by which all other baseball announcers are measured.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)