# Steve Stone (Announcer for the Cubs on WGN)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 1, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491 "2003-05-01T22:42:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491/1 "2003-05-01T22:42:06Z")

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So, uh, Steve Stone and Harry Caray broadcast Cubs games for as far back in my memory that I care to go.

A few seasons ago, he left the broadcast booth, for reasons that I don’t think he ever made fully clear (my WAG: he was sick to death of broadcasting for a mediocre team).

Now, he’s back, cheerfully providing color commentary as the Cubs tear up the National League :rolleyes:. No clear explanation why he’s back.

Does anybody know the scoop as to why he left in the first place, and why he came back? (It certainly can’t be because he thinks the Cubs finally have The Goods™. Because they don’t.)

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**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491/2 "2003-05-01T23:06:28Z")

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I believe he left the first time due to health reasons. Something like chronic fatigue syndrome but I don’t know for sure.

And I believe he came back because the Cubs threw a bunch of money at him because they realized how much Joe Carter sucked in the broadcast booth.

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491/3 "2003-05-01T23:22:36Z")

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The Chicago Tribune story about Stone said he had Valley Fever, which is a pretty nasty thing to get.

I don’t think he came back for the money. Supposedly, Stone invested his baseball income well.

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**Author:** ![yola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/48db29/32.png) [@yola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yola)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491/4 "2003-05-02T03:54:32Z")

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I, for one, am glad he’s back! I wondered why he left and missed him. I like Chip, but he needs Steve.

Go CUBS!

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-stone-announcer-for-the-cubs-on-wgn/172491/5 "2003-05-02T12:13:46Z")

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Thanks for the replies. 😃

I’m glad Steve’s back, too. But for my money, I’ll take Ron Santo and Pat Hughes over on the radio (who is this Pat Hughes, anyway? A player back in The Day?).

Has there ever been any talk about having Sandberg up there in the booth? I’m sure he’d be glad to have something to do…