CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - There’ll be a toast tonight to celebrate the life of broadcaster Harry Caray who died 24 years ago. This morning, there was a pre-toast at Harry Caray’s Restaurant on Navy Pier.
A couple of dozen fans were at Harry Caray’s before daylight this morning. Many of them wore oversized fake glasses and held pictures of Harry’s face.
The longtime Cubs and White Sox broadcaster died in February 1998 but Grant DePorter, CEO of Harry Caray’s Restaurants, said the annual toast to Harry was pushed off until now so it would be safer from a COVID standpoint.
“It seems like yesterday to me. But, you know, he’s like, larger than life. His presence is everywhere. They sing to him every Cubs games, so, it feels like he’s still here.”
Among those who’ll be paying tribute to Harry at the Navy Pier restaurant this evening will be former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster, former Sox slugger Ron Kittle, former Bulls broadcaster Tom Door, actor George Wendt from “Cheers” and Harry’s widow, Dutchie.
“He was such a great guy,” she said.
Former Bulls broadcaster Tom Dore was brought in because Harry Caray was larger than life and Dore, at seven-feet two inches tall, purportedly is the tallest-ever sportscaster.
“The thing that, I think, stands out more than anything else is how much he loved people, you know, the fans and baseball,” Dore said.
Harry Caray grew up as an orphan and, in honor of that, all Budweiser and Bud Light sales at all Harry Caray locations today will be donated to World Central Kitchen to help feed the people of Ukraine.
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