Top 11 Pat Hughes-isms

By CJ Tiernan

Pat Hughes, the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs, brings a joy and energy to the broadcast on a daily basis. He has been on the call for the Cubs since 1996 and was recently inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame. I have always delighted in his idiosyncrasies when listening to him call a game. The Cubs are my favorite baseball team and I quite enjoy listening to him when ever I can't watch the game. Below is my list of my 11 favorite things to hear (or see) Pat Hughes say (or do) on a broadcast.

Garrett Craig from Madison, WI, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

1. "Chicago Cubs Baseball is ON the air"

This iconic expression sets the perfect mood for every single Cubs game. It comes at the top of each broadcast, before the first pitch has even been thrown. It comes with the excitement of the start of a game and the hope of infinite possibility. It opens the door to the chance to see something you've never seen before and the ultimate goal of flying the W.

2. Calling pants "trousers"

When going over the uniforms of both teams (brought to you by Benjamin Moore), he will describe the colors of the different parts of the uniform. He always refers to pants as "trousers." It is a quaint and antiquated term that always slaps a smile on my face.

3. "This ball's got a chance…GONE!"

The home run call is a signature of all baseball broadcasters. Every one of them have to attempt to balance a unique call with making sure the fans can still tell what is happening in the game. This call is great because it is coupled with a growing sense of excitement and volume as he becomes more and more sure that the ball will travel over the fence. It is reserved for the Cubs. If an opposing player hits a homer he offers a disappointed "this one is gonna leave the yard." Iconic.

4. Calling the tarp a "tarpaulin"

One of the unsung sights at a ball park is seeing a comically large, rolled-up tarp along the stands. Any park without a roof requires a tarp to cover the infield in the event of inclement weather. The Cubs have theirs delightfully sponsored by Reynolds Wrap (designed to look a little like a roll of tin foil). When referencing the tarp, whether it is being draped over the field or just as an obstacle for a fielder attempting to catch a foul pop fly, he will always refer to it is a "tarpaulin." There is nothing wrong with that, as tarp is simply the abbreviation used in most walks of life. He is literally the only person I've ever heard use the full name and it always tickles the ivories of my funny bone.

5. "…But thanks for asking"

When calling a game, you aren't on an island. A play-by-play man is usually issued a side-kick known as the color commentator. They are almost always someone who played the sport and is capable of adding insight to decisions and strategies of the game. Helpfully, Pat's last 2 color commentators have been named Ron. As they are filling 9 innings, and not all moments bring the action, the topics tend to wander. Sometimes, current color man Ron Coomer will ask Pat Hughes a ridiculous question that he dismisses out of hand with a "No, but thanks for asking." Blowouts are great for this flavor of banter.

6. "Impartial arbiter"

In baseball, there are 4 referees, known as umpires, and each is in charge of a different base around the diamond. At the top of the broadcast, in addition to introducing the players, the umpires are introduced and their base assignments are revealed. Pat will often refer to a specific umpire as the "impartial arbiter" of whatever base they happen to be manning. While it is another way of phrasing and accurately defining their role, it is always fun to hear a twist on the normal term.

7. Palindromic attendance guesses

With so many sponsors to cram into a nine-inning broadcast, it often feels like they are making up reasons to have sponsors. The TV broadcast does this by playing "mound ball" which is just observing whether the umpire keeps the ball on the dirt part of the mound when rolling the ball from home plate during the fourth inning. The umpire is unaware they are playing, but money is at stake for a random fan in the stands. On the radio broadcast, they play the Binny's Beverage Depot attendance game (no stakes are attached to this game apart from bragging rights). They are simply taking a stab at being closest to the actual attendance number revealed later in the game. Every time Pat makes a guess, he proffers a palindrome. A palindrome is a word or number that is read the same way forward and backward. "Race car" is an example of this. He'll throw out a guess like 41,414 in attendance today. He's clearly just doing it to amuse himself, which makes it all the more fun for the rest of us.

8. "Fasten those seatbelts as we go to the (bottom of the) 9th"

This phrase is used in a close game. If the Cubs are poised to win, and just need to cling for dear life to a close lead, he'll throw this phrase out there. It helps to conjure the emotion of the moment. He usually says it right before the commercial break leading to the top or bottom of the 9th inning, depending on the game situation and whether they are home or away. The Cubs have had issues closing games during my tenure as a fan, so the seatbelt metaphor is quite apt.

9. "The lights have taken full effect"

When you are calling a game on the radio, you're obligated to paint a vivid picture. The people listening to you can't actually see the game, so they are looking at the sights and action through your eyes. Pat Hughes has always painted a delightfully beautiful picture. He is no stranger to standing in awe at the historic nature of Wrigley Field and the one-of-a-kind power of the fans at the Friendly Confines. He will sometimes step back and let the force of the crowd noise take over. He helps put the listener in the stadium. In addition to helping you feel like you are there, he will also paint the picture of what you'd see. He likes to use the line "the lights have taken full effect" when the day has given way to night to such a degree that the game wouldn't be functional without the many stadium lights encircling the park. It is a simple, almost throwaway line that he utters frequently throughout the season. I love it.

10. "Get out the tape measure LONG home run"

This is an extension of his home run call. Some homers will just squeak over the fence while others are hit so far and hard they threaten to make their way to the streets of Sheffield or Waveland. This call is reserved for the no-doubters. It is often also reserved for days when the wind is blowing out. Wrigley Field is, perhaps more than any other MLB park, beholden to the weather of the day and when the wind is blowing out, look out!

11. Hawaiian shirts and sweaters

I couldn't make this list without touching on Pat Hughes' signature look. When the weather is nice, he is known to rock some loud shirts. When the weather turns cool, he rocks a sweater. It became signature enough a look to be a giveaway at the stadium. The loud and bright color scheme is one that I'm no stranger to, so I hold a soft spot for the look.

Final Thoughts

Pat Hughes-isms run rampant through his countless broadcasts and spear the hearts of Cubs fans around the world. There is nothing like the magic of taking in a game at Wrigley, but Pat does his darnedest to put us in the bleachers. This is a thank you to the man, the myth, the legend of Pat Hughes. Just missing my list were the phrases "can you believe it" and "this is a potential turning point in this game." Please let me know if I left any of your favorites off the list in the comments below. Thanks!