{{Short description|American sportscaster (born 1965)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Chip Caray | image = Chip Caray 2009.jpg | caption = Caray in 2009. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|2|27}} | birth_place = [[St. Louis]], Missouri, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = [[University of Georgia]]<br/> Journalism | occupation = [[Sports commentator]] | years_active = 1987–present | alias = | title = | family = [[Skip Caray]] (father)<br>[[Harry Caray]] (grandfather) | spouse = Susan | children = 4; including [[Chris Caray|Chris]] | URL = }}
'''Harry Christopher '''"'''Chip'''"''' Caray III''' (born February 27, 1965) is an American [[sports commentator]] who is the telecast play-by-play announcer for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Woo |first1=Katie |last2=O'Brien |first2=David |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Braves broadcaster Chip Caray leaving for Cardinals: Sources |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4119521/2023/01/23/chip-caray-cardinals-braves/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=The Athletic}}</ref> He has previously served as play-by-play announcer for the [[Seattle Mariners]] from 1993 to 1995, [[Chicago Cubs]] from 1998 to 2004, and [[Atlanta Braves]] from 2005 to 2022. He is the son of commentator [[Skip Caray]], the grandson of commentator [[Harry Caray]], and the father of commentator [[Chris Caray]].
==Biography== ===Education and early career=== Caray graduated from [[Parkway West High School (Missouri)|Parkway West High School]] in [[Chesterfield, Missouri]], in 1983.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 January 2023 |title=Chip Caray could replace Dan McLaughlin on Cardinals telecasts |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/chip-caray-could-replace-dan-mclaughlin-on-cardinals-telecasts/article_62855478-ad1c-50f5-b547-5abe1316f644.html |access-date=23 January 2023 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Stephanie |date=January 31, 2023 |title=Chip Caray is 'thrilled to death' as his deal to call Cardinals games on TV is finalized |url=https://dailyjournalonline.com/2023/01/31/chip-caray-is-thrilled-to-death-as-his-deal-to-call-cardinals-games-on-tv-is-finalized/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Daily Journal Online |language=en-US}}</ref> He graduated from the [[University of Georgia]] in 1987 with a degree in journalism. Before his first job with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], he worked with local television stations in [[Panama City, Florida]], and [[Greensboro, North Carolina]]. He was the play-by-play broadcaster for the [[Orlando Magic]] of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] from [[1989-90 NBA season|1989]] to [[1997-98 NBA season|1998]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cardinals Broadcasters {{!}} St. Louis Cardinals |url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/team/broadcasters |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>
Caray worked on baseball games for the [[Seattle Mariners]] of the [[American League]] from {{baseball year|1993}} to {{baseball year|1995}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Broadcasters {{!}} Seattle Mariners |url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/history/broadcasters |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> While broadcasting with the Mariners, Caray received a two-game tryout with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. After the 1994 season, he was expected to sign with St. Louis, but chose instead to remain with Seattle.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} Caray was also a broadcaster for the first edition of ''[[Major League Baseball on Fox]]'' in {{baseball year|1996}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nidetz |first=Steve |date=1996-01-30 |title=Brennaman, Chip Caray join Fox for first year of baseball |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/01/30/brennaman-chip-caray-join-fox-for-first-year-of-baseball/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251029122139/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/01/30/brennaman-chip-caray-join-fox-for-first-year-of-baseball/ |archive-date=2025-10-29 |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
===Chicago Cubs=== In December 1997, Chip Caray was hired to work alongside his grandfather as broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs. Harry Caray died in February 1998, and Chip stayed with the team and took his grandfather's place as "the voice of the Cubs."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ringolsby |first1=Tracy |title=Q&A: Caray on family legacy, broadcasting |url=https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/chip-caray-talks-family-legacy-broadcasting-c249394344 |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> He would go on to serve as their announcer for seven seasons, with [[Steve Stone (baseball)|Steve Stone]] providing color commentary for most of those years. Both Caray and Stone left the Cubs after the 2004 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-10-29 |title=Stone closes the door |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/10/29/stone-closes-the-door/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
===TBS=== On the final day of the 2004 season, Caray announced that he had signed a long-term contract with both [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] and Clear Channel to work alongside his father, [[Skip Caray|Skip]], broadcasting games for the [[Atlanta Braves]], staying closer to his family, who lived in [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chip Caray Leaving Cubs To Join Father Skip With Braves |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2004/10/04/Sports-Media/Chip-Caray-Leaving-Cubs-To-Join-Father-Skip-With-Braves/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Sports Business Journal}}</ref> He also became a broadcaster for TBS's [[college football]] coverage of the [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]] and [[Pacific-10 Conference|Pac-10]].
In 2007, TBS began broadcasting the [[Major League Baseball postseason|Major League Baseball playoffs]]. Caray was named the main play-by-play broadcaster for TBS during its coverage of the playoffs. TBS would cover all Division Series games and the [[2007 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]]. [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] player [[Tony Gwynn]] called the playoff games with Caray.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jon |date=2007-09-24 |title=TBS unveils MLB broadcast teams. |url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2007/09/tbs-unveils-mlb-broadcast-teams/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Sports Media Watch |language=en-US}}</ref>
Caray was criticized for making factual mistakes during postseason broadcasts on TBS.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Sandomir |date=October 9, 2007 |title=An Error-Plagued Game, but From the Broadcast Booth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/sports/baseball/09sandomir.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chip Caray Is in a Verbal Slump in the TBS Booth (Published 2009) |work=The New York Times |date=9 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530132200/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/sports/baseball/09sandomir.html |archive-date=2023-05-30 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/sports/baseball/09sandomir.html |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kimball |first=Bob |date=October 8, 2009 |title=TV sports: Odd miscalls by TBS' Chip Caray |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2009-10-08-tv-sports-chip-caray_N.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208231642/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2009-10-08-tv-sports-chip-caray_N.htm |archive-date=8 February 2013 |work=USA Today}}</ref> In response to such criticisms, Caray said, "It wasn't the job that I had when I came here in the first place. It would be like being a pinch-hitter or being a relief pitcher that works once every 10 days. I'm better when I work more." On November 30, 2009, TBS announced that Caray and the network decided to part ways.<ref name="Caray FSS">{{Cite web |title=Caray to cover Braves for FOX Sports |url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091221&content_id=7836034&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222200124/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091221&content_id=7836034&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl |archive-date=2009-12-22 |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=David |title=Chip Caray is back as Braves broadcaster |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/chip-caray-back-braves-broadcaster/uRSxIuag5Y76gFVsTe56TO/ |access-date=20 September 2019 |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=13 January 2010}}</ref>
===Fox Sports South=== On December 21, 2009, [[Fox Sports South]] and [[SportSouth]] announced that Caray would be the play-by-play announcer for all 105 Braves games on the networks. The deal also includes selected college basketball games on the [[regional sports network]]s.<ref name="Caray FSS"/>
===Bally Sports Midwest/FanDuel Sports Network Midwest/Cardinals.TV=== On January 23, 2023, it was announced that Caray would become the play-by-play announcer for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], taking over for longtime broadcaster [[Dan McLaughlin]]. His grandfather, Harry Caray, had begun his career as the voice of the Cardinals.
During the June 21, 2025 game between the Cardinals and [[Cincinnati Reds]], Caray accidentally misread a promo for the team’s Disability Pride Night, substituting the word “flag” with a [[faggot|homophobic slur]]. Dead air followed for over 30 seconds before Caray continued on with the game as if nothing happened. FanDuel Sports Network Midwest told the website Front Office Sports it considered the mistake to be an “honest” one, and that he would not be punished for it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baer |first1=Jack |title=Cardinals broadcaster Chip Caray reportedly won't be punished for saying anti-gay slur on-air: 'Honest' mistake |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/cardinals-broadcaster-chip-caray-reportedly-wont-be-punished-for-saying-anti-gay-slur-on-air-honest-mistake-001850271.html |access-date=21 June 2025 |website=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref>
===Career timeline=== * 1989–1998: [[Orlando Magic]] play-by-play<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,44182,00.html Chip Caray<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011734/http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0%2C%2C44182%2C00.html |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> * 1991–1992: Atlanta Braves play-by-play on TBS and [[Atlanta Braves Radio Network]]<ref name="autogenerated1" /> * 1993–1995: [[Seattle Mariners]] play-by-play<ref name=":0" /> * 1996–1998: ''[[Major League Baseball on Fox]]'' Studio host<ref name="autogenerated1" /> * 1999–2000: ''[[Major League Baseball on Fox]]'' play-by-play<ref name="autogenerated1" /> * 1998–2004: [[Chicago Cubs]] play-by-play on [[WGN-TV]] and [[FSN Chicago]]<ref name="autogenerated1" /> * 2005–2009: [[Atlanta Braves]] play-by-play on [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]], [[Peachtree TV]] and [[Atlanta Braves Radio Network]] * 2007–2009: ''[[Major League Baseball on TBS|MLB on TBS]]'' Lead play-by-play<ref name="autogenerated1" /> * 2010–2022: Atlanta Braves play-by-play on [[Bally Sports]]<ref name="Caray FSS"/> * 2023–present: [[St. Louis Cardinals]] play-by-play on Bally Sports Midwest/FanDuel Sports Network Midwest/Cardinals.TV
==Family==
Chip Caray's grandfather, [[Harry Caray|Harry]], was famous for calling games of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and Chicago Cubs. His father, [[Skip Caray|Skip]], was the longtime broadcaster for the [[Atlanta Braves]] until he died in [[2008 in baseball|2008]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Skip Caray dies; spent three-plus decades calling Braves games |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3517921 |access-date=20 September 2019 |work=ESPN}}</ref> Chip Caray occasionally imitates his father with sarcastic comments made in a high, nasal voice. Caray also has a half-brother, [[Josh Caray]], who is the play-by-play announcer for the [[Rocket City Trash Pandas]], the Double-A affiliate of the [[Los Angeles Angels]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Rocket City Trash Pandas Name Josh Caray Play-by-Play Announcer|publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=April 16, 2022|url=https://www.milb.com/news/rocket-city-trash-pandas-name-josh-caray-play-by-play-announcer-307202998}}</ref><ref name="Karp">{{cite web|url=https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/sports/josh-caray-remembers-father-skip-caray-braves-harry-cubs-trash-pandas/525-74daba59-b04c-443a-9036-a636340e0eb2|title=Josh Caray remembers father Skip Caray, play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves|last=Karp|first=Jonah|date=June 18, 2021|work=Fox 54|access-date=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
Caray and his wife have four children.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schultz |first1=Jeff |title=Downtime with family has provided Chip Caray with emotional healing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1796702/2020/05/06/schultz-down-time-with-family-has-provided-chip-caray-with-emotional-healing/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |work=The Athletic |date=May 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Richard |first1=Mike |title=Caray twins to broadcast Kettleer Games |url=https://www.barnstablepatriot.com/story/sports/2021/06/22/caray-twins-broadcast-kettleer-games/5310809001/ |access-date=April 16, 2022 |work=Barnstable Patriot |date=June 22, 2021}}</ref> Caray's twin sons, [[Chris Caray|Chris]] and Stefan, attended the [[University of Georgia]] and began their professional sportscasting career with the [[Amarillo Sod Poodles]], the [[Texas League]] affiliate of the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Tim |title=Caray twins put fourth generation of family in baseball broadcast booth |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/caray-twins-put-fourth-generation-of-family-in-baseball-broadcast-booth/HJTP2LBMQVFKFA2XIUBUGBGMKI/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=April 14, 2022}}</ref> In 2023, they were placed in the [[Arizona Fall League]] broadcast pool. Chip met son Chris when the Cardinals played the [[2024 Oakland Athletics season|Athletics]] in [[Oakland]] on April 15, 2024. Chris was broadcasting Athletics' games for [[NBC Sports California]] in his second big-league series, while Chip called the Cardinals games. Chris is in a play-by-play rotation with [[Jenny Cavnar]], who has the bulk of the games and is the first woman to be in a team's primary role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/column/media-views/media-views-cardinals-broadcaster-chip-caray-beams-as-son-is-4th-generation-to-call-mlb/article_26a264ac-fab8-11ee-a0ce-eb2c05d0994a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story |title=Media Views: Cardinals broadcaster Chip Caray beams as son is 4th generation to call MLB games |publisher=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=April 19, 2024}}</ref> Caray and his son Stefan called an [[MLB Spring Breakout]] game in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Denton |first=John |date=March 12, 2025 |title=Chip and Stefan Caray take the mic for Spring Breakout |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/chip-stefan-caray-set-to-call-spring-breakout-game |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Navboxes|list1= {{S-start}} {{Succession box| before = [[Harry Caray]] | title = [[Chicago Cubs|Chicago Cubs Television Play-By-Play<!--Left in caps given the rest of the title--> Announcer]]| years = 1998–2004| after = [[Len Kasper]]}} {{Succession box| before = First | title = Lead play-by-play announcer, ''[[Major League Baseball on TBS]]''| years = 2007–2009| after = [[Ernie Johnson Jr.]]}} {{s-bef|before=First}} {{s-ttl|title=Studio host, ''[[Major League Baseball on Fox]]''|years=[[1996 Major League Baseball season|1996]]–[[1998 Major League Baseball season|1998]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Keith Olbermann]]}} {{S-end}} {{Atlanta Braves broadcasters}} {{Major League Baseball on Fox}} {{Major League Baseball on TBS}} {{NBA on TBS}} }}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caray, Chip}} [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:American people of Italian descent]] [[Category:American people of Romanian descent]] [[Category:American radio sports commentators]] [[Category:American television sports commentators]] [[Category:Atlanta Braves announcers]] [[Category:Chicago Cubs announcers]] [[Category:College basketball announcers in the United States]] [[Category:College football announcers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters]] [[Category:NBA broadcasters]] [[Category:Orlando Magic announcers]] [[Category:People from Ballwin, Missouri]] [[Category:People from Panama City, Florida]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Seattle Mariners announcers]] [[Category:St. Louis Cardinals announcers]] [[Category:Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication alumni]]