Len Kasper

Len Joseph Kasper
Born (1971-01-21) January 21, 1971
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Education Marquette University, '93
Public Relations
Occupation Sports broadcaster
Spouse(s) Pam
Children 1 (Leo)

Len Kasper (born January 21, 1971 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan) is a play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs (2005–present)[1][2] on WGN-TV, WPWR-TV, WLS-TV and Comcast SportsNet Chicago. He works alongside color commentator Jim Deshaies.

Career

Kasper first worked for WTMJ-AM (620) from 1994-2002 in Milwaukee as the host of the station's daily sports show, hosted pregame and halftime shows for the Green Bay Packers, and was a co-host on a hot stove league show on the Brewers' radio network.[3] After realizing he would need experience calling baseball games, he started working with Brett Dolan on the weekends in the late 1990s calling several innings at a time for the Beloit Snappers.[4] In 1999 he was then asked to do fill-in TV work with the Milwaukee Brewers for Matt Vasgersian who started to get work on the national stage.[4] Kasper continued to work alongside Bill Schroeder as a fill-in for Vasgersian on Brewers telecasts through 2001.[3]

In 2002, Kasper was hired as a full-time TV play-by-play announcer to work alongside color commentator Tommy Hutton for the Florida Marlins and worked for Florida through the 2004 season until being hired for the Cubs in 2005.[5]

Kasper often participates in Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein's "Hot Stove Cool Music" benefit concerts that have raised millions of dollars for the communities of Boston and Chicago.[6] Kasper received the Harry Caray Sportscaster of the Year Award from the Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago in 2011.[7]

Quotes

"Cubs win! Cubs win!"- Often said after a Cubs victory

Personal life

Kasper grew up in Michigan. His broadcasting influence was the Detroit Tigers' broadcasters, Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey.[4] He graduated from Shepherd High School. He graduated summa cum laude from Marquette University with a degree in public relations in 1993.[1] He and his wife, Pam, have one son named Leo.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Broadcasters". MLB.com. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  2. ↑ Gleeman, Aaron (22 June 2011). "Len Kasper signs five-year extension to stay Cubs’ announcer". NBC. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Ed Sherman interviews WGN's Len Kasper". 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  4. 1 2 3 Hildebrant, Chuck (2015-07-03). "Working the Game, an Interview with Len Kasper, Chicago Cubs TV". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  5. ↑ Kasper, Len (2012-10-16). "Baseball ProGUESTus Bringing Sabermetrics to the Broadcast Booth". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  6. ↑ Bloom, Barry M. "Theo Epstein's Hot Stove Cool Music Heats Up With Special Guest "Headliner To Be Named Later" at Wrigleyville's Metro July 9". mlb.com/news. MLB.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Pitch and Hit Club announces Award winners for Banquet". prepbaseballreport.com. Prep Baseball Report. Retrieved 9 November 2015.

External links

Preceded by
Chip Caray		 Chicago Cubs Television Play-By-Play Announcer
2005–present 		Succeeded by
current
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