Ron Coomer
When you ask Ron Coomer about Wrigley Field, you can hear the kid in his voice before he even finishes the sentence. The guy’s lived every baseball dream imaginable—All-Star, Cub, broadcaster—and yet he still talks about walking into Wrigley like it’s his first time. You get the sense that even now, sitting next to Pat Hughes in the booth, he’s pinching himself. Our conversation ran the gamut—from childhood heroes to Harry Caray to the Miguel Montero grand slam—but it all came back to this: Wrigley Field isn’t just where he works. It’s home. It’s holy ground.
You’ve had what a lot of people would call a baseball life. Now you get to call Wrigley Field your office for 81 games a year. How do you describe that experience?
Kind of surreal, actually. When I was a kid growing up in Chicago, I’d flop in front of the TV to watch the Cubs and Jack Brickhouse on WGN. That was my babysitter. Getting the call years later from Pat Hughes to join the Cubs broadcast—it was like being four again. Full circle. It’s something I dreamed about as a little kid.
Who were your favorite Cubs growing up?
Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Don Kessinger. Then Rick Monday and Jose Cardenal—those two were my favorites. Later, Dave Kingman, because who didn’t love a big home run guy?
What was it like playing at Wrigley for the first time?
My first time was as a Twin in ’97. I remember driving to Wrigley way early, before anyone was there, just to walk around and get the fan out of my system. I even sat in the same seats my dad and I used to sit in as fans. I had to do that before I could put my uniform on. It was overwhelming in the best way.
Where does that rank in your life memories?
It’s one of my all-time memories. I hit a home run onto Waveland Avenue that series, and I remember thinking, “I could retire now.” That was the dream.
Compare your first day playing for the Cubs to your first day broadcasting with Pat Hughes.
Both were surreal. As a player, being introduced on opening day in a Cubs uniform—you’re living your dream. Then years later, sitting next to Pat, knowing you’re in the booth of Ron Santo, it hit me again. I never felt like I replaced Ron. I knew him as a friend, and the first time I sat in that chair, it was pouring rain, but to me it felt like 80 degrees and sunny. That’s how special it was.
Do you ever reflect on how crazy your life has been?
Sometimes. Usually when a fan tells me how much the broadcast means to them, or my mom says something. Those moments hit you. I’ve had experiences I could never have dreamed of as a kid from the south side—meeting Presidents, rock stars, World Series memories. It’s wild.
Does Wrigley play differently day vs. night?
It does. The Cubs’ schedule is underrated in how hard it is on the players. You never get into a rhythm. But when you jog out at 1:20 in front of 40,000 people, all that goes away. There’s an energy at Wrigley that’s unmatched. I still feel it every day in the booth.
What does Wrigley mean to the city?
Wrigley is part of Chicago’s identity. People come from all over just to take a photo in front of the marquee, even when the team’s on the road. You walk in and it’s intimate, it’s green, it’s alive. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, you feel something. It’s a cathedral of sport.
Favorite Wrigley moment?
My first Cubs home run—that was personal. But the Miguel Montero grand slam against the Dodgers in the playoffs? The place was literally shaking. I remember thinking, “Our ballpark’s 100 years old—please hold together!” It was that loud. The coolest gig you could ever have.
Wrigley draws celebrities, too. What’s that like?
Fun. Eddie Vedder keeps score with a helmet on. Bill Murray’s around all the time. Wrigley’s part of their childhood, too. It’s a great equalizer—you find out how normal people are when you share that connection.
Why is “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” such a thing at Wrigley?
That’s all Harry Caray. He made it part of the experience. Even in spring training, he’d show up just to sing it, then head out to dinner. He was larger than life and loved people. He was the Cubs experience.
Any behind-the-scenes quirks at Wrigley?
Two things. First, fans don’t realize it’s literally built in a neighborhood—real houses, real people, and then suddenly 40,000 fans. Second, Steve McMichael once got kicked out of Wrigley after singing the stretch because he chirped Angel Hernandez over a bad call at home plate—on a play I was involved in. He just walked across the street to Murphy’s for a beer. That’s Wrigley.
What advice would you give to a fan visiting Wrigley for the first time?
Go early. Go to a day game—Friday if you can. Walk the neighborhood. Grab a beer at Murphy’s, buy a hat, watch batting practice. Then after the game, get pizza and wander around. It’s not just a ballgame. It’s a full experience. A neighborhood comes alive.
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More from Ron Coomer
NOTE: The above was edited for clarity and length.
You can read the full transcript here.