MLB

Len Kasper goes from Cubs to White Sox in broadcasting stunner

Score one for the White Sox in the Crosstown Series.

Len Kasper, the longtime television voice of the Cubs, is leaving for the South Side of Chicago to become the White Sox radio play-by-play announcer.

Kasper had been in the Cubs booth for 16 years but now, during an offseason in which team president Theo Epstein left the Cubs with more personnel moves potentially on the way, he is following suit with his surprising departure. He will be calling a White Sox team that appears to be on the rise with a talented young core that will have a new manager in veteran Tony La Russa.

“Broadcasting baseball on the radio has always been my dream,” Kasper said in a White Sox statement. “I am happy the White Sox were interested in having me handle their play-by-play responsibilities, and I am appreciative that the Cubs were willing to let me leave that organization on such great terms.

“I have always been fascinated by the creative freedom radio allows its broadcasters, and baseball is such a great game when presented on the radio. I have been dreaming about doing this since I was 12 years old, listening to Ernie Harwell, and I didn’t want my career to pass without experiencing this great game nightly from the radio booth. I want to thank both the Sox and Cubs for allowing me to live out this baseball dream.”

Len Kasper
Len Kasper Getty Images

The most famous announcer to pull off the Chicago switch was Harry Caray, who went from the White Sox to the Cubs after the 1981 season.

Kasper, who will team up with longtime analyst Darrin Jackson in the White Sox radio booth, has always wanted to call a World Series, according to The Athletic. While local TV booths get bumped for national broadcasts in the postseason, local radio announcers still get to call games in October, meaning the switch to radio could help fulfill Kasper’s goal.

Fox Sports announcer Chris Myers is a candidate to replace Kasper in the Cubs TV booth, according to reports.