Getting his start in Peoria
1934
At 18, Jack Brickhouse enters a radio announcing contest at WMBD in Peoria. He wins a two-week free tryout that leads to a $17-per-week job with the station. He emcees a variety of shows and works as an on-the-air reporter.
1937-40
Brickhouse becomes the play-by-play announcer for Bradley University basketball games. His work is taped for broadcasts after regular CBS shows and leads to an audition at Chicago’s WGN radio.
Career takes off in World War II-era Chicago
1940
WGN baseball announcer Bob Elson, a future Hall-of-Famer, recommends Brickhouse for a staff announcer and sports assistant’s job at WGN.
1940-43
WGN radio teams Brickhouse and Elson for Cubs and White Sox broadcasts. He also works as a staff announcer for Big Band broadcasts when WGN joins the Mutual network.
1942-43
Brickhouse is WGN’s announcer for Big Ten football games.
1943-44
Brickhouse is drafted and serves in the Marines.
1945
WGN has dropped its baseball coverage by the time Brickhouse gets out of the Marines. He works as a staff announcer and journalist. He covers Franklin Roosevelt’s presidential inauguration in 1945. On April 12, 1945, Brickhouse is called upon to interrupt broadcasts to announce that Roosevelt had died. That spring he switches to WJJD radio to cover White Sox baseball and Notre Dame football.
1946
Brickhouse moves to WMCA radio in New York to announce New York Giants baseball games. He begins doing play-by-play for Big Ten football on WGN.
JACK BRICKHOUSE – CHICAGO’S VOICE
Trying out television
1947
Brickhouse announces Cubs games on WBKB television.
1948
Brickhouse returns to WGN, but this time to its new television operation as the voice of the Cubs and White Sox and as an announcer for professional wrestling on the DuMont Network. He is the announcer for WGN’s first telecast, a wrestling match.
Presidents and a pope
1948-60
WGN sends Brickhouse to cover five national political conventions, to Europe and to Asia as a special correspondent. He interviews presidents and Hollywood celebrities and does an award-winning program after a visit with Pope Paul VI.
Voice of Chicago sports
1948
Brickhouse covers the Joe Louis-Joe Walcott heavyweight title fight. He later is ringside for the Ezzard Charles-Walcott fight.
1948-67
Brickhouse is the announcer for WGN-TV’s White Sox telecasts.
1948-81
As voice of the Cubs on WGN-TV, Brickhouse becomes a Chicago institution. He covers more than 5,300 baseball games on radio and television over his career. On May 15, 1958, he is behind the microphone when Stan Musial gets his 3,000th hit. On May 12, 1970, Brickhouse is there when Ernie Banks hits his 500th home run.
1953-76
Brickhouse and Irv Kupcinet team in the WGN radio booth for Bears football broadcasts. Their voices provide the play-by-play for the Bears’ 1963 NFL championship.
1965-72
Brickhouse negotiates the first Bulls television contract for WGN and does play-by-play for Bulls telecasts from 1965-72.
JACK BRICKHOUSE – RETIREMENT
Retired, but active as ever
1981
Brickhouse retires as on-air announcer for WGN and is replaced by his friend Harry Caray. He stays active in managing the sports department at WGN and is frequently sought out for comments on sports and broadcasting.
1983
Brickhouse is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
1987
Brickhouse writes his autobiography, “Thanks for Listening.”
1987
With Cubs announcer Harry Caray recuperating from a stroke, Brickhouse comes out of retirement to help broadcast Cubs games.
1990
The City of Chicago honors Brickhouse by naming a part of Michigan Avenue near the Tribune Tower “Jack Brickhouse Way.”
1996
Brickhouse is inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. His biography, “Jack Brickhouse: A Voice for All Seasons,” is published.
1998
While getting ready for the funeral of his close friend Harry Caray, Brickhouse blacks out and falls. He enters the hospital where he is diagnosed to have a brain tumor. He remains hospitalized for eight weeks after surgery to treat the tumor. By early summer Brickhouse is back on the beat, being interviewed on sports programs.
Aug. 6, 1998
Brickhouse is rushed to Chicago’s St. Joseph Hospital where he dies at age 82.
