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Listen "Being ‘Boring Pros’ with Chip Caray"
Episode Synopsis
Chip Caray is an American television broadcaster known for his work with the Atlanta Braves and now working with the St. Louis Cardinals. Chip shares valuable insights from his broadcasting career, succeeding his father and grandfather in the same industry. He reflects on the lessons he has learned while on the road with baseball teams. He talks about his 27 ‘seasons’ with his wife, the importance of having his support system back at home, and the challenges and sacrifices of his job.
https://youtu.be/Juurqrs3Y4o
Brett Gilliland: Welcome to The Circle of Success. I'm your host, Brett Gilliland, and today I've got Chip Carey with me. Chip, how you doing?
Chip Caray: I'm doing great, Brett. How are you?
Brett Gilliland: I'm good man. It's good to be with you. You are, uh, the new voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. We're well, a new, we're a couple. We're about a month and a half in now, right?
Chip Caray: Well, the newness hasn't worn off. I'm still the new guy, so, uh...
Brett Gilliland: That's right.
Chip Caray: It's been a wonderful experience and, uh, really a dream come true growing up here and never imagining this opportunity would take place. Uh, it's been quite a whirlwind last several, four or five months, but hey, that's the life we've chosen and I wouldn't have it any other way. So offering...
Brett Gilliland: That's right. Well, I'm sure you're, I'm, I'm sure you're glad that we're talking now eight days, uh, later than say seven days ago. Cause what, what are we, seven of the last date? Some victories here for the Cardinals.
Chip Caray: Yeah, it's a lot more fun when you win. Uh, it's been a topsy turvy season, but that's the nature of the game.
Uh, we say it all the time. You play 1 62 for a reason.
Brett Gilliland: Right.
Chip Caray: ...and I, today's world, everybody gets caught up in the instantaneous results of one off game doesn't determine how a guy's gonna play or a pitcher's gonna pitch, or a team's gonna perform over the course of 1 62. But, uh, yeah, that was a very good week last week and, uh, good start to the series against the Brewers. Hopefully we can put 20 on 'em tonight.
Brett Gilliland: I think what we were, yeah. Say what was it 20 last night?
Chip Caray: It was 18.
Brett Gilliland: Was 18. Okay. That's what I thought. I turned...
Chip Caray: just increased by 10% every game. You feel really good about your chances.
Brett Gilliland: I like it. I like, I like our odds.
Chip Caray: Yeah.
Brett Gilliland: I like our odds. That's good. Well, if you can, I always start all my podcast Chip with, you know, kind of what's made you the man you are today. And, and obviously people know your story and, and know who you are, but I think it's important to hear it from the horse's mouth. Right? And so if you could kinda share a little bit of the background story. What's made you the man you are today?
Chip Caray: I guess experience, uh, you know, the old saying it takes a village is really true. I wouldn't be in professional broadcasting where it not for my dad and my grandfather. I didn't know Harry very well, uh, didn't really spend a lot of time with my dad until I was almost in college. My parents were divorced. I remember him leaving when I was a five year old. And, um, you know, he pulled out of the driveway and I said to my mom, where's dad going?
Cuz it was the off season for him. And she said, he's going on a long road trip. That's how he, she kinda explains. Uh, they're split. Uh, my wife obviously, uh, we have four children and she's had to be mother and father for six, seven months a year for the 27 years we've been married. Uh, allowing me to fulfill my dream and go out and talk about baseball and provide for our family, obviously.
Uh, she's certainly a rock. My kids are certainly an inspiration for me. It's the best thing I ever did is having four children. I have a 25 year old daughter. Identical twin, 23 year old sons who are broadcasters in Amarillo, Texas for the Sod Poodles and a 14 year old as well. So at 58, I've been blessed.
Uh, but as far as experience goes, um, you know, I learned a lot from my dad and father and what not to be as much as what to be. And I think that's a really important lesson for anybody. Uh mm-hmm. You know, Harry didn't really value family, didn't understand that until much later in his life. Uh, my dad didn't take care of himself as well as he would have, and in the latter stages of his life that came back to haunt him.
Um, but the, you know, the less lessons of life that they taught me. Tell the truth. Be yourself, be honest, and, uh, show up at work every day talking about a game in a sport you love. That's gonna carry you a long way. And if you'll pardon the pun, that's exactly what's happened.
Brett Gilliland: We've had a hell of a career, man. I just to name a few, I didn't know this until I was doing my research, but you were with the Mariners. Uh, but even before that, you were with the Orlando Magic from 89 to 98. I'm trying to think, was that Shaquille O'Neal time?
Chip Caray: Yeah. Well that was even before that, or 89 was their expansion year. I was 24 years old. And, uh, to my point earlier about, uh, uh, it takes a village, a man named Bob Neil knew, knew my dad, and knew of me and saw Pat Williams, who was the general manager and the man responsible for getting the expansion team in Orlando.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Chip Caray: And he talked to Pat at the All Star game from Houston, Texas that year, and Pat said, Bob Neil, Hey, we're looking for an announcer.
And Bob said, well, I think Chip Caray would be a perfect choice for you. If Pat said, skip Carey would want to come to our games. And Bob said, no, no, no, no. Not Skip it's Chip. And Pat, who had worked with my grandfather and knew my dad, said quote, oh God, there's another one. Uh, so at the age of 24, I was hired as an expansion announcer for the Orlando Magic.
Uh, the team won 15 games. I was worse than the team. I had no idea what I was getting into. I kind of did the Bob Costas route when he took the spirits of St. Louis job. He told Rudy Marsy, oh yeah, I've done a lot of college. I a lot of college basketball, a lot of pro basketball, have all kinds of experience.
I didn't know sports, basketball, but I had great partners and a great, uh, support staff. And there's nothing better as a young announcer than starting with the team from the ground up because you grow together.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Chip Caray: And to your point, yeah, they drafted Shaq, they drafted Penny Hardaway, got really, really good.
Didn't win an NBA title, but I had seven great years in Orlando. Met my wife there and, um, you know, Lived there for 20 plus years until we moved, uh, to St. Augustine, Florida, where we live now. And a lot of fond memories of Orlando for us.
Brett Gilliland: St. Augustine, I think, is that the oldest town in the country.
Chip Caray: Oldest city in America. Don't let the pilgrims fool you. Uh, our city founded 1565. That was 40 years before, uh, Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims in Jamestown and all of that stuff. And it truly is a magical place. My wife went to Flagler College there, uh, close. Brief history lesson. Henry Flagler was John Rockefeller's business partner.
He was the railroad guy, and he built a railroad from Jacksonville, Florida all the way to Key West Florida, built it himself. And I think he spent, spent 200 billion in 18 hundreds money, and it was all his, that's how wealthy he was in the Gilded Age of America. And it's a, it's really a fabulous, fabulous place to watch.
Brett Gilliland: That's crazy. Have you watched a, How I Built This. Have you ever seen that on like...
Chip Caray: Yep.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah, isn't that amazing?
Chip Caray: Yeah, there's a, there's a, um, a, a, a great book called Last Train of Paradise that talks about how the, the railroad was built. Uh, Henry Flagler founded the city of Miami. He built the Breakers in Palm Beach by himself.
He built the railroad all the way down to Key West of the hotel, Casta Marina. Is, it was his residence down there. And, uh, just the, the, the, the trials and tribulations of what people went through in surviving the hurricanes and all of that. It's truly a, a wonderful read, but it's a beautiful park of paradise and that's probably where they'll, they'll plant me in six feet under hopefully three or four years.
Brett Gilliland: That's right.
Chip Caray: Really, really fortunate. Blessed to live there for sure.
Brett Gilliland: Well, I, uh, I originally, I met you down with Brad Thompson down in Florida there in the booth at Spring training and, uh, It's funny, I, I stayed at a different hotel, but I was, I went to the Breakers and uh, I actually got online there.
I'm like, oh, I'll stay at the Breakers. You know, it's a nice little place. I'm close and didn't realize it was gonna be about 4,000 a night for a normal hotel room. So hopefully that guy's still getting some residual income off that.
Chip Caray: It's only money. You can't take it with you. They don't build a box big enough. But yeah...
Brett Gilliland: That's right.
Chip Caray: It's a remarkable place and it's a remarkable part of the world. And, um, you know, as, as great as that is, uh, coming back to St. Louis and, uh, rekindling all the friendships and, and familial relationships and revisiting all the places that I haunted as a kid and teenager and col uh, high school student has really been one of the most rewarding parts of this job.
And, uh, to be welcomed back so warmly by so many, uh, Mostly because of the works of my dad and grandfather is, uh, really, really a special thing. It's not lost on. Life's good. It's really good.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah, it's great. So tell us a little bit if you can, I mean, how did this go down? I mean, do you get a phone call from somebody and they say...
Chip Caray: I did.
Brett Gilliland: Hey man, we want you to Yeah.
https://youtu.be/Juurqrs3Y4o
Brett Gilliland: Welcome to The Circle of Success. I'm your host, Brett Gilliland, and today I've got Chip Carey with me. Chip, how you doing?
Chip Caray: I'm doing great, Brett. How are you?
Brett Gilliland: I'm good man. It's good to be with you. You are, uh, the new voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. We're well, a new, we're a couple. We're about a month and a half in now, right?
Chip Caray: Well, the newness hasn't worn off. I'm still the new guy, so, uh...
Brett Gilliland: That's right.
Chip Caray: It's been a wonderful experience and, uh, really a dream come true growing up here and never imagining this opportunity would take place. Uh, it's been quite a whirlwind last several, four or five months, but hey, that's the life we've chosen and I wouldn't have it any other way. So offering...
Brett Gilliland: That's right. Well, I'm sure you're, I'm, I'm sure you're glad that we're talking now eight days, uh, later than say seven days ago. Cause what, what are we, seven of the last date? Some victories here for the Cardinals.
Chip Caray: Yeah, it's a lot more fun when you win. Uh, it's been a topsy turvy season, but that's the nature of the game.
Uh, we say it all the time. You play 1 62 for a reason.
Brett Gilliland: Right.
Chip Caray: ...and I, today's world, everybody gets caught up in the instantaneous results of one off game doesn't determine how a guy's gonna play or a pitcher's gonna pitch, or a team's gonna perform over the course of 1 62. But, uh, yeah, that was a very good week last week and, uh, good start to the series against the Brewers. Hopefully we can put 20 on 'em tonight.
Brett Gilliland: I think what we were, yeah. Say what was it 20 last night?
Chip Caray: It was 18.
Brett Gilliland: Was 18. Okay. That's what I thought. I turned...
Chip Caray: just increased by 10% every game. You feel really good about your chances.
Brett Gilliland: I like it. I like, I like our odds.
Chip Caray: Yeah.
Brett Gilliland: I like our odds. That's good. Well, if you can, I always start all my podcast Chip with, you know, kind of what's made you the man you are today. And, and obviously people know your story and, and know who you are, but I think it's important to hear it from the horse's mouth. Right? And so if you could kinda share a little bit of the background story. What's made you the man you are today?
Chip Caray: I guess experience, uh, you know, the old saying it takes a village is really true. I wouldn't be in professional broadcasting where it not for my dad and my grandfather. I didn't know Harry very well, uh, didn't really spend a lot of time with my dad until I was almost in college. My parents were divorced. I remember him leaving when I was a five year old. And, um, you know, he pulled out of the driveway and I said to my mom, where's dad going?
Cuz it was the off season for him. And she said, he's going on a long road trip. That's how he, she kinda explains. Uh, they're split. Uh, my wife obviously, uh, we have four children and she's had to be mother and father for six, seven months a year for the 27 years we've been married. Uh, allowing me to fulfill my dream and go out and talk about baseball and provide for our family, obviously.
Uh, she's certainly a rock. My kids are certainly an inspiration for me. It's the best thing I ever did is having four children. I have a 25 year old daughter. Identical twin, 23 year old sons who are broadcasters in Amarillo, Texas for the Sod Poodles and a 14 year old as well. So at 58, I've been blessed.
Uh, but as far as experience goes, um, you know, I learned a lot from my dad and father and what not to be as much as what to be. And I think that's a really important lesson for anybody. Uh mm-hmm. You know, Harry didn't really value family, didn't understand that until much later in his life. Uh, my dad didn't take care of himself as well as he would have, and in the latter stages of his life that came back to haunt him.
Um, but the, you know, the less lessons of life that they taught me. Tell the truth. Be yourself, be honest, and, uh, show up at work every day talking about a game in a sport you love. That's gonna carry you a long way. And if you'll pardon the pun, that's exactly what's happened.
Brett Gilliland: We've had a hell of a career, man. I just to name a few, I didn't know this until I was doing my research, but you were with the Mariners. Uh, but even before that, you were with the Orlando Magic from 89 to 98. I'm trying to think, was that Shaquille O'Neal time?
Chip Caray: Yeah. Well that was even before that, or 89 was their expansion year. I was 24 years old. And, uh, to my point earlier about, uh, uh, it takes a village, a man named Bob Neil knew, knew my dad, and knew of me and saw Pat Williams, who was the general manager and the man responsible for getting the expansion team in Orlando.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Chip Caray: And he talked to Pat at the All Star game from Houston, Texas that year, and Pat said, Bob Neil, Hey, we're looking for an announcer.
And Bob said, well, I think Chip Caray would be a perfect choice for you. If Pat said, skip Carey would want to come to our games. And Bob said, no, no, no, no. Not Skip it's Chip. And Pat, who had worked with my grandfather and knew my dad, said quote, oh God, there's another one. Uh, so at the age of 24, I was hired as an expansion announcer for the Orlando Magic.
Uh, the team won 15 games. I was worse than the team. I had no idea what I was getting into. I kind of did the Bob Costas route when he took the spirits of St. Louis job. He told Rudy Marsy, oh yeah, I've done a lot of college. I a lot of college basketball, a lot of pro basketball, have all kinds of experience.
I didn't know sports, basketball, but I had great partners and a great, uh, support staff. And there's nothing better as a young announcer than starting with the team from the ground up because you grow together.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Chip Caray: And to your point, yeah, they drafted Shaq, they drafted Penny Hardaway, got really, really good.
Didn't win an NBA title, but I had seven great years in Orlando. Met my wife there and, um, you know, Lived there for 20 plus years until we moved, uh, to St. Augustine, Florida, where we live now. And a lot of fond memories of Orlando for us.
Brett Gilliland: St. Augustine, I think, is that the oldest town in the country.
Chip Caray: Oldest city in America. Don't let the pilgrims fool you. Uh, our city founded 1565. That was 40 years before, uh, Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims in Jamestown and all of that stuff. And it truly is a magical place. My wife went to Flagler College there, uh, close. Brief history lesson. Henry Flagler was John Rockefeller's business partner.
He was the railroad guy, and he built a railroad from Jacksonville, Florida all the way to Key West Florida, built it himself. And I think he spent, spent 200 billion in 18 hundreds money, and it was all his, that's how wealthy he was in the Gilded Age of America. And it's a, it's really a fabulous, fabulous place to watch.
Brett Gilliland: That's crazy. Have you watched a, How I Built This. Have you ever seen that on like...
Chip Caray: Yep.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah, isn't that amazing?
Chip Caray: Yeah, there's a, there's a, um, a, a, a great book called Last Train of Paradise that talks about how the, the railroad was built. Uh, Henry Flagler founded the city of Miami. He built the Breakers in Palm Beach by himself.
He built the railroad all the way down to Key West of the hotel, Casta Marina. Is, it was his residence down there. And, uh, just the, the, the, the trials and tribulations of what people went through in surviving the hurricanes and all of that. It's truly a, a wonderful read, but it's a beautiful park of paradise and that's probably where they'll, they'll plant me in six feet under hopefully three or four years.
Brett Gilliland: That's right.
Chip Caray: Really, really fortunate. Blessed to live there for sure.
Brett Gilliland: Well, I, uh, I originally, I met you down with Brad Thompson down in Florida there in the booth at Spring training and, uh, It's funny, I, I stayed at a different hotel, but I was, I went to the Breakers and uh, I actually got online there.
I'm like, oh, I'll stay at the Breakers. You know, it's a nice little place. I'm close and didn't realize it was gonna be about 4,000 a night for a normal hotel room. So hopefully that guy's still getting some residual income off that.
Chip Caray: It's only money. You can't take it with you. They don't build a box big enough. But yeah...
Brett Gilliland: That's right.
Chip Caray: It's a remarkable place and it's a remarkable part of the world. And, um, you know, as, as great as that is, uh, coming back to St. Louis and, uh, rekindling all the friendships and, and familial relationships and revisiting all the places that I haunted as a kid and teenager and col uh, high school student has really been one of the most rewarding parts of this job.
And, uh, to be welcomed back so warmly by so many, uh, Mostly because of the works of my dad and grandfather is, uh, really, really a special thing. It's not lost on. Life's good. It's really good.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah, it's great. So tell us a little bit if you can, I mean, how did this go down? I mean, do you get a phone call from somebody and they say...
Chip Caray: I did.
Brett Gilliland: Hey man, we want you to Yeah.
In God we trust