Listening to the Chicago Cubs Radio Broadcast: Why Pat and Ron are the Soul of Summer

You know that specific sound. It’s the crack of a bat followed by a sudden, sharp intake of breath and a gravelly "Get back! Get back!" that makes your heart race even if you're just stuck in I-90 traffic. That is the magic of the Chicago Cubs radio broadcast. It isn’t just about the score or the pitch count. Honestly, for most fans across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana, it’s the literal soundtrack to their lives from April through September.

Radio is different in Chicago. While other cities might be obsessed with their flashy TV graphics, North Side fans have this deep, almost spiritual connection to the airwaves. Maybe it’s a leftover habit from the days before every game was televised, or maybe it’s just because Pat Hughes has one of those voices that feels like a warm blanket.

Where to Find the North Siders on the Dial

If you’re looking to tune in right now, the flagship station for the Chicago Cubs radio broadcast is 670 The Score (WSCR-AM). They’ve held the rights for several years now, taking over from WBBM, and before that, the legendary run on WGN. It’s a bit of a powerhouse signal. During the day, it covers the city and suburbs easily, but once the sun goes down, that AM signal starts bouncing off the ionosphere. You can sometimes catch the game as far away as Nashville or the Great Plains if the weather is right.

For the digital crowd, it’s a bit more restricted because of MLB’s iron grip on streaming rights. You can’t just go to a station’s website and click "play" for free. You basically have to use the MLB App (which requires a subscription) or have a premium Audacy account if you’re within the specific geographic market. It’s a bit of a pain, honestly. But for the purists, nothing beats a battery-powered transistor radio sitting on a porch railing.

The Pat Hughes Factor: A Hall of Fame Voice

We need to talk about Pat Hughes. The man is a legend. Period.

When he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2023 Ford C. Frick Award winner, nobody in Chicago was surprised. We just wondered why it took so long. Pat has been the voice of the Cubs since 1996. Think about that for a second. He’s called everything from the dark, 100-loss seasons of the early 2010s to the absolute delirium of 2016.

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His style is "classical." That’s the best way to put it. He gives you the "taped-up" score, the jersey colors, and the wind direction at Wrigley Field every single game. He paints a picture. If a guy is wearing high socks, Pat mentions it. If the shadows are creeping across the infield, you’ll hear about it.

The Chemistry with Ron Coomer

Then there’s Ron Coomer. "Coom" joined the booth after the tragic passing of the beloved Ron Santo. Those were impossible shoes to fill. Santo wasn't just a broadcaster; he was a fan with a microphone who would literally groan in pain when the Cubs gave up a home run.

But Coomer, a Chicagoland native who actually played for the Cubs, found his own lane. He’s the perfect foil to Pat’s polish. While Pat is the master of the play-by-play, Coomer provides the "inside baseball" grit. He’s the guy who tells you why a pitcher is falling off the mound or why a batter is looking for a slider on a 2-1 count. They sound like two guys who actually like each other, which is surprisingly rare in professional sports broadcasting. They joke about Pat’s sweaters or the food in the press box. It’s comfortable.

The 2016 Legacy and Why Radio Still Matters

Go back and listen to the call of the final out of the 2016 World Series. Pat Hughes’ voice didn't crack. It didn't waver. "A little bouncer slowly toward Bryant... he picks it up... throws to Rizzo... and the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series!"

That moment is etched into the collective memory of millions. Most people watched it on TV, but thousands of others—people who were too nervous to watch or were working—heard it on the Chicago Cubs radio broadcast. There is a raw intimacy to radio that TV can't match. On TV, the camera shows you the tears in the stands. On radio, the silence between the words tells the story.

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The Technical Side: The Cubs Radio Network

The broadcast isn't just WSCR. It’s an entire network. The Chicago Cubs Radio Network consists of dozens of affiliate stations across the Midwest.

• KSTZ in Des Moines? They’ve got the game.
• WSOY in Decatur? They’re tuned in.
• Even stations in parts of Michigan and Wisconsin carry the feed.

This network is the reason why, if you drive from Chicago to Omaha, you can almost always find the game. You just scan the AM dial until you hear that familiar cadence.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Broadcast

People think radio is dying. They really do. They think everyone is just watching highlights on their phones. But the Cubs' numbers say otherwise. Baseball is a slow game—a "linear" game, as the suits say. It’s designed for radio. It fills the gaps of a workday or a long drive.

Another misconception is that the announcers are "homers." While Pat and Ron clearly want the Cubs to win, they aren't afraid to call out bad play. If the bullpen blows a lead because of poor command, Coomer will break down exactly how they messed up. They respect the game too much to lie to the listeners.

The Spanish Broadcast: A Growing Force

We can't ignore the Spanish-language broadcast. It’s a huge part of the Cubs' ecosystem. The energy is different—higher, faster, more percussive. Miguel Esparza and his team bring a flavor to the game that reflects the massive Latino fanbase in Chicago. It’s a vital part of the "Cubs on the radio" experience that often gets overlooked by the English-only media.

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The Wrigley Field Atmosphere via Audio

One of the hardest jobs in a Chicago Cubs radio broadcast isn't the talking; it's the mixing. The engineers at Wrigley Field are some of the best in the business. They have microphones positioned to catch the specific sound of the Wrigley crowd.

There’s a "Wrigley roar" that sounds different from a crowd at Dodger Stadium or Yankee Stadium. It’s more compressed. It’s sharper. When you hear the "Go Cubs Go" song start to bleed into the microphones at the end of a win, it’s a visceral experience. The broadcast team does a masterful job of letting the stadium breathe. Sometimes, they’ll just stop talking for ten seconds and let you hear the organist, Gary Pressy (or his successors), or the vendors yelling in the background.

Why You Should Listen (Even If You Can Watch)

Honestly, try this: mute your TV and sync up the radio. There’s usually a delay, which is annoying, but if you can get it to line up, it’s the superior way to experience a game. You get the visual of the HD screen with the elite storytelling of the radio booth.

Pat Hughes often does his "Player Profile" segments or tells stories about players from the 1920s. You don't get that on the national TV broadcasts. Those national guys have to talk to everyone; Pat and Ron are talking just to us.

Practical Ways to Tune In

If you want to make the most of the Chicago Cubs radio broadcast this season, here is the most effective way to stay connected regardless of where you are:

1. Buy a high-quality AM/FM radio. Look for one with a "DX" setting if you live outside the immediate Chicago area. This helps pull in distant signals at night.
2. Download the MLB App. It’s the most reliable way to get the radio feed without blackouts. Even if the video is blacked out in your area, the home and away radio feeds almost never are.
3. Check the Affiliate Map. Before you go on a road trip through the Midwest, look up the Cubs Radio Network affiliate list. Save the frequencies into your car’s presets.
4. Follow Pat Hughes’ Scorecards. Pat is famous for his incredibly detailed, hand-written scorecards. He often shares them or talks about his process. Keeping your own scorecard while listening is a great way to actually understand the nuances of the game.
5. Listen to the Pre-game. The "Pat and Ron Show" starts about thirty minutes before first pitch. This is where the best analysis happens, often including interviews with the manager or the GM that you won't hear elsewhere.

The Chicago Cubs radio broadcast is a living history. It links the era of Ernie Banks to the era of Dansby Swanson. It’s the sound of summer in the Midwest, and as long as there’s a breeze blowing out at Wrigley, there will be someone with a radio tuned to the game.

To stay updated on the latest frequency changes or special broadcast events, check the official Cubs website or the WSCR 670 The Score schedule. Setting up your audio options before Opening Day ensures you never miss a pitch when the legendary Pat Hughes welcomes you to the ballpark.