Wrigley Field has that smell. You know the one. It’s a mix of old concrete, spilled Old Style, and those expensive hot dogs. But for a huge chunk of Chicago, the Cubs experience isn't just about being in the bleachers; it's about that specific crackle of the radio.
Enter WSCR.
Basically, 670 The Score is the heartbeat of Cubs baseball for anyone stuck in I-90 traffic or grilling in a backyard in Naperville. It’s been the home of the North Siders since 2016—ironic timing, right?—and it has fundamentally changed how we consume the game.
The Sound of Summer: Chicago Cubs 670 The Score
Radio is weird. It’s this old-school medium that refuses to die because sports fans are creatures of habit. When the Cubs moved over from WBBM 780 to 670 The Score, some people panicked. They worried the signal wouldn't reach the far corners of the Midwest. But honestly, the 50,000-watt blowtorch signal of WSCR is a beast. It hits 38 states at night.
Pat Hughes is the reason we stay.
Let's be real: Pat Hughes is a first-ballot Hall of Famer for a reason. His voice is like a warm blanket. When he says, "Get out the tape measure," you can actually see the ball clearing the ivy. It’s not just reporting; it’s storytelling. Partnered with Ron Coomer, the duo brings a "two guys at a bar" vibe that fits the Cubs' brand perfectly. Coomer, or "Coom," brings that former-player insight without being a snob about it. He gets why a guy missing a cutoff man is frustrating, but he also knows how hard this game is.
The relationship between the Chicago Cubs 670 The Score and the fans is intense. It’s not just the three hours of the game. It’s the pre-game hype and the post-game therapy sessions. If the Cubs bullpen blows a lead in the 8th, you bet your life the phone lines are going to be melting.
Why the Radio Broadcast Beats the TV Stream
Streaming is glitchy. It’s always thirty seconds behind. You hear your neighbor scream because they’re watching on cable while you’re still watching the pitcher shake off a sign.
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Radio is immediate.
There’s a technical precision to how 670 The Score handles the broadcast. They use high-end field mics that pick up the "thwack" of the catcher's mitt. It’s visceral. Also, you don't have to look at a screen. You can paint a room, drive a truck, or pretend to work while the game is on.
People forget that 670 The Score is a sports-talk station first. This means the Cubs coverage doesn't end when the 27th out is recorded. You’ve got guys like Bernstein and Holmes or Parkins and Spiegel breaking down the analytics. Some fans hate the "nerd stats," while others live for the Expected Weighted On-Base Average (xwOBA) talk. The Score balances both, though it usually leans into the grit and the "eye test" when the callers get grumpy.
The 2016 Connection
It’s impossible to talk about this partnership without mentioning the World Series. 670 The Score took over the rights just in time for the greatest season in franchise history. That timing was basically hitting a grand slam on your first pitch.
Think about the audio of the final out. Pat Hughes calling that ground ball to Kris Bryant. "A little bouncer slowly toward Bryant... he picks it up, throws to Rizzo..." That audio is burned into the collective memory of the city. If the Cubs were still on a different station, that moment might feel different. But the Score owns that legacy now.
How to Actually Listen (It's Not Always Simple)
You’d think in 2026, listening to the radio would be easy. It's kinda not.
If you’re in Chicago, just turn your dial to 670 AM. Done. But if you’re trying to use an app, things get annoying. Because of MLB's strict blackout rules and digital rights, you can't always just "stream" the radio broadcast for free on the station's website.
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- The Audacy App: This is the primary home for 670 The Score. If you’re within the Chicagoland geographical "market," you can usually stream the game here.
- MLB At Bat: If you’re outside of Illinois, this is your best bet. It costs a few bucks a month, but it gives you the home and away radio feeds for every game. No blackouts for radio.
- Smart Speakers: "Alexa, play 670 The Score." It works, but again, location services matter.
There’s a common misconception that 670 The Score is only for "old people." That’s just wrong. The station has seen a massive surge in younger listeners who treat the broadcast like a live podcast. They want the authenticity. They want to hear Pat Hughes talk about the weather for five minutes during a pitching change. That’s the good stuff.
Dealing with the "Haters" and the Hard Truths
Let's be honest: being a Cubs fan is exhausting. The "Loveable Losers" tag is gone, replaced by a high-spending, high-expectation monster. When the team underperforms, 670 The Score becomes a battlefield.
Some listeners complain that the station is too critical. Others say they’re "homers" who protect the Ricketts family. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle. The hosts on the Score are fans, sure, but they’re also journalists. They’re going to call out a bad trade. They’re going to grill the GM.
The nuanced reality is that 670 The Score provides a check and balance. Without the daily grind of sports talk radio, the team wouldn't feel as connected to the city’s pulse. It’s a symbiotic relationship. The Cubs need the Score to keep the buzz alive, and the Score needs the Cubs to keep the ratings up.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Signal
People always complain about "static" under bridges. Look, it’s an AM signal. Physics is physics. If you’re under a steel beam, your radio is going to buzz. That doesn’t mean the station is "weak." In fact, 670 is one of the "Clear Channel" frequencies (not the company, the FCC designation). This means at night, the station is required to have a clear path across the country. I’ve heard stories of guys in the mountains of Colorado picking up a Cubs night game. That’s the magic of the Chicago Cubs 670 The Score connection.
The Future of Cubs Radio
Is radio dying? Maybe. But the Chicago Cubs on 670 The Score feels pretty safe.
The station recently extended its deal with the team, ensuring that the partnership continues into the late 2020s. We’re seeing more integration with digital platforms, like "BetQL" tie-ins for the gambling crowd. Whether you like it or not, sports betting is now part of the broadcast. You’ll hear odds on the Score that you never would have heard ten years ago. It’s a different world.
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But even with the betting lines and the high-tech apps, the core remains. It’s Pat Hughes. It’s the sound of the crowd. It’s that weirdly comforting sound of a mid-July afternoon game when the wind is blowing out to left.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Listening Experience
To get the most out of your Cubs radio habit, stop relying on the default settings.
Invest in a dedicated AM/FM pocket radio. If you’re actually going to the game at Wrigley, take a radio with you. The delay on the apps will ruin the experience. Hearing Pat Hughes in your ear while watching the play happen in real life is the ultimate "pro move" for fans.
Check the podcast feed. If you miss a game or a big interview, 670 The Score uploads almost everything to their "Cubs Postgame" podcast. You don't have to catch it live to hear the breakdown.
Sync your audio. If you have a decent home theater setup, you can sometimes pause your TV for a few seconds to sync it up with the radio broadcast. It’s tricky, but watching the HD feed while listening to Pat and Coom is the peak way to watch baseball.
The Chicago Cubs 670 The Score partnership isn't just a business deal. It’s a cultural staple. As long as there’s a diamond at Clark and Addison, there will be someone with a transistor radio pressed to their ear, waiting for the next "Cubs win! Cubs win!"