HARRY THE HOARSE

Does he worry about the huge salaries being paid?
"Not at all," he said. "There must be enough money to pay them or the owners would be screaming."
He is convinced that baseball is being played better now than at any time in his memory.

"People keep asking me about who the best ballplayers were. I say we have one right now at second base for the Cubs. I don't ever remember seeing a player who could do more things.

"Sandberg can hit for power, hit for average and he can make the plays in the field better than anybody else. Not only does he have a great glove, but he has a great arm, too. For my money, Ryne Sandberg is a Hall of Famer."
Hints keep being made that perhaps Caray would like to take it easy, to go off and sit in the sun for his remaining years.

Despite his tough exterior, Caray's feelings can be hurt. And for a guy who has been on the road all his life, he is remarkably sensitive about his family life.

"The thing I'm proudest of," he said, "is that my son Skip is the lead announcer for the Atlanta Braves and my grandson Chip will be doing the games for Seattle this season."
Don't look for a day any time in the future when the name Caray is not associated with major league baseball. And don't expect Harry to go away anytime soon. He's still much too feisty, and a new season's under way. This is a man who's settled in on the job for life.

Take me out to the ball game
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack
I don't care if I never get back . . .
At the old ball game.