Dialed-In Len Kasper Shifts South, Joins White Sox Radio Booth

CHICAGO – In what is expected to be a big winter of change for the Chicago Cubs, the moves won’t be limited to the field.

Len Kasper, who was the television play-by-play announcer for the Cubs for the past 16 years, is not only shifting out of the TV booth, but will move from Chicago’s North Side to the South. As first reported by The Athletic Thursday night, Kasper will join the White Sox radio team for ESPN 1000 in what is being seen as a surprising move on the city's sports media landscape.

Kasper will join long-time Sox commentator Darrin Jackson in the radio booth and will leave the Marquee Network after only one year. The Sox announced a multi-year deal with ESPN 1000 last month and the radio station was expected to announce Kasper's addition to its broadcasting team on Friday morning.

“Broadcasting baseball on the radio has always been my dream,” Kasper said in a statement issued by the team. “I am happy the White Sox were interested in having me handle their play-by-play responsibilities, and I am appreciative that the Cubs were willing to let me leave that organization on such great terms.

"I have always been fascinated by the creative freedom radio allows its broadcasters, and baseball is such a great game when presented on the radio. I have been dreaming about doing this since I was 12 years old, listening to Ernie Harwell, and I didn’t want my career to pass without experiencing this great game nightly from the radio booth. I want to thank both the Sox and Cubs for allowing me to live out this baseball dream.”

Kasper, who turns 50 in January, did some radio work with the Cubs and would join Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer in the booth during the fifth inning of nationally televised games he was not calling for the Cubs. According to The Athletic, there is no bad blood between Kasper and Marquee and that the decision to move to the Sox radio booth is being driven by Kasper’s desire to work in radio.

But Kasper has also always been clear in his desire to call a World Series – something that was not possible as long as he remained on the television side due to Fox Sports' contract to broadcast the Fall Classic.

Kasper will replace Andy Masur, who worked with Jackson last season following the death of longtime White Sox radio play-by-play man Ed Farmer. The Athletic reported that Chris Myers, who formerly was a longtime television personality with ESPN and Fox Sports, is slated to replace Kasper as Marquee’s play-by-play personality alongside Jim DeShaies. Jackson is beginning his 22nd season with the Sox broadcast team, having worked the past 13 on the radio side.

“Len is a friend who I know very well. We get along great together, and I welcome him to the White Sox organization,” Jackson said in a statement issued by the team. “With my background of broadcasting more than 20 years for the White Sox organization and Len’s Chicago experience and baseball background, I hope White Sox fans share our excitement about covering an up-and-coming Sox team on a nightly basis. I miss former partner Ed Farmer every single day, really enjoyed last season with Andy Masur and am appreciative of how each helped seamlessly form a tandem. Now, I am looking forward to building a long-term bond with Len, Sox fans and all of our listeners.”

Kasper joined the Cubs in 2005 when he replaced Chip Caray and worked alongside Bob Brenly, who remained in the booth at Wrigley Field until 2013. Since then, Kasper and DeShaies partnered together and were the TV voices behind the Cubs rebuild, which led to a 2016 World Series championship.

The news of Kasper’s departure comes just weeks after team President Theo Epstein stepped down from his role and was replaced by general manager Jed Hoyer. On Wednesday, the Cubs announced that they were not tendering contracts to outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora, Jr., both of whom were part of the World Series championship, as was former ace Jon Lester, who was not offered a contract after the Cubs captured a National League Central Division title this past season.