Toast to Harry Caray drew sports legends, celebs and super fans

Harry Caray’s Tavern was packed at Navy Pier on March 29. From 5 a.m. on into the evening hours, sports legends, celebs, super fans, press and more crowded into the restaurant to join in for the Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray honoring the 25th anniversary of his passing. This year’s theme, Re-Elect Harry Mayor of Rush Street, intended to “reaffirm forever that Harry is the one and only Mayor of Rush Street and that there will never be another.”

Harry was “elected” Mayor of Rush Street on August 24, 1980. Numerous establishments around Rush Street campaigned for him and he won the election in a landslide. Mayor Jane Byrne acknowledged his victory by declaring that Harry was the Mayor of Rush Street and that she was the Mayor of the rest of Chicago.

Twenty-five years later, fans came out in force to “vote” to ensure that Harry maintains his “crown.”  Comedian Jeff Garlin showed up claiming to be Harry’s “campaign manager.” Former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster appeared as Harry. (Ryan is known almost as much for his illustrious baseball career as he is for his amazing impersonation of Harry!)

As guests filed in, they were gifted with a souvenir pair of Harry’s oversized glasses and white T-shirts emblazoned with “Vote Harry Caray Mayor of Rush Street.” You could hardly squeeze into the dining room as there was so much press setting up cameras, all trained on the podium where the The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel team were positioned and where the toast would take place. Everyone in the room was handed a bright red and white can of Budweiser for the toast.

The program opened with Chicago Cubs’ legend Ryne Sandberg asking the crowd to raise their “cans” and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Then, Chicago Board of Elections Commissioner William Kresse and Bill Kurtis (The Voice)announced the voting results. In 4^th place, William “Big Bill” Thompson, in 3^rd place, John “Bathhouse” Coughlin , in 2^nd place George “Cap” Streeter and, of course, the winner in a landslide was Harry Caray! After the announcement, wild applause broke out as a rain of colorful confetti poured down on the crowd followed by Chicago Blackhawks’ anthem singer Jim Cornelison singing “Harry Caray is back again,” rhyming to the tune of “Happy Days are Here Again” song. Ryan Dempster, as Harry, accepted on his behalf and thanked Dutchie Caray (Harry’s widow) who was in the crowd.

Seen on the scene were former Governor Pat Quinn, former Chicago Bear Richard Dent, Chicago Cubs’ Ron Kittle, Richard Roeper, the Landan Twins (Jon and Andrew), Joanna DePorter, Betsy Shepherd, Jimmy Rittenberg, Navy Pier’s Marilynn Gardener, Gail Spreen and Dennis Downes, Joanne Grace, Linda Hynes, NASCAR’s Brent Gambill and Kurt Busch (NASCAR Cup Series Champion), Alderman Brian Hopkins, Beth Heller and so many others.

As is tradition every year, fans around the world raise a drink to the memory of legendary Hall of Fame baseball announcer Harry Caray. Over the years, more than five million fans from all 50 states and over 150 countries have joined in the annual tribute to the legendary baseball broadcaster.

(Congrats to Grant Deporter and his team, who did a great job building the excitement and honoring Harry. Grant already has the theme for next year! Of course, he does!)

(Harry Caray’s Tavern, Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., (312) 527-9700, harrycarays.com) (Photos by Candid Candace Jordan)

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