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WGN-TV Historical Timeline: 1998
1998
January The CW launches its fourth night with a popular combo, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dawson's Creek," both ratings hits.
February Harry Caray, the legendary broadcaster best known for his signature phrase "Holy Cow!" passes away following several days of unconsciousness after suffering cardiac arrest on February 14. He was 83 years old. Caray got his start in major league broadcasting in 1945. The year 1994 marked Caray's 50th anniversary as a sportscaster, the same year he was awarded the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame Award. WGN-TV broadcast his funeral mass live from Holy Name Cathedral.
April 20 WGN-TV held an evening celebration in honor of WGN-TV's 50th Anniversary (at the Fairmont
Hotel). Six of the seven past GMs of WGN-TV were present, covering 50 years of leadership.
WGN-TV General Managers Through the Years:
Ward Quaal 1956-1967 (VP/GM)
1967-1974 (Pres)
Dan Pecaro 1967-1974 (VP/GM)
1974-1981 (Pres)
Sheldon Cooper 1974-1981 (VP/GM)
Robert King 1982-1983 (VP/GM) -- Not pictured
Joe Loughlin 1983-1987 (VP/GM)
Dennis FitzSimons 1987-1992 (VP/GM)
Peter Walker 1992-1999 (VP/GM)
John Vitanovec 1999-Present -- Not pictured
May 2 WGN airs a 90 minute special, "WGN-TV 50 Years as Chicago's Very Own." This original WGN production hosted by WGN's Roy Leonard, documents a number of television innovations, such as the hand-held camera and baseball's centerfield camera angle, which are commomplace today. Interviews with historic broadcasters such as Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray in his final TV interview, describe the evolution of the medium.
August 6 Longtime sportscaster Jack Brickhouse, the voice of the Cubs, the White Sox and the Bears to a generation of Chicago sports fans, passes away after suffering cardiac arrest in St. Joseph Hospital at the age of 82. Brickhouse was hospitalized on February 27, 1998 with a nickel-sized tumor in his brain, after suffering an attack while getting ready to attend the funeral of another Cubs broadcasting legend, Harry Caray. The tumor was removed on March 3 and no cancer in the brain tissue was found.
September 28 The wild card playoff game between the Cubs and the Giants scored a record 32 rating, 48 share, which ties WGN-TV's previous all-time high Cubs rating from the 1984 season. As the Cubs clung to their lead in the ninth inning, the game peaked at a 39 rating/62 share. The Cubs rating was five times higher than Monday Night Football on WLS-TV and was the top ranked program all day.
October The CW launches its fifth night of programming on Wednesdays. New shows added to the roster were the highly-acclaimed "Felicity" and "Charmed."
1998 The "Extra Effort Award," news series is retired.
Copyright © 2008, WGN-TV
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