Bert Wilson
Encyclopedia
Bert Wilson was a play-by-play broadcaster for Major League Baseball
's Chicago Cubs
from 1944 to 1955. He was an unabashed "homer", known for two catchphrases: "I don't care who wins, as long as it's the Cubs!" and "Sic 'em, Cubs!" He also invented a short-lived catchphrase for the double play combination of Ernie Banks
, Gene Baker
and Steve Bilko
: "Bingo to Bango to Bilko". This phrase did not threaten the fame of "Tinker to Evers to Chance". He also had other well known phrases such as "It's a Beautiful day in Chicago" and when the Cubs were doing poorly near the end of the season as they frequently were, "Bring on the Bears". He is under recognized as a fine announcer. Wilson also called Chicago Bears
football in the 1940s.
The Cubs were contenders when Wilson first began covering them, but by the mid-50s they were engaged in an annual battle with the Pittsburgh Pirates
for last place in the National League
. Following the 1955 season, Wilson signed with the Cincinnati Reds to do play-by-play on television. However, coincidentally or otherwise, Wilson died from heart failure in November, prior to the start of the 1956 season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
from 1944 to 1955. He was an unabashed "homer", known for two catchphrases: "I don't care who wins, as long as it's the Cubs!" and "Sic 'em, Cubs!" He also invented a short-lived catchphrase for the double play combination of Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks
Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,...
, Gene Baker
Gene Baker
Eugene Walter Baker was an American Major League Baseball player. A native of Davenport, Iowa, he primary played second base for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was selected for the National League All Star game in 1955. He played eight seasons from 1953 to 1958 and 1960 to 1961,...
and Steve Bilko
Steve Bilko
Stephen Thomas Bilko , was an American professional baseball player known for his home run hitting as a minor league player during the 1950s. He was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 22, 1949, with the St. Louis Cardinals.Nat Hiken, creator of The Phil Silvers Show,...
: "Bingo to Bango to Bilko". This phrase did not threaten the fame of "Tinker to Evers to Chance". He also had other well known phrases such as "It's a Beautiful day in Chicago" and when the Cubs were doing poorly near the end of the season as they frequently were, "Bring on the Bears". He is under recognized as a fine announcer. Wilson also called Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
football in the 1940s.
The Cubs were contenders when Wilson first began covering them, but by the mid-50s they were engaged in an annual battle with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for last place in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. Following the 1955 season, Wilson signed with the Cincinnati Reds to do play-by-play on television. However, coincidentally or otherwise, Wilson died from heart failure in November, prior to the start of the 1956 season.