Corey McPherrin
Encyclopedia
Corey B. McPherrin known professionally as Corey McPherrin, is the morning news anchor for WFLD
-TV in Chicago.
, McPherrin graduated from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois
. He then earned a bachelor's degree in radio and television from Butler University
in Indianapolis
, where he was president of Butler's chapter of the Sigma Chi
fraternity and where he participated on the school's swim team and worked on Butler's radio station, WAJC.
, and then worked for TV stations in Quincy, Illinois
, New Orleans, Denver and Atlanta.
In 1984, McPherrin joined WABC-TV
in New York City
and became WABC's top sports anchor in 1986. McPherrin was on hand for the epic 16 inning long sixth game of the 1986 National League Championship Series
between the New York Mets
and Houston Astros
(which was broadcast on ABC). Although the Astros wound up being eliminated following their 7-6 lost to the Mets in Game 6, Astros' ace pitcher Mike Scott
was still named the NLCS' Most Valuable Player. McPherrin interviewed Scott following the trophy presentation.
During the late 1980s, McPherrin delivered in-game updates during ABC's Monday Night Baseball
and Thursday Night Baseball
broadcasts.
During the first season of ESPN Sunday Night Football
(1987
), the very first game of the package, between the New York Giants
and New England Patriots
, had WABC
(the American Broadcasting Company
's flagship station out of New York City
) produce a completely separate telecast from ESPN's (rather than an over-the-air station simply simulcasting ESPN's broadcast in the competing teams' home markets). The reason behind this was that WABC's union contract at the time, prohibited non-union workers, such as those at ESPN, from producing live events for WABC. As such, McPherrin would provide play-by-play while Monday Night Football's Frank Gifford
and Lynn Swann
would serve as his color commentators.
In 1991, McPherrin joined WBBM-TV
in Chicago as the station's main sports anchor. He remained in that role until 1995, when he was bumped from being WBBM's lead sports anchor by the arrival of Tim Weigel
. McPherrin then chose to leave WBBM-TV and join WFLD
-TV in Chicago as its lead sports anchor. In July 2010, it was announced that McPherrin had been promoted to host "Good Day Chicago" weekdays from (7 a.m-10 a.m.).
neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.
WFLD
WFLD, virtual channel 32 , is the Fox owned-and-operated television station, based in Chicago, Illinois; through its parent company News Corporation, the station is owned in a duopoly with area MyNetworkTV affiliate WPWR-TV...
-TV in Chicago.
Early life and education
A native of Markham, IllinoisMarkham, Illinois
Markham is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,620 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Markham is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, McPherrin graduated from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois
Country Club Hills, Illinois
Country Club Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 16,169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Country Club Hills is located at ....
. He then earned a bachelor's degree in radio and television from Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, where he was president of Butler's chapter of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity and where he participated on the school's swim team and worked on Butler's radio station, WAJC.
Professional career
McPherrin began his broadcasting career in 1977 at a television station in Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, and then worked for TV stations in Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
, New Orleans, Denver and Atlanta.
In 1984, McPherrin joined WABC-TV
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and became WABC's top sports anchor in 1986. McPherrin was on hand for the epic 16 inning long sixth game of the 1986 National League Championship Series
1986 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1986 at Astrodome in Houston, TexasGame 1 featured a pitching duel between eventual NLCS Most Valuable Player Mike Scott and Dwight Gooden. Scott allowed just five hits and walked one while striking out 14 in a complete-game effort as the host Astros prevailed 1–0...
between the New York Mets
1986 New York Mets season
The 1986 New York Mets season was the Mets' 25th season in the National League. They began the season looking to equal or improve upon their 98–64 record from 1985 and to try to win the National League East Division. They finished the season with a 108–54 record, cruising to the division title...
and Houston Astros
1986 Houston Astros season
-Regular season:* Kevin Bass had a twenty game hit streak during the season.* Dave Smith set a club record with 33 saves in one season.* September 24, 1986: Jim Deshaies set a record for the most strikeouts to start a game...
(which was broadcast on ABC). Although the Astros wound up being eliminated following their 7-6 lost to the Mets in Game 6, Astros' ace pitcher Mike Scott
Mike Scott (baseball)
Michael Warren "Mike" Scott is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. He won the National League Cy Young Award in...
was still named the NLCS' Most Valuable Player. McPherrin interviewed Scott following the trophy presentation.
During the late 1980s, McPherrin delivered in-game updates during ABC's Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball is a live game telecast of Major League Baseball that airs most Monday nights during the regular season on ESPN and is also available in high definition on ESPNHD. The official name of the game is Monday Night Baseball presented by Vonage. The game starts at 7 p.m...
and Thursday Night Baseball
Thursday Night Baseball
Thursday Night Baseball is the title of a presentation of Major League Baseball on cable and satellite channel MLB Network, that premiered on April 9, 2009. Longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Bob Costas is one of the play-by-play voices of the broadcasts. Matt Vasgersian also does play-by-play on some...
broadcasts.
During the first season of ESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....
(1987
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
), the very first game of the package, between the New York Giants
1987 New York Giants season
The 1987 New York Giants season was the 63rd season for the club in the National Football League. The Giants entered the season as the defending Super Bowl champion but failed to qualify for the playoffs...
and New England Patriots
1987 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's strike-shortened 1987 season with a record of eight wins and seven losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
, had WABC
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
(the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's flagship station out of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) produce a completely separate telecast from ESPN's (rather than an over-the-air station simply simulcasting ESPN's broadcast in the competing teams' home markets). The reason behind this was that WABC's union contract at the time, prohibited non-union workers, such as those at ESPN, from producing live events for WABC. As such, McPherrin would provide play-by-play while Monday Night Football's Frank Gifford
Frank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
and Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
would serve as his color commentators.
In 1991, McPherrin joined WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago as the station's main sports anchor. He remained in that role until 1995, when he was bumped from being WBBM's lead sports anchor by the arrival of Tim Weigel
Tim Weigel
John Timothy Weigel , known professionally as Tim Weigel, was a Chicago broadcaster who spent most of his career as a television sports anchor and reporter.- Early life and education :...
. McPherrin then chose to leave WBBM-TV and join WFLD
WFLD
WFLD, virtual channel 32 , is the Fox owned-and-operated television station, based in Chicago, Illinois; through its parent company News Corporation, the station is owned in a duopoly with area MyNetworkTV affiliate WPWR-TV...
-TV in Chicago as its lead sports anchor. In July 2010, it was announced that McPherrin had been promoted to host "Good Day Chicago" weekdays from (7 a.m-10 a.m.).
Personal
McPherrin and his wife, Sally, have two children, Jack and Margaret. They live in the Lake ViewLakeview, Chicago
Lake View, or Lakeview, is one of the 77 community area of the Chicago, Illinois, located in the city's North Side. It is bordered by West Diversey Parkway on the south, West Irving Park Road on the north, North Ravenswood Avenue on the west, and the shore of Lake Michigan on the east...
neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.