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RIP Jack Rosenberg. We’ve lost a Chicago treasure, a WGN legend, and one of the nicest men to ever walk the earth. Pioneer, mentor, brilliant writer, heart of gold. THREAD
2) Jack was sports editor at WGN for 40 years, a career encompassing all Chicago sports teams and thousands of broadcasts. The sound of his typewriter softly clicking behind Jack Brickhouse was the soundtrack of summer for generations of Cubs fans.
3) Rosey was an American original. Imagine a youth in Pekin, IL who qualified for the national junior tennis tourney, was sports editor of the daily metro paper WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, delivered his class commencement address, then joined the Navy at the height of WWII.
4) Jack was an award-winning newspaperman in Peoria and turned down the chance to join the Chicago Tribune sports staff in 1954, only to have Jack Brickhouse convince him to join WGN-TV a few weeks later (at less pay he always joked!)
5) He was promoted to sports editor in 1958 and for years worked on WGN TV and radio events. He was friends with Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente and helped Vince Lloyd grab a live interview with JFK at Opening Day on WGN’s Leadoff Man show.
6) Rosey was part of an incredible team including Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Arne Harris, Jack Quinlan, and many more that revolutionized TV in Chicago.
7) “If I ever said anything funny, it’s probably because Rosenberg wrote it.” - Jack Brickhouse
8) Jack produced and traveled to Bear games for decades with Brick and Kup, often flying and befriending Virginia and Ed McCaskey.
9) In 1981, he and Brickhouse wanted a special guest for their season kickoff “A Look At The Cubs” show, so they worked with Rep. Bob Michel and landed an Oval Office interview with President Reagan.
10) Jack was a tremendous mentor who helped launch many careers including Rich King, Dan Roan, Mitch Rosen, and me.
11) He wrote Jack Brickhouse’s autobiography and Brick was best man at Rosey’s wedding.
12) Rosey wrote Brick’s Hall of Fame speech: “In the fantasy of my dreams, I have imagined myself as the announcer of a Cubs-WhiteSox World Series, a Series that would last 7 games, with the final game going into extra innings before being suspended of darkness at Wrigley Field.”
13)“Countless people at WGN & elsewhere have brought me to this broadcasting pinnacle today. You know who you are & you have my undying gratitude.
Here on a memorable afternoon in Cooperstown, my heart tells me I have traveled the 90 feet from 3rd to home and scored standing up.”
Here on a memorable afternoon in Cooperstown, my heart tells me I have traveled the 90 feet from 3rd to home and scored standing up.”
14) Rosey, Brick, Arne, Jim West - Wrigley Field.
15) When he stepped out of the booth, he never slowed down. Jack and Vince Lloyd founded the Cubs Radio Network in 1995 making it easier for Cub fans across the Midwest to hear their favorite team.
16) In 1990, WGN Radio wanted Rosey to choose their new color man - Bob Brenly or Ron Santo. After working with both at practice games in FL,
Rosey convinced management to hire them both.
Rosey convinced management to hire them both.
17) When Harry Caray returned after his stroke in 1987, he requested Rosey return to accompany him and work with him that season.
18) Don and Charlie’s in Scottsdale. Rosey and Cubs crew spread the word this was the place to be and helped the new restaurant take off.
19) Jack would sit on a panel at the Cubs Convention each year and regale the audiences with an endless supply of baseball stories.
20) His home turf was L Woods in Lincolnwood and he was a wonderful resource for @LenKasper and many others.
21) When the White Sox started SportsChannel in the early 80’s, Jack turned down the chance to join them, but stayed friends with Jerry Reinsdorf. Their lunches were two master story-tellers at their best.
22) Rosey was elected to the TV Academy Silver Circle in 2011.
23) He was added to the WGN Radio Walk of Fame in 2017.
