CHICAGO -- Cubs radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes was named the 2017 Illinois co-sportscaster of the year by the National Sports Media Association on Tuesday.
"I'd like to dedicate this award to three special parties," Hughes said. "First, I have the best announcing partner in baseball in Ron Coomer. We both work for the finest executive producer in America, and that is Mitch Rosen. And the Chicago Cubs fans are the sweetest listening audience on the planet."
This is Hughes' 11th sportscaster of the year honor and his eighth in Illinois, having previously won it in 1996, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2015. Hughes was Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
The 2018 season will be Hughes' 36th consecutive campaign of broadcasting Major League Baseball, his 23rd season with the Cubs and his fifth year with Coomer.
This year, Hughes shared the NSMA Illinois honor with Mark Giangreco, the sports director and lead sports anchor of WLS-TV.