Hughes named Illinois Sportscaster of the Year

By Carrie Muskat

January 12, 2015

CHICAGO -- Cubs play-by-play radio announcer Pat Hughes was named the 2014 Illinois Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

This is Hughes' ninth Sportscaster of the Year honor and his sixth in Illinois, having previously won the award in 1996, 1999, 2006, '07 and '09. He also was honored as Wisconsin's Sportscaster of the Year three times (1990-92).

"I'd like to dedicate this award to my wonderful broadcast partner, Ron Coomer, and to the Chicago Cubs fans, the best listening audience in the world," Hughes said in a statement.

The award will be presented June 9 in Salisbury, N.C.

The 2015 season will be Hughes' 33rd broadcasting big league baseball and his 20th with the Cubs.

This year, Hughes and Coomer and the Cubs' radio broadcasts will move from WGN Radio to WBBM Newsradio 780.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.