Despite saying a slur on air, Chip Caray was not fired, drawing comparisons to past incidents.
Harry Christopher “Chip” Caray III has established himself as a prominent voice in baseball broadcasting, carrying forward a legendary family tradition that spans three generations.
Born February 27, 1965, Caray currently serves as the television play-by-play broadcaster for FanDuel Sports Network Midwest’s coverage of St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
His broadcasting journey began after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1987 with a journalism degree, leading him through various markets including Panama City, Florida, and Greensboro, North Carolina.
Caray’s career gained momentum when he became the play-by-play broadcaster for the Orlando Magic from 1989 to 1998, before transitioning to baseball with the Seattle Mariners from 1993 to 1995.
His most notable positions included serving as the voice of the Chicago Cubs from 1998 to 2004, taking over after his grandfather Harry Caray’s death, and spending seventeen years with the Atlanta Braves organization from 2005 to 2022.
Throughout his career, Caray has also contributed to national broadcasts, including Fox’s Saturday Game of the Week and TBS playoff coverage, establishing himself as a respected voice in major league baseball broadcasting.
Broadcaster Chip Caray Avoids Being Fired Despite Controversy
During the June 21, 2025, game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, Chip Caray found himself at the center of a broadcasting controversy that tested his network’s response to on-air mistakes.
The incident occurred during the fourth inning when Caray read a promotional announcement for the Cardinals’ upcoming Disability Pride Night.
While attempting to mention the “disability pride flag” featured on promotional Cardinals caps, Caray accidentally substituted the word “flag” with a homophobic slur.
A VERY painful 31 seconds of silence after Chip Caray accidentally says slur while reading Disability Pride promo… pic.twitter.com/pyJcnVp00x
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 21, 2025
The mistake immediately created an uncomfortable atmosphere in the broadcast booth.
Dead air followed for over thirty seconds as Caray appeared to realize what had happened, while Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray continued pitching to Spencer Steer.
His broadcasting partner, Brad Thompson, remained silent during this extended pause before finally breaking the tension by returning to standard game commentary.
Caray eventually resumed his play-by-play duties as if the incident had not occurred, offering no immediate on-air acknowledgment or apology.
The broadcasting slip drew immediate attention on social media platforms, with viewers sharing clips and expressing various reactions to the uncomfortable moment.
Many compared the incident to similar situations involving other broadcasters, particularly Thom Brennaman’s 2020 incident with the Cincinnati Reds and Glen Kuiper’s 2023 controversy with the Oakland Athletics.
Both previous incidents resulted in significant consequences for the announcers involved, with Brennaman facing suspension and eventual resignation, while Kuiper received termination after an internal review.
However, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest responded differently to Caray’s mistake.
Sources within the network told Front Office Sports that they considered the incident an “honest” mistake by an announcer who meant no insult to viewers.
The network declined to impose any disciplinary action against Caray, distinguishing his situation from previous broadcasting controversies.
This decision marked a departure from the stricter responses other networks had taken in similar circumstances.
The network’s handling of the situation reflected their assessment that Caray’s error resulted from a verbal stumble rather than intentional misconduct or inappropriate conversation accidentally broadcast on air.
Unlike the Brennaman incident, which involved a hot microphone capturing off-air comments, Caray’s mistake occurred during a live promotional read.
The network’s sources emphasized that they viewed this as a pronunciation error rather than evidence of discriminatory intent.
Industry observers noted the varying approaches networks have taken toward similar incidents.
While some organizations have implemented zero-tolerance policies for on-air slurs regardless of intent, others have considered context and apparent motivation when determining appropriate responses.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Chip Caray attended Parkway West High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, before graduating from the University of Georgia in 1987 with a degree in journalism.
- Chip Caray has sons who are also in broadcasting – Chris Caray, who currently calls games for the Oakland Athletics, and Stefan Caray, who called a spring training game with his father earlier in 2025.
- As of 2024, Chip Caray served as the lead play-by-play announcer for Roku’s “Sunday Leadoff” broadcasts, expanding his presence beyond the Cardinals’ regional coverage.
