On July 22, the Reds and Cardinals were in a close game. Fans were glued to the television, watching every pitch and swing. During a commercial break, the MLB announcer mistakenly used a slur that distracted viewers everywhere. What happened next was a pause that was so loud and so silent that it felt like the game itself had stopped for a moment.
What should have been a short note announcing an upcoming Disability Pride Night on July 10. Which will include giveaway caps showing the disability pride flag and Braille-style Cardinals lettering. Who would have thought it would become the talk of the town? Well, the announcer misinterpreted “flag” and said a homophobic term instead. There was dead air for more than thirty seconds, and the only thing that broke the vacuum was his co-announcer’s next pitch.
Chip Caray is the MLB announcer. He’s a well-known voice in baseball and the grandson of famous broadcaster Harry Caray. Caray, who is now 60 years old, has been calling Cardinals games since 2023. This was his fourth inning read during the June 21 game versus the Reds. On air, he said, “Disability Pride Night is Thursday, July 10. With a themed ticket, fans take home a Cardinals cap featuring the disability pride fa–, flag, and Cardinals in braille.” It was shocking. And everyone had one thought: What will happen now?
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, which used to be called Bally Sports Midwest, told Front Office Sports that they are neither suspending nor disciplining him. Instead, they say it was an “honest mistake” made while reading live, and he “meant no insult to any viewers.” This isn’t the first time MLB viewers have seen a blunder like this from announcers. Remember the 2020 and 2023 incidents?
In August 2020, Thom Brennaman was caught on a hot mic using a homophobic slur. He commented on a commercial break without realizing the microphone was on. Fans and athletes were shocked, and the comment went viral. Brennaman apologized on the broadcast, stating he was “deeply ashamed.” But, in the middle of the game, the Reds and Fox suspended him indefinitely.
Glen Kuiper of NBC Sports California mispronounced “Negro Leagues Museum” during an Oakland A’s pregame presentation in May 2023, making a racial slur. He apologized on live TV before the opening of the sixth inning, calling it a regrettable “slip of the tongue” and issuing a statement. NBC Sports California terminated his contract later that month after an internal assessment.
Those past events show how risky live broadcasting can be. But Caray’s moment at spring training shows a different side: one of legacy, humor, and genuine warmth.
From booth laughter to broadcast silence: Caray’s 2025 mic moments
In Jupiter, Florida, in early March, the Cardinals and Marlins played in MLB’s Spring Breakout showcase, which featured the best prospects from both teams. While everyone was talking about the rising stars, the broadcast booth had its highlight: Chip Caray and his 25-year-old son, Stefan, called the game for FanDuel Sports Network Midwest.
5/28/2019 — Atlanta, Georgia — Fox Sports Southeast television broadcaster Chip Caray during the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital, Tuesday, May 28, 2019. (Credits: Alyssa Pointer/[email protected])
The moment meant more than just family relationships. Chip, who was in his third season as the Cardinals’ play-by-play voice, made the broadcast more fun by jokingly asking, “Do I still get paid?” Stefan shot back, “Well, Dad isn’t as good as Jack Buck, so he hasn’t earned that right.” This set a fun, multi-generational tone right away.
Their relationship was like the Caray lineage, which includes Harry, Skip, Chip, and now Stefan and his twin brother Chris. It included storytelling, humor, and family ties. For many watching, the banter brought back memories of baseball’s long history of broadcasting.
This funny interaction between father and kid is very different from Caray’s mistake in June. A reminder that even if live TV might go off script, it’s the character and consistency of the person behind the mic that make viewers remember both the funny parts and the mistakes.
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