Pat Hughes and Jose Cardenal will be inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame. “It’s almost surreal,” says the radio broadcaster.

Chicago Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes’ eloquence into the microphone has made him synonymous with summer baseball on the North Side.

Hughes, 67, has been the radio voice of a generation of Cubs fans since he took over the role in 1996. The team will honor him for his contributions by inducting Hughes and former outfielder Jose Cardenal into the Cubs Hall of Fame.

The late Buck O’Neill — a longtime Cubs scout and coach — also received a plaque thanks to his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year. The trio will be presented on September 10.

President of business operations Crane Kenney broke the news to Hughes during the third inning of the Cubs’ 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.

“I’m really surprised. I don’t know what to say,” Hughes said afterward. “How did I get here? I can’t explain it. It’s almost surreal.”

Hughes said he wishes his parents and former broadcasting partner and Hall of Famer Ron Santo were alive for the honor. He also praised Ron Coomer, his partner for the past nine seasons; Trish, his wife of nearly 35 years; and their two daughters.

“You always hope for things like that, but some things are so high that you don’t really get hung up on them because you don’t want to be disappointed,” Hughes said. “So I didn’t sit around and think about it too much. I thought it would be really cool if I could get in there and go into the Cubs Hall of Fame. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be part of the Hall of Fame for a great organization like the Cubs?”

The voting panel consisted of five members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame — Andre Dawson, Fergie Jenkins, Lee Smith, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams — and eight members of the media. To earn entry as a candidate, a candidate must finish in the top two vote-getters or receive 75% of the vote. Team historian Ed Hartig helped compile the 14-man ballot.

Among the qualifications to be considered are playing at least five years for the Cubs, making a significant contribution to the organization and, for players, finishing their Cubs career before 2000 with at least a top-10 ranking for the franchise in their era. in one basic statistical category.

The Cubs Hall of Fame, located under the left bleachers, was introduced last summer. It currently houses 56 plaques, including members of the Cubs’ original Hall of Fame (1982-86), their Walk of Fame (1992-98), the team’s National Baseball Hall of Fame and last year’s Margaret Donahue Award.

Cardenal, 78, spent six seasons (1972-77) with the Cubs. The Cuban native hit .296 with a .363 slugging percentage and a 114 OPS+ in 821 games.

Hughes became the third broadcaster to be enshrined in the Cubs Hall of Fame, joining Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray.

“I love the history of baseball and the history of the Cubs,” Hughes said. “And to think that I’m there with only two other broadcasters — that I’m the third, that’s pretty special.”

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