The Chicago White Sox have a new play-by-play man in the booth — former ESPN and CBS broadcaster John Schriffen. Schriffen will take over play-by-play responsibilities for the White Sox on NBC Sports Chicago beginning with the upcoming 2024 season.
According to MLB.com, Schriffen was chosen from among a small pool of finalists, including multiple phone interviews and an in-person visit to Guaranteed Rate Field. What started as a brief interview with team chairman Jerry Reinsdorft and TV analyst Steve Stone turned into a three-hour dinner. “We hit it off immediately,” Schriffen said. “Everybody knows Steve Stone is the greatest. He has done everything in baseball broadcasting – the dude is a legend…He was as excited if not more excited for me. That’s how much of a good dude he is.”
Specifics of the deal were not disclosed but the MLB.com report says it is a “multi-year deal.” Schriffen replaces the departing Jason Benetti, who announced he was leaving the White Sox to call games for the Detroit Tigers late last year. Schriffen says he can’t try to be Benetti, nor can he be former White Sox TV legends Harry Caray or Ken Harrelson — all he can do is be himself.
“You can’t try to be somebody that you are not,” Schriffen told MLB.com. “Chicago sports fans are intelligent, they are smart, they are the best fans in the country. If you are trying to be somebody else, they are going to see you as a fraud.”
The White Sox begin their 2024 season on March 28 on the road against the Detroit Tigers.
