Working with sports icons like Bob Uecker, Ron Santo and Al McGuire supplied broadcaster Pat Hughes with a nearly bottomless tank of colorful stories.

He shared some of them Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Todd Wehr Center during a luncheon of the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition. The coalition comprises the leading business, civic, professional and governmental leaders in southeastern Wisconsin.

Mr. Hughes has been the radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs for the past 17 years. Even though professional sports have developed into serious businesses, he urged the audience at Carthage to keep the games in perspective.

"There are enough things that will bring you down," he said. "Sports are fun. ... Try not to forget that."

Mr. Hughes spoke warmly of his longtime Cubs broadcast partner, the late Ron Santo. A nine-time All-Star during his playing career with the Cubs, Santo was elected posthumously to the Baseball Hall of Fame in December – an honor Mr. Hughes called "overdue." Among other tales, Mr. Hughes described the time he doused Santo's toupee with water after it caught fire.

Having spent 12 years alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Uecker in the radio booth, Mr. Hughes called the Milwaukee Brewers legend his biggest influence. He praised Uecker's baseball knowledge, antics and humility.

His 17 years as a television announcer for Marquette University basketball games also included a stint with legendary coach Al McGuire. Mr. Hughes recalled the coach talking him into hitchhiking to the airport.

Noting that Kenosha is fairly evenly divided between Cubs and Brewers fans, Mr. Hughes said the teams are developing a "beautiful rivalry." Someday it could match the intensity of a series between the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, he said.

Before taking questions from the Carthage audience, Mr. Hughes summed up the wisdom he has acquired over a lengthy career. That included staying flexible, hustling and continually learning.

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts," he said.