Look for Ron Magers to turn up in the Wrigley Field broadcast booth alongside Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies when WLS-Channel 7 airs its first Cubs game of the season Wednesday.
The ABC-owned station’s top news anchor is expected to make a special appearance during the fifth inning of the Cubs matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Starting at 1 p.m., the broadcast also will feature ABC 7 sports anchors Mark Giangreco and Jim Rose, and a weather forecast before the start of the game from meteorologist Cheryl Scott.
The appearances by Magers, Giangreco, Rose and Scott — to be followed by other ABC 7 personalities throughout the season — are part of the station’s new partnership agreement with the Cubs. The deal calls for ABC 7 to air 24 games a year through 2019.
"Broadcasting Chicago Cubs baseball on ABC 7 is an exciting moment in our station's history,” John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be a part of this new chapter with the Chicago Cubs organization and are looking forward to kicking off our coverage with the fierce Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.”
To accommodate the afternoon baseball broadcast, ABC 7 will shift its regular programming to overnights, airing “Inside Edition” at 1:05 a.m., the rebroadcast of "ABC 7 Eyewitness News" at 1:35 a.m., “General Hospital” at 2:10 a.m., “Jeopardy!” at 3:10 a.m., and “ABC World News Now” at 3:40 a.m.