The Cubs Chronicle

The Big Red C reports, and the Chicago Tribune confirms, that Steve Stone has resigned as broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs. This truly is disappointing, following a letdown of a season. Thanks, though, Steve, for the many years of excellence. God bless.

UPDATE I (9:15pm): It seems from the outside that Cubs management, including Dusty Baker, has to shoulder some—and perhaps much—of the blame for Stone’s leaving.

UPDATE II (9:20pm): Here is Steve Stone’s resignation letter.

UPDATE III (11:45pm): Stone told the AP “that WGN wanted to bring him back next season. But after much deliberation, he said he reached a decision that was ‘probably best for all parties.’” Stone also said, “I am not retired. I am going to spend the rest of my life in baseball. I just don’t exactly know where that will be.”

It seems clear that it got to a point where this was not a happy situation for him.

UPDATE IV (10/29/2004 12:35am): More info from the Chicago Tribune’s Ed Sherman:

Steve Stone decided to walk away from the Cubs on Thursday because he thought he couldn’t walk back into what had become a severely strained relationship with the team’s hierarchy.
. . . .
[A]ccording to Cubs and broadcast sources, Stone thought the climate had become too tense for him to operate comfortably within the organization.
. . . .
The final straw for Stone might have come on the Tuesday after the season. Hendry and Baker had teleconferences with reporters to give their side of an issue the analyst thought had been resolved. At that point, Stone reportedly began to realize there was no going back.
. . . .
According to sources, Stone also was upset the team allowed Chip Caray to leave . . . .

Sherman quotes a source saying if the Cubs had matched Chip’s offer from Atlanta, Stone definitely would have returned.