Len Kasper: Leaving Cubs for White Sox is about longtime desire to call baseball on radio

Saying radio is “embedded in his soul,” Len Kasper explained why he’s leaving the Cubs’ TV booth for the White Sox’ radio booth in an interview Friday on his new home, ESPN 1000.

Kasper appeared on the “Kap & J.Hood” morning show said that he wanted to be Ernie Harwell, the Tigers’ Hall of Fame broadcaster, growing up and that he had been thinking about moving to radio for a long time.

The Sox’ job initially opened after longtime voice Ed Farmer died April 1. Andy Masur called the action this past season on a one-year agreement. Kasper will join Darrin Jackson, who has been a Sox analyst for 21 seasons, the last 12 on radio.

“The timing of this was simply there was an opportunity available that I had long thought about,” Kasper said. “And if you had followed my career at all, there were hints along the way.”

Kasper referenced his daily pregame interviews on Cubs radio broadcasts on The Score, calling the fifth inning during postseason games and reporting from the field after the team won the 2016 World Series.

He said he wants to paint the picture of baseball the way idol and mentor Ernie Harwell, the Tigers Hall of Fame broadcaster, did for him. Kasper also wants to call postseason games, which he can’t do on TV because the national networks take over coverage.

Though Kasper said he was the one spearheading the move, he said his relationship with Cubs business president Crane Kenney and Marquee Sports Network general manager Mike McCarthy made departing difficult. Still, he called it a “friction-less” week regarding the cooperation among all parties, including Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Kasper will join Jason Benetti in the Sox’ TV booth for 20-25 games on NBC Sports Chicago, depending on analyst Steve Stone’s schedule. Kasper and Benetti also plan to collaborate on multimedia projects. Kasper recommended Benetti to the Sox to replace Hawk Harrelson.