Cubs 365, March 7

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1979, Cubs slugger Hack Wilson was selected to be in baseball's Hall of Fame by the Hall of Fame's veteran committee. He had already been dead for more than thirty years. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame that year; Willie Mays.

Though Hack's demise is well chronicled and quite sad, during his heyday with the Cubs he was simply the most feared slugger in the National League.

The following poem was featured in The Sporting News in 1930 (author unknown), and pretty much says it all...

“How do you pitch to Wilson?”
Asked the rookie up from the sticks,
“I’m up to learn the hitters,
And know their little tricks.”

“I’ll tell ya,” said the veteran,
who had pitched for many years,
“When ya dish up Hack yer fast one,
You’d better watch your ears.

“He’ll drive that agate at ya,
Like ya never seen before
He’ll learn ya in a jiffy,
Not to show him speed no more.

“N’then y’ll try to curve him,
N’he’ll crash one off yer shins:
If ya keep on throwin hookers,
He’ll tear off both yer pins.

“N’then ya’ use year change of pace,
He might strike out on that;
N’perhaps he’ll ride the ball so far,
You don’t know where it’s at.

“I’ll tell ya son,” the veteran said,
“When ya see that sawed-off squirt,
Just flip one towards the platter,
N’take care ya’ don’t get hurt.”

Cubs 365, March 6

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1987, one of the most entertaining soap operas in Cubs history was underway. Andre Dawson, one of the best players in baseball at the time, showed up unannounced and begged the Cubs to sign him to a free agent contract. How did the Cubs react? GM Dallas Green said that Andre could "take his dog and pony show somewhere else."

Andre and his agent Dick Moss might have suspected that the owners were colluding to break the union. (It later came out that they were right; the owners had made a secret agreement that no one was to sign a free agent.) They had a plan to get around this, and whether it was a dog and pony show or not, it worked.

Moss announced that Andre wanted to play for the Cubs so badly that he was submitting a blank contract, and trusting the Cubs to fill in a fair amount of their choosing. Dallas Green refused to meet with him, but Moss dropped off the contract with his assistant.

When the news of this offer made the Chicago newspapers, Cubs fans deluged Green with various different versions of "What are you stupid?" phone calls and letters. The press chimed in with their own assessment of this offer: one of the greatest players in baseball was actually begging to join the Cubs--something that never happened--and the dumbest franchise in history was about to blow it.

With pressure mounting, Green realized he had no choice. He filled in the contract, awarding Andre with the 15th highest salary on the Cubs roster that year ($500,000), and reluctantly signed the man who became one of the most beloved Cubs players of all-time. That year Andre Dawson won the MVP award playing for a last place team. He hit 49 home runs, knocked in 137 runs, and ran out to right field to salaams from an adoring public.

And he practically had to hold a gun to their head for the chance to do it.

Cubs 365, March 5

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1982, famous Cubs fan John Belushi died at the way too young age of 33. His career was peppered with references to his favorite baseball team. On Saturday Night Live, he flipped "Cheesborgers" in a place eerily similar to the place that allegedly brought us our World Series curse...the Billy Goat Tavern.

Even more famously, in the classic film "The Blues Brothers," Jake and Elwood say that their address is 1060 West Addison Street. When the band of moronic Nazis turn up at the brothers’ official address, they are none to pleased to discover what is really there...Wrigley Field.

Just a few months before John died in 1982, the Tribune bought the Cubs. John called them "the fascist paper from Chicago." A few months later, Harry Caray was named to replace the retiring Jack Brickhouse in the broadcast booth. Sporting News writer Bill Conlin wrote: "Harry Caray taking over for Brickhouse will have about the same shock value as John Belushi taking over the network news."

John Belushi never heard Harry broadcast a single Cubs game. When he died on March 5, 1982, spring training had just begun. In John Belushi's lifetime the Cubs never appeared in the playoffs a single time.

Cubs 365, March 4

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1955, the Cubs were conducting their spring training in Mesa Arizona. Young Ernie Banks was coming off a tremendous rookie season; one that saw him place second in the Rookie of the Year voting to St. Louis' Wally Moon. (Hank Aaron finished fourth). Ernie hit 19 homers and knocked in 79 runs for the Cubs; incredible numbers for a shortstop.

As the Cubs got ready for the 1955 season, Ernie was cornered by Cubs radio announcer Bert Wilson. You can hear how nervous the youngster is in the spotlight this early in his career.

Listen to the interview here.

Cubs 365, March 3

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1939, the Cubs arrived at their Spring Training facility on Catalina Island in California. They were the defending National League champions. During the time the Cubs trained in California, in the years before a big league team had moved out west, the Cubs were the toast of Hollywood.

Every year they were sure to get a visit from one big movie or radio star. In spring training of 1939, their visitor was the biggest dummy in America, Charlie McCarthy, along with his ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. There are three Cubs Hall of Famers in the picture. Can you spot them? Gabby Hartnett, Billy Herman, and Dizzy Dean. (Dizzy is the one right behind Charlie looking down on him)

(Photo: Acme file photo)

Cubs 365, March 2

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1950, future Cubs pitcher Pete Broberg was born. He was a first round pick of the Washington Senators in 1971, but could never quite harness his control. He led the American league in hit batsmen in two different seasons before the Cubs acquired him.

Broberg pitched only 36 innings for the Cubs in 1977. He was a little wild for the Cubs too (18 walks in 36 innings) and a little hittable (8 home runs allowed in 36 innings) but his mustache helped anchor an impressively mustachioed bullpen. The Cubs traded him to the A's the following year, Broberg's last season in the majors.

Cubs 365, March 1

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1918, future Cubs pitcher Hank "Hooks" Wyse was born. They called him Hooks because his best pitch was a devastating curveball. Hank Wyse was an important part of the Cubs starting rotation during the war years. In 1944 he won 16 games for the Cubs.

But Wyse had his best season in the Cubs pennant winning year of 1945. He won 22 games, posted a 2.68 ERA, and was named to the All-Star team. His results in the World Series, however, did not quite live up to the rest of his outstanding year. He lost the game he started (Game 2), and relieved in two other losses. Nevertheless, unless the Cubs ever manage to return to the World Series, Hank Wyse will remain the last Cubs player to throw a pitch in the Fall Classic. He recorded the final Detroit Tigers out in the top of the 9th inning in Game 7 at Wrigley Field.

Unlike many war players that never duplicated their success after all the stars returned, Wyse did have one more good year, but in 1947 his famous curveball lost its bite, and Wyse lost his spot in the Cubs rotation.