Bill Lee

They called him The General, and he made his Cubs debut on this day in 1934.

He pitched a shutout.

Mother's Day

I just got off the phone with the mother in your life, and you know what she told me?

She said she really, really wants a Just One Bad Century shirt for Mother's Day. It's true. If you order today, it will be there in time for Mother's Day. I can't force you to make the mother in your life smile, but remember, you can get them right here, and it's easy as pie. (Although not as delicious as the pie she makes...just one of the many things she has done for you over the years. The woman just wants a shirt--it's the least you can do.)

In honor of Sigmund Freud

The father of psychoanalysis would be celebrating a birthday today if he were still alive.

Of course Freud had absolutely nothing to do with the Cubs, but this believer in Freud's theories did. If you haven't heard the story before, you're never going to believe it.

Lennie Merullo...

...was born on this day in 1917.

If you don't remember Lennie, here is his story.

Ernie's 500th...

...was hit on this day in 1970. It was a cold and chilly afternoon at Wrigley Field, and only a small crowd was on hand to witness history.

Here's Jack Brickhouse talking about Ernie. It's obvious Jack loved the guy.

Yikes

I know she's a local girl (Downers Grove), and I know she's pretty, but whoo boy, singing is not on her list of accomplishments...

This week in...

1929

The Cubs are in the midst of a pennant winning season.

*On the same day the Cubs trounce the Phillies in a double-header behind the pitching of Pat Malone & Charlie Root, Prussia outlaws anti-fascists.



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1969

The Cubs are in the midst of one of their most memorable seasons.

*While Adolopho Phillips is being walked to force in the winning run (Ron Santo) against the Mets at Wrigley Field, Majestic Prince wins the Kentucky Derby.



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1984

The Cubs are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since World War 2.

*The same afternoon that Ron Cey knocks in Ryne Sandberg to beat the Padres in the bottom of the tenth inning at Wrigley Field (and Garvey goes 0-4), Swain wins the Kentucky Derby. Laffit Pincay Jr. is the jockey.


********************
1989

The Boys of Zimmer are taking Chicago by storm.

*Scott Sanderson beats the Dodgers 4-2 in Los Angeles thanks to home runs by Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg, just hours before Mike Tyson gets a speeding ticket for drag racing in Albany, New York.

Mark Grace...

...debuted with the Cubs on this day in 1988.

This video shows him doing his current job, showing off a section of the Diamondbacks' ballpark known as "Grace's Place."

American Mustache Institute

I've been in contact with the guy who runs this site: The American Mustache Institute.

He reminds me of me. Today he runs a feature on the two players the Cubs will honor this month: Greg Maddux and Fergie Jenkins.

As it turns out, at one time in their careers they both had mustaches.

I also featured both of their mustaches at Just One Bad Century last year...

Greg Maddux


Fergie Jenkins

Happy birthday to a great mustache

Recognize this one?

It's celebrating a birthday today.