Friday, April 1, 2011

Two Perfect Days at Wrigley Field

I posted this week's "A Suburban Dad" guest column at Kim Strickland's "A City Mom" blog on ChicagoNow. This week's is about...you guessed it...opening day.

I highlighted my two most perfect days ever at my favorite place in the world.

You can read it here.

The Onion and the Cubs

The Onion has some fun with the Cubbies. Pretty funny stuff.

Opening Day 1973

One of the most dramatic opening days in Cubs history had an unlikely hero.

The Cubs were down a run in the bottom of the ninth.

Joe Pepitone led off the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Cleo James. Ron Santo got on base thanks to an error by Expos 2B Ron Hunt, and was also replaced by a pinch runner. Glenn Beckert walked to load the bases.

The Expos brought in their closer Mike Marshall, the best closer in baseball. He promptly walked Randy Hundley to tie the game, but he buckled down and got Don Kessinger to pop out down the line, and struck out Jim Hickman.

That brought up Cubs lead off man Rick Monday. The bases were loaded. The score was tied 2-2. It was the bottom of the ninth. Marshall vs. Monday. Marshall knew he couldn't give Monday anything to hit, but he tried to be a little too fine around the plate, and eventually walked him...to bring in the winning run.

Ron Santo's pinch runner scored that winning run. He was sent to the minors after that and never again appeared in another major league game as a player.

His name was Tony LaRussa.


Donating Goats?

It's not often that the Cubs and Cubs fans make it on TMZ, but today they did. There's a story about Cub fans donating goats to needy families...to try and reverse the curse.

I suppose it can't hurt, but can't we all just agree that this goat curse is a bunch of a hooey?

Mike and Molly go to Wrigley

I've never seen the show, but I may have to check it out a week from Monday. I got the press release from CBS, and here are the details...

“Opening Day” — Mike breaks tradition and invites Molly to join him and Carl at opening day for the Chicago Cubs, on Mike & Molly, Monday, April 11 (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network."

Thursday, March 31, 2011

SI and the Cubs

Sports Illustrated has put many of their old archived articles online, and I've been going through them to find some gems about the Cubs.

This one was from December 10, 1984. It's about Rick Sutcliffe's decision whether or not to stay with the Cubs. He has offers from eight teams. The cover story of this issue is about a certain rookie on the Bulls who looks like he might just turn into something.



Waiting On Deck For A Shipload Of Money
Rick Sutcliffe is in the easy chair as the Cubs attempt to salvage last season's pitching staff.

The Cub and the Blonde Bombshell

She was a major league blonde bombshell. He was a minor league Cub bomb.

Together they stole the headlines in 1966.

Their story is today's Tale from a Bad Century.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The New Cubs Old Style Bottle


You gotta love the new Old Style bottle, which will be debuting later this week (photo). The full details of it's origin are here in the latest issue of Packaging Digest.

That's right, I was reading Packaging Digest. Got a problem with that?

SI and the Cubs

Sports Illustrated has put their archived articles online, and I'm going to be featuring some of the articles they wrote about the Cubs.

This one was on July 7, 1980. It was about the fact that Wrigley Field still didn't have lights. The story about the Olympic athletes that were affected by the 1980 boycott was on the cover...

One Place That Hasn't Seen The Light
Chicago's Wrigley Field has grass on the ground and ivy on the walls and is the only park where there are never any night games.




It's another recommended time capsule. The article is about PK Wrigley; his stubborn approach and frugality, and the real reason why the Cubs still didn't have lights in 1980.

Wrigley Field Before it was an Icon

Today's Tale from a Bad Century is the tale of our beloved Wrigley Field...the first 50 years when it was just another ballpark in the National League.

We go back to 1916, 1928, 1938, and 1957.

You can read it here.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

SI and the Cubs

Sports Illustrated has put their archived articles online, and I'm going to be featuring some of the articles they wrote about the Cubs.

This one was on June 30, 1969.


Leo's Bums Rap For The Cubs
"Chicago's genteel old North Side has a pennant contender after lo these many years, egged on by a raucous bleacher section and -- Mr. Wrigley should chew on another cud -- the irrepressible Durocher."




I read the article, and I've got a good feeling about the Cubs in 1969. Maybe this really is our year.

I kid, but the article is a time capsule gem. I particularly love the part about the Bleacher Bums. Highly recommended.

Monday, March 28, 2011

A St. Louis website reviews the Cubs


Guess what they think?

I can't say I disagree, but it still rubs me the wrong way to read it.

Lou Brock

This week's Cubs Hall of Famer is that man forever associated with his beloved Cubs...Lou Brock.

Read all about him, and see him talking about the trade that sent him to a different team here.

Amaze your friends at work today by telling them about that other team he also played for. Not many people remember that part of his career.