E-mails, we get e-mails...

I got this e-mail from Raul Sierra. I thought you might enjoy it...


"Believe it or not, I'm a long time Cubs fan! I'm 30 years old, and live in Guatemala city, and have been a Cub fan, since cable TV came to us! We had only a few channels including Atlanta Braves TBS, and of course WGN TV Chicago, were I watched every noon cubs game coming from school every day, an watched Harry Caray sing take me out to the ballgame! Back in those days you remember those great players, Andre Dawson, Ryno, Mark Grace, Greg Maddux, Shawn Dunston, Damon Berryhill, and the best manager Don Zimmer!!! I still remember all of then winning the Division agaist the Montreal Expos, when Mitch Williams struck out Mike Fitzgerald! I think it was 1989!

Those were nice days, and still now after all that time, a huge cub fan!

I cried with Steve Bartmans play, and have been praying for this season! THE TEAM IS IN GREAT SHAPE! My dream is to go to Wrigley Field once in my life! Go Cubs Go!!! This is our year! Greetings from Guatemala!"

1908 vs. 2008: Leftfield

1908: Jimmy Sheckard

Sheckard was the final piece to the Championship puzzle when he was acquired before the 1906 season to play left field. He was known for his speed (he led the league in steals twice), his good eye (he was in the top ten in walks nearly every year), and his rascally sense of humor. Unfortunately for Sheckard, that sense of humor rubbed his teammate Heinie Zimmerman the wrong way. Early in the season they got into a fight in the locker room, and Zimmerman threw a bottle of ammonia at Jimmy--nearly blinding him. If the ballpark wasn't located just steps away from Cook County hospital, he almost certainly would have lost his sight. As it was, it cost him several weeks of playing time. (It also cost Zimmerman several weeks...he was beaten to a pulp by his manager and teammates)

Sheckard's hitting never really returned in 1908 (he ended the year hitting only .231), but he still managed to make an impact at the top of the order (mostly batting second) with his speed (18 steals) and his walks (he finished in the top 5 that year). He played with the Cubs for four more seasons and retired in 1913.


2008: Alfonso Soriano

Like his 1908 counterpart, Soriano missed several weeks of the season with an injury, and is a bit of a hot dog--just like Jimmy Sheckard. He also hits at the top of the lineup and has good speed--but that's where the similarities end.

Alfonso Soriano is a power hitter who can carry the team on his back when he is hot. He is the marquee player on a team full of marquee players. He is likely to make a mistake in the field that will seemingly lose the game before making up for it by getting the game-winning hit.

Historically his hot streaks have not coincided with his appearances in the post season. If those two forces coincide in 2008, he could take the Cubs to the promised land.

E-mails, we get e-mails...

I got the following e-mail from Nancy Berg...



"Rick, I love your website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a true Cubs fan, born in Logan Sq, and my dad was a baseball scout as well, I cannot tell you how happy I am that Lou Pinella is making my lifelong dream come true...total Cubs domination. I was at all 4 Cubs vs SF Giants games (i live outside of SF), as were a million other CUBBY fans.

When I saw your youtube site, and then went to your website i felt AT HOME (plate)! I have forwarded both to at least 50 people! My dad knew Jack Brickhouse (to me he IS the voice of the Cubs) and to see the interview with his wife was great. I enjoy your fan interviews and stories. Thank you so much. I really miss Chicago.

My son, who is 11 and born in California is finally catching Cubs fever. Last night he wove a story worthy of preservation, about the Cubs winning the Series, while subconsciously dressed in CUBS BLUE! Rick, we came home this year to see the Cubs for my birthday (april 3) and my son ended up at Children's ER with a terrible flu. It would have been his first game at Wrigley. No Cubs, but my die-hard friends in Chicago rallied around his bedside (and missed a game as well). True Cubs story. We entered the tickets contest! I'm going to order a shirt today. Rick, YOU are Mr. Cub 2!

I am moved to poetry about the Cubbies:

Oh, Mighty Cubs
The legends say
The fans will never see the day
When Cubbie hitters slam the ball
o'er sacred ivy covered walls
of Wrigley Field
taking the series in 4
In 2008 we'll wait no more
As our Mighty Cubs even the score
As history is made
As bleacher bums rejoice
Oh Mighty Cubs hear our voice
Our year
Is here

104 year old fan

The Chicago Sun Times has a great article today about a 104-year-old man who hopes to throw out the first pitch at the World Series for the Cubs. It's written by Stefano Esposito. I highly recommend it.

1908 vs. 2008: Centerfield

Between now and the end of the season we're going to compare the last Cubs championship team to this year's future championship team. First stop: Centerfield.


1908: Jimmy Slagle

One of the wily old veterans on the Cubs, centerfielder Jimmy Slagle is the leadoff hitter for the 1908 Champs. He's been around so long he has acquired not one, not two, but three nicknames. He's known as the "Human Mosquito" (because he's such a pest), "Rabbit" (because of his speed), and Shorty (because of his height—5'7").

Jimmy is well respected by his teammates, but hated by his opponents. He has been the starting centerfielder with the Cubs since 1902, but his run with the team is almost over. He is showing signs of his age (he's 35), and by the time the Cubs reach the World Series, Solly Hofman will claim the starting job. Slagle will play his last game for the Cubs on October 3, 1908. He won't get an at-bat during the World Series, and will retire after the last out is recorded.


2008 Jim Edmonds

This year's Cubs team also has a wily old veteran named Jim manning centerfield. Picked up off waivers from the San Diego Padres early in the year, Jim didn't win over the fans immediately because of his long association with the St. Louis Cardinals.

That began to change during the first series against the White Sox when he clubbed two home runs in one inning to help clobber the crosstown rivals. Since arriving with an average south of .200, he has turned it around. He actually leads the team in home runs since he put on Cubbie blue.

Cubs fans are starting to see why Cardinal fans dubbed him "Jimmy Baseball." Jim Edmonds will undoubtedly provide an invaluable bat in this season's quest for the World Series title.

All Star Cubs

I was just curious about which Cubs have appeared in the all-star game over the years, so I did some research. Keep in mind that the All-Star began in 1933, so the many Cubs greats from the first 66 years of the franchise are not included here. The photos represent the most recognized Cub at each position.


Catchers:
Gabby Hartnett (1933, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
Clyde McCullough (1948, 53)
Randy Hundley (1969)
Steve Swisher (1976)
Jody Davis (1984, 86)
Geovany Soto (2008)




First Basemen:
Ripper Collins (1937)
Phil Cavaretta (1944, 45, 46, 47)
Eddie Waitkus (1948)
Ernie Banks (1962, 65, 67, 69)
Bill Buckner (1981)
Mark Grace (1993, 95, 97)
Derek Lee (2005, 07)



Second Basemen:
Billy Herman (1934, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
Don Zimmer (1961)
Glenn Beckert (1969, 70, 71, 72)
Manny Trillo (1977)
Ryne Sandberg (1984, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)





Shortstops:
Billy Jurges (1937)
Ernie Banks (1955, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
Don Kessinger (1968, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74)
Shawon Dunston (1988, 90)




Third Basemen:
Woody English (1933)
Stan Hack (1938, 39, 41, 43)
Andy Pafko (1948)
Randy Jackson (1954, 55)
Ron Santo (1963, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73)
Bill Madlock (1975)
Vance Law (1988)
Aramis Ramirez (2005, 08)


Outfielders: Kiki Cuyler (1934), Chuck Klein (1934), Augie Galan (1935), Frank Demaree (1936, 37), Bill Nicholson (1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945), Andy Pafko (1945, 47, 49, 50), Hank Sauer (1950, 52), Moose Moryn (1958), George Altman (1961, 62), Billy Williams (1962, 64, 65, 68, 72, 73), Jim Hickman (1970), Jerry Morales (1977), Dave Kingman (1979, 80), Leon Durham (1982, 83), Andre Dawson (1987, 88, 89, 90, 91), Rafael Palmeiro (1988), George Bell (1991), Sammy Sosa (1995, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 04), Moises Alou (2004), Alfonso Soriano (2007, 08), Kosuke Fukudome (2008)

Pitchers: Lon Warneke (1933, 34, 36), Curt Davis (1936), Larry French (1940), Claude Passeau (1941, 42, 43, 45, 46), Johnny Schmitz (1946, 48), Bob Rush (1950, 52), Dutch Leonard (1951), Don Elston (1959), Larry Jackson (1963), Dick Ellsworth (1964), Fergie Jenkins (1967, 71, 72), Rick Reuschel (1977), Bruce Sutter (1977, 78, 79, 80), Lee Smith (1983, 87), Rick Suttcliffe (1987, 89), Greg Maddux (1988, 92), Mitch Williams (1989), Randy Myers (1994, 95), Steve Trachsel (1996), Jon Lieber (2001), Mark Prior (2003), Kerry Wood (2003, 08), Carlos Zambrano (2004, 06, 08), Ryan Dempster (2008), Carlos Marmol (2008)

Home Run Derby

From the days when Home Run Derby was Home Run Derby. This is Willie Mays versus Mickey Mantle. Filmed at Wrigley Field (West)--home of the Pacific Coast League Los Angeles Angels (the Cubs farm team)--where the power alleys were a generous 345 feet from home plate.