The Billy Williams Statue

Here are the details on the Billy Williams statue.

Consider me one of the people applauding this move by the Cubs. Billy is one of my four all-time favorites (along with Ernie, Fergie, and Jose Cardenal).

When I played little league, I tried to imitate him once. I spit in the air and tried to hit the spit (which is what Billy did every time he came up). I missed and never tried it again.

I've featured Billy on Just One Bad Century several times. You can check it out here, here and here.

If you'd like to see Billy hit a home run in the 1964 All-Star Game, click here.

The Wrigley Marquee

We all know that iconic Wrigley Field Marquee, but did you know it wasn't always red? It's true...it wasn't painted red until exactly fifty years ago today.

Before that, it looked like this.

Do you believe in omens?

The Cubs were on the way to a game versus the Rockies yesterday, when their bus broke down.

Here's the full story.

I'm not an expert in omens and signs, but I'm guessing this isn't a good one.

Pete Gray

The one armed outfielder was born this week 95 years ago. He wasn't on the Chicago Cubs, but what the heck. His story is one of the most remarkable tales in baseball history.

He played one season for the St. Louis Browns (1945), and he hit only .218, but that's better than Aaron Miles, Ryan Freel, Tyler Colvin, and Joey Gathright did for the Cubs in 2009...and it's the same as Geovany Soto's 2009 average.

Watch the newsreel about Pete here.

Ron Santo

Would you believe that Ron Santo is 70 years old today?

Happy birthday Ron.

In honor of Ron's birthday, we're going to replay one of our favorite moments in Cubs broadcasting: The day that Harry and Ron discussed Ron's toupee.

The Sweetest Words in the English Language

Bill Holub and I worked together at the Loop (WLUP) in the 1980s and early 90s. Every year on this day, he would walk up and down the hallways of the Loop saying..."The sweetest words in the English language: Pitchers and Catchers Report."

When I started writing my blog five years ago, I asked Bill to write about that, and every year when pitchers and catchers report, I bring it back it out for another spin.

You can read it here.

Cardinals Fan

Thanks to "BP" for sending me this...