With the opening of Spring training this week, here’s something that will warm your heart—and may even bring a tear to your eye!…
Frank Chance Takes the Yankees’ Managerial Helm, January 8, 1913
“There is one thing I will never believe, and that is that the Sox are better than the Cubs” -Frank Chance, after the Cubs lost to the “HItless Wonder” White Sox in the 1906 World Series…
The Sad Demise of Hack Wilson
“Hung over, yes, many times…drunk, no.” -Hack Wilson’s response when asked if he ever played drunk…
Reflections on Chicago Baseball in the 1950s
To those of us who cut our baseball “teeth” in the 1950s in Chicago, we initially had very little awareness that we were living in the Golden Age of baseball—The Fifties—and that New York, with its great three teams was the center of the baseball universe…
The Original Mr. Cub: “Jolly Cholly” Grimm
Today we welcome back to the fold Michael Keedy with an interesting essay covering the long career of Charlie Grimm, calling him the original “Mr. Cub.”…
Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins Gets His Statue!
Here’s one we can file under: Most Lopsided Trades of All Time! It doesn’t get much worse than this!
Another Edition of Lopsided Trades: Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown Goes to the Cubs!
Brock for Broglio? Yeah, that wasn’t a bad deal…But how about getting Mordecai “Three Finger ” Brown almost for free?? Now that’s a deal!…
Let’s Revisit the 1910 World Series: Cubs vs. A’s!
The 1910 Fall Classic featured the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago Cubs, with the Athletics winning in five games…
Baseball “Goats,” Part Three: Heine Zimmerman and the 1917 World Series
“Who the hell was I supposed to throw to, Bill Klem?”…
The Tragedy of Fred Merkle, Part Two: The Warren Gill Game
The game isn’t over until that man touches second base! Why don’t you wait until the game is over, you big fathead!…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars! Bill “Swish” Nicholson!
Let’s shine the spotlight on Bill “Swish” Nicholson…and remember the unusual “gift” he received in 1944…
Another Baseball “Babe”: Babe Herman!
Dubbed “The Headless Horseman of Ebbets Field” by Dazzy Vance for his various base running misadventures, Herman was one of the great power hitters of the 1930s..
The Cubs’ Recent “Combined No-Hitter” Calls to Mind 1917!
I’m sure most of you heard that the Cubs recently threw a combined no-hitter. When I heard about it, my baseball history antenna immediately went off…
“SCIENCE” AND BASEBALL
All baseball history fans, especially old Cub fans like me who suffered through decades of mismanagement during the P.K. Wrigley years, will enjoy Paul Doyle’s interesting essay today…
Ballplayers and Their Children, Part Three: Hack Wilson and Son Bobby.
The diminutive Hack Wilson was one of the most accomplished power hitters in the game during the late 1920s and early 1930s…
The Original Wrigley Field Scoreboard, October 4, 1935
The featured photo above was taken during the 1935 World Series between the Tigers and Cubs.
Ballplayers and Their Children, Part I
Today, I’m reintroducing a series I started a few years ago, which at the time I called Ballplayers and their Children.
1932 New York Yankees
Check out this great team photo of the 1932 World Series Champion Yankees, beautifully restored/colorized by the very talented artist, Chris Whitehead of Mancave photos…
Cubs Park Raided! May 24, 1920
“Today, Cubs management talks of welcoming gamblers to Wrigley Field. A century ago, it was calling the cops on them.”…
Tribute To Lou Brock, RIP
The entire baseball world was saddened to learn yesterday of the passing of the great Hall-of-Famer, Lou Brock…
Baseball Shootings, Part Two: Eddie Waitkus Shot by an Obsessed “Femme Fatale”
“If I can’t have you, nobody else can either!” –Ruth Ann Steinhagen to the object of her obsession, Eddie Waitkus, just before shooting him…
Cub Players Shot by Scorned Lovers, Part I: “The Showgirl and the Shortstop!”
“Billy Jurges was one in a hundred thousand. I met him at a party…and I fell hard.
“Hippo” Vaughn and Baseball’s Rarest of Feats: The “Double No Hitter”
What are the odds of a double no-hitter? Well, I read somewhere the odds of a no-hitter in any game are 13,000-to-one…
“Shufflin’ Phil” Douglas and the 1918 Pennant-Winning Cubs
I always used to designate 1918 as the most dysfunctional year in baseball history, but I’m afraid this year, 2020, will now hold that dubious distinction…
Glenn Beckert, RIP
“Glenn Beckert was a wonderful person who also happened to be an excellent ballplayer.” –Statement from the Chicago Cubs upon the passing of Glenn Beckert…
Cubs Spring Training on Catalina Island!
How many baseball fans are aware that for 30 years the Cubs held Spring training on their own private paradise?…
Spring Training, Part I: Let’s Play Ball!
If this photo won’t put you in the mood for baseball, nothing will!…
The Iconic Norman Rockwell Painting: “The Dugout”!
In a recent photo of the Cubs at spring training, one of our readers noted that the Cub players in the bullpen wore uniforms similar to the Cub batboy in the iconic Norman Rockwell painting, “The Dugout.”…
Another Edition of “Baseball’s Forgotten Stars!”: Phil Cavarretta!
I think there’s a real good chance the former 1930s-’40’s baseball star Phil Cavarretta saw the classic 1992 movie A Few Good Men sometime during his long life…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Dolph Camilli
“Dolph Camilli was a quiet, gentle man but he was as strong as an ox. Nobody knew how well Dolph could fight because, quite frankly, nobody had ever wanted to find out” –Dodger Manager Leo Durocher…
What’s Unique About this 1929 Cubs’ Team Photo??
Check out this neat photo of the 1929 National League pennant-winning Cubs. There’s a lot of familiar names in there…
Ernie Broglio, RIP
The baseball world was saddened to learn of the passing of pitcher Ernie Broglio on July 16th, aged 83…
Bill Buckner, RIP
“The dreams are that you’re gonna have a great series and win. The nightmares are that you’re gonna let the winning run score on a ground ball through your legs. Those things happen, you know. I think a lot of it is just fate.” -Bill Buckner, 19 days before Game Six of the 1986 World Series.
Cubs Debut In Weeghman Park 103 Years Ago Today!
One hundred and three years ago today, April 20, 1916, the Chicago Cubs played their first game in Weeghman Field – known as Wrigley Field in 1926 – beating the Reds 7-6 in 11 innings.
Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades – The Dodgers Steal Billy Herman From the Cubs…and Win the 1941 Pennant!
“I was able to tell Dodger GM Larry MacPhail we had a hell of a ball club there. But we could win the whole thing with one other player.” “And who was that?” MacPhail wanted to know. “Billy Herman,” I said in no uncertain terms…
Cubs Spring Training on Catalina Island!
How many baseball fans are aware that for 30 years the Cubs held Spring training on their own private paradise island?
“Welcome Back Baseball!”
We’ve endured a long, grueling winter that’s apparently not over yet, not by “a long shot” (or even as long as a blast off the bat of the great Bambino himself!).
Frank Chance Takes the Yankees’ Managerial Helm, January 8, 1913
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Another Edition of Lopsided Trades! The Phillies Trade Ace “Old Pete” Alexander For… Who??
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The Great Cub Double Play Combination, “Tinker to Evers to Chance.” But What About Harry Steinfeldt??
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