From Wikipedia.
In the last post, I mentioned that along with Billy Jurges being shot by a jilted lover in 1932, another former Cub by the name of Eddie Waitkus, was shot by a woman in 1949 while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Born September 4, 1919 in Massachusetts. Died September 16, 1972 in Massachusetts.
Played first base for eleven years: Cubs and Phillies in the National League and the Orioles in the American League. He was a member of the National League All Star team in 1948 and 1949.
As a rookie, he was known as "The Natural" for his baseball abilities. (Sound familiar?) He played a few games with the Cubs at the end of the 1941 season, but then served in the military during World War II, taking part in the battles in the Philippines. During that time he was awarded four Bronze Stars.
Returning to baseball in 1946, he quickly became a star for the Chicago Cubs.
--CootCub
Showing posts with label Billy Jurges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Billy Jurges. Show all posts
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Billy Jurges, Played With a Great Cubs Infield
Born May 9, 1908. Died March 3, 1997 in Clearwater, Florida.
Known as a light hitter and good fielder. Right handed. In 1932 anchored an infield of Stan Hack (3rd), Billy Herman (2nd) and Charlie Grimm and Phil Cavarretta (1st). Recovered from wound in 1932 and helped the Cubs win the National league pennant.
Played with the New York Giants but missed 80 games in 1940 after being hit in the head by a pitched ball.
Later coached under Charlie Grimm and then held managerial jobs with several minor league teams.
I also found out another Chicago Cub player named Eddie Waitkus was shot i n 1949 (but playing with the Philadelphia Phillies at the time).
--Cooter
Known as a light hitter and good fielder. Right handed. In 1932 anchored an infield of Stan Hack (3rd), Billy Herman (2nd) and Charlie Grimm and Phil Cavarretta (1st). Recovered from wound in 1932 and helped the Cubs win the National league pennant.
Played with the New York Giants but missed 80 games in 1940 after being hit in the head by a pitched ball.
Later coached under Charlie Grimm and then held managerial jobs with several minor league teams.
I also found out another Chicago Cub player named Eddie Waitkus was shot i n 1949 (but playing with the Philadelphia Phillies at the time).
--Cooter
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Billy Jurges' Stats
Since I'd never heard of Billy Jurges before, I decided to find out something about him.
From Baseball Almanac.
In 1932, the year he was shot, these are Jurges' stats:
It was his second year in the pros and second with the Cubs.
115 games, 396 ABs, 40 runs, 100 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs.52 RBIs and batted .253.
He was with the Cibs from 1921-1938, the New York Giants 1939-1945, and finished his career back with the Cubs 1946-1947.
Had a career .258 batting average, 721 runs, 43 home runs and 656 RBIs.. His best year was 1937 with the Cubs when he batted .298 with 114 hits.
And, He Led the League in Getting Shot in 1932. --DaDuckNextTime
From Baseball Almanac.
In 1932, the year he was shot, these are Jurges' stats:
It was his second year in the pros and second with the Cubs.
115 games, 396 ABs, 40 runs, 100 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs.52 RBIs and batted .253.
He was with the Cibs from 1921-1938, the New York Giants 1939-1945, and finished his career back with the Cubs 1946-1947.
Had a career .258 batting average, 721 runs, 43 home runs and 656 RBIs.. His best year was 1937 with the Cubs when he batted .298 with 114 hits.
And, He Led the League in Getting Shot in 1932. --DaDuckNextTime
Monday, July 10, 2017
Cubs Shortstop Billly Jurges Shot 85 Years Ago-- Part 3: Girlfriend Also Dated Leo Durocher and Al Lopez
The story of Billy's shooting became national headlines. Newspaper photographers and reporters burst into Violet Popovich Valli's hospital room and daily reports of "the chestnut-haired divorcee" and the dark-haired chorus girl" filled the papers.
But nothing ever happened with her case. Jurgess refused to press charges.
He rejoined the Cubs less than a month later and the '32 Cubs went on to the World Series where they got swept by the Yankees.
Popovich later dated Leo Durocher and Al Lopez, who went on to become managers of the Cubs and White Sox respectively. She later married former boxer Charley "The Duluth Dynamiter" Retzlaff in 1947.
If I were Durocher or Lopez, I would have been very, very careful.
--CootStayingAwayFromHer
But nothing ever happened with her case. Jurgess refused to press charges.
He rejoined the Cubs less than a month later and the '32 Cubs went on to the World Series where they got swept by the Yankees.
Popovich later dated Leo Durocher and Al Lopez, who went on to become managers of the Cubs and White Sox respectively. She later married former boxer Charley "The Duluth Dynamiter" Retzlaff in 1947.
If I were Durocher or Lopez, I would have been very, very careful.
--CootStayingAwayFromHer
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Cubs Shortstop Billy Jurges Shot 85 Years Ago-- Part 2" More Than a Lover's Spat
According to the Chicago Herald and Examiner article related, according to Jack Bales: "Violet received a telegram on July 6, that intimated Jurges had been out with other women. And a resident of the hotel overheard Violet telling a friend, 'If he denies this I'll forgive him, otherwise, I'll give him the works.':
She pounded on Jurges' door and confronted him with a .25 caliber gun. As they were wrestling for the weapon, one shot ricocheted off Jurges' rib, another struck a finger on his left hand and the third traveled through Popovich's arm.
Was It Worth It? --DaCootShot
She pounded on Jurges' door and confronted him with a .25 caliber gun. As they were wrestling for the weapon, one shot ricocheted off Jurges' rib, another struck a finger on his left hand and the third traveled through Popovich's arm.
Was It Worth It? --DaCootShot
Cubs Shortstop Billy Jurges Shot 85 Years Ago-- Part 1: Shot By His Lover
From the July 6, 2007, Chicago Tribune 'Shooting of Cub Billy Jurges' marks anniversary" by Phil Thompson.
Cubs history can be a bit bizarre, but July 6, 1932, it got just a bit stranger when Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges was shot in his hotel room by a spurned lover.
Violet Popvich Valli shot him and the whole affair is the subject of an article by Jack Bales in "The Show Girl and the Shortstop: The Strange Saga of Violet Popovich and Her Shooting of Cub Billy Jurges."
Most accounts say the problems started in New York when she pressed Jurges about their future. During homestands, Jurges lived at the Hotel Carlos in Chicago, now an apartment complex on Sheffield Avenue. Popovich stayed there on occasions.
--And, the Plot Thickens. --CootCub
Cubs history can be a bit bizarre, but July 6, 1932, it got just a bit stranger when Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges was shot in his hotel room by a spurned lover.
Violet Popvich Valli shot him and the whole affair is the subject of an article by Jack Bales in "The Show Girl and the Shortstop: The Strange Saga of Violet Popovich and Her Shooting of Cub Billy Jurges."
Most accounts say the problems started in New York when she pressed Jurges about their future. During homestands, Jurges lived at the Hotel Carlos in Chicago, now an apartment complex on Sheffield Avenue. Popovich stayed there on occasions.
--And, the Plot Thickens. --CootCub
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