Who Bought the First Ford Mustang?-- Part 4: What Was It Like in the Spring 1964?

The world was far different, and seemingly more quaint, in the spring of 1964.

As Gail Brown drove away from Johnson Ford, she could press the button on the car's AM-only radio to WLS 890 to hear the Beatles snare the top two songs with "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Twist and Shout.  The Fab Four also had "Do You Want to Know a Secret" at No. 5  and "She Loves You" at No. 8. 

Remember, we were in the depths of Beatlemania at the time.

If she switched to 720 she could hear WGN-Radio's Cubs broadcast with Jack Quinlan and Lou Boudreau.  She could hear the play-by-play of right fielder Lou Brock who was starting his third season for the Cubs (and before that disastrous trade to the Cardinals).

Tooling around Chicago she would pass many corner newstands selling  four daily newspapers (for ten cents each).  

Do you remember the four newspapers?

Morning:  Tribune and Sun-Times.  Evening: American and Daily News.

--Cooter

Separating Harry Caray Facts from Legend-- Part 1: How Old Was He?

From the May 5, 2019, Chicago Tribune by Phil Thompson.

Will the real Harry Caray please stand up.  Lots is known about the man, lots is possibly known about the man.  Everybody has their memories.

I sure enjoyed him but WOULD like to point out to Cub fans that he was the White Sox announcer for eleven years.  So we have our claim on him as well.

Author Don Zminda has written the new book "The Legendary Harry Caray:  Baseball's Greatest Salesman.

He also includes lots of anecdotes and stuff about his life that some Harry Caray fans might not know.

1.  WHEN IS HARRY'S BIRTHDAY?

It is difficult to know.  His birthdate has taken place at several different times according to him and according to whatever audience e was speaking to at the time.

Caray died February 18, 1998, and at that time, the Tribune cited "Who's Who in America" saying that he was born in 1919, making him 78.  But Cubs media has the year as 1920  Several other newspapers said he was born in 1919 and 1914.

Zminda wrote that it is fairly certain that he was born March 1, 1914, and that is the date listed according to St. Louis health records.

Always Loved Those Giant Glasses.  --DaCoot

Ballpark Stars, Wrigley & Comiskey-- Part 4: Rookies, Weddings and Balki

7.  "ROOKIE OF THE YEAR" (1993)

It's the last game of the season and the Cubs are facing the Mets.  A win and they go to the National League Championship Series.  On the mound is 12-year-old Henry Rowengartner.  After breaking his arm he learned that the healed tendons can allow him to throw 100 mph balls.

But, during this game, he reinjures it and loses the ability.  Lots of shots of worried fans, a manager and announcer, but then mom tells him to "float it."  An underhanded and backhanded pitch.  The Mets slugger strikes out and the Cubs win!!

8.  "MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING"  (1997)

New Comiskey plays itself.  A prewedding gathering brings everyone to a ballpark suite.  That Julia Roberts doesn't spill a tray of beers as she makes her way up and down is movie magic.

9.  "PERFECT STRANGERS"  (1986-1993)

There is no better example of Wrigley Field being used to convey Chicago than in one of the opening credits of the old ABC sitcom.

Week after week Larry Appleton and his distant cousin from faraway Mypos, Balki Bartokomous, could not be more excited to attend a Cubs game.

DaCootRookie

Ballpark Stars, Wrigley Field & Comiskey Park-- Part 3: Chased Across Wrigley and Selling Hot Dogs

5.  THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN (2009)

The very first Conan O'Brien show after he replaced Jay Leno on June 1, 2009.  He discovers that he needs to be in Los Angles instead of New York.  Unable to get a cab, he sprints across the country a la Forrest Gump.  To the tune of Cheap Trick's "Surrender" he runs and goes through Chicago and across the field at Wrigley with security guards in hot pursuit.

Watch the video on You Tube.  Hilarious.

6.  UNDERCOVER BOSS  (2010)

New Cubs owner Todd Ricketts grew a beard and wore fake glasses with the name Mark Dawson (from Cubs players Mark Grace and Andre Dawson) and applied for jobs in and around the ballpark.  Some of the jobs he did was cleaning restrooms and trying to organize a remote parking lot.  He wasn't very good at either job.

But, he really failed at selling hot dogs.  His solution was to buy them all himself and toss them in the garbage.  But, his supervisor caught him.

--CootRicketts

Ball Park Stars: Wrigley Field & Comiskey Park-- Part 1: 'Blues Brothers' and 'A League of Their Ow3n'

Sorry, but it will always be Comiskey Park to me, no matter who has paid to put their name on it.  And the Sears Tower still stands.

From the May 5, 2019, Chicago Tribune by Phil Rosenthal and Tim Bannon.

Here are nine memorable movie and TV scenes at Chicago baseball parks over the last 40 years.

"THE BLUES BROTHERS" (1980)

A great cameo for Wrigley Field, even if it is just a fleeting look.  A Nazi group is looking for our boys, Jake and Elwood Blues.  They had the address for Elwood Blues as being at 1060 West Addison.  Cut to the cars with the Nazis pulling up to the famed Wrigley Field outside sign at night.

"A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN" (1992)

The tryout scene for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League with most of the movie's top characters is at Wrigley Field.

--Cooter

National Bohemian Cemetery-- Part 4: About the Cubs Fans

 Burials are not allowed at Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, but at the cemetery, located just five miles northwest of the field, a local man came up with another option.

More than 200 niches for cremation urns are tucked into a 24-foot long, ivy-covered red brick wall with a yellow "400" painted on it -- mimicking the one in center field at Wrigley Field. Old box seats, home plate, original sod and a stained-glass window featuring the iconic centerfield scoreboard permanently set at 1:20 are also included.

I wonder if the ivy is Wrigley Field ivy.  Back in the 1970s, I bought an ivy cutting at Wrigley Field and planted it by my garage in Round Lake Beach and before long, it had taken over that whole side of the garage.  I named it the Dave Kingman Memorial Ivy as he was our big home run hitter back in those days.

After the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, just about every cemetery in the Chicago area sprouted small Cubs and Cubs World Series Champ flags.  Even a spot along a local road where a Cub fan had died during the playoffs had a Cubs World Champion flag on it.

It appears that there are still niches available, so for that Cub fan of yours....

Wrigley Field Forever.

Chicago's Bohemian National Cemetery-- Part 3: The Cubs Treestone Marker

 One couple have shown their own design to show their never-ending support for the Cubs in a style  found throughout the cemetery's grounds.  The tree-stump gravestone, or treestone, is made from limestone, which is easy to carve and can feature a variety of symbols.

In this example, which is the first one installed at the cemetery in  more than 70 years, there are branches from two trees barely touching, forming the shape of a heart.  According to its sculptor, Walter S. Arnold, this treestone features a transistor radio -- which is tuned to WGN AM 720 -- because the husband, who was blind, loved to listen to the play-by-play while attending Cubs games.

There's a crack through the name of his wife, who survives him, symbolizing her broken heart.  At the bottom are symbols of then things they enjoyed together.

(N)opening Day-- Part 7: Japan and a World Series Year

MARCH 29, 2000

In the first Major League game played outside of North America, the Cubs rode Jon Lieber's arm and Shane Andrews' bat to a 5-3 victory over the Mets in front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.

Lieber allowed one run on five hits  in seven innings and Andrews belted a two run homer in the seventh and Mark Grace had a solo shot in the eighth to give Don Baylor the victory in his managerial debut.

2016

Jake Arrieta, coming off his Cy Young Award-winning season, pitched seven innings of two-hit baseball in 1 9-0 victory over the Angels  in Anaheim.  He held Albert Pujols and Mike Trout to a combined 0-6 with three strikeouts.

This was the first of the 103 regular season wins the Cubs had  that year on their way to winning their first NL Central title since 2008.

Then as you know, they went on to win their first World Series since 1908.

That Sure Was Some Fun Year.  --Cooter

(N)opening Day-- Part 6: From Cactus Worst to NL East Best and Then the Maddux Comes Back

1984--   They had a Cactus League worst 7-20 record and had released franchise legend Fergie Jenkins, so things didn't look promising, but come opening day, Dick Ruthven pitched 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball and then Keith Moreland hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning as the Cubs won 5-3 over the Giants at Candlestick Park

The Cubs went on to finish the year 96-65 for their first National League East title  and first playoff appearance since 1945.  Then they lost to Steve Garvey and the Padres 3 games to 2 in the best-of-five NL Championship Series.

***************************************

APRIL 5, 1993--  In his first game with the Braves, former Cub Greg Maddux beat his former team 1-0 on a cold, blustery day at Wrigley.

From 1986 to 1992, he had won 95 games, including his Cy Young Award-winning 1992 when he won 20.

He won the Cy Young again in 1993, plus in the next two seasons.  During his 11 seasons with the Braves, they won ten division titles.

The Cubs Trading Better Is Like the Bears Trading or Drafting a Good Quarterback.  Ain't Gonna Happen.  --RoadDog

Al Spalding-- Part 2 Baseball Hall of Fame and Dem Stats

He was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 by the Veterans Committee.

And here are some unbelievable stats for him:

He played with the Boston Red Stockings from 1871 to 1875 and with the Chicago White Stockings (Cubs)in 1876 and 1877.  In 7 years, his pitching stats (Record and ERA):

1871---      19-10    3.36
1872 ---     38-8      1.85
1873---      41-14    2.99

1874---      52-16    1.92
1875---      54-5      1.59
1876---      47-12    1.75

1877---         1-0      3.27

Overall      252-65    2.13

*******************************

BATTING:

1871          .271
1872          .354
1873          . 328

1874          .329
1875          .312
1876          .312
1877          .256

Pretty Impressive Stats.  --Cooter

Al Spalding-- Part 1: Mighty Big Name in Early MLB

On March 30, I wrote about the Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs) winning their season opener in 1876 behind the pitching of their manager-pitcher Al Spalding.  Well, this name sounded familiar in sporting goods so I did some further research and what a baseball player this guy was.

From Wikipedia.

ALBERT GOODWILL SPALDING  (September 2, 1850-September9, 1915)

Baseball pitcher, player, manager and executive and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.  Born and raised in Byron, Illinois, and graduated high school in Rockford, Illinois.    Played Major League Baseball from 1871 to 1878.  He started a trend when he started wearing a baseball glove.

After his retirement as a player, he became active as an executive and owner of the Chicago White Stockings (who are today's Chicago Cubs).With William Hulburt, he organized the National League and later called for a commission which determined that baseball had been invented by Abner Doubleday (second in command at Fort Sumter when it surrendered to the Confederates and later Union general).  He also wrote the first set of baseball rules.

--CootBall

(N)opening Day-- Part 4: Now for You Cub Fans, the Chicago White Stockings & WGN

Cubs Season Openers:

APRIL 25, 1876--  The Cubs were then known as the Chicago White Stockings and were one of he eight charter members of the National League.  In their first game, they defeated host Louisville Grays 4-0 behind pitcher/manager Al Spalding.  They went on to finish 52-14 and won the league by six games and hit a league-best .337.

*************************

APRIL 14, 1925--  Quinn Ryan called the first game for WGN radio, beginning a 90-year relationship.  Cubs score six runs in the 7th capped by Gabby Hartnett's three-run homer.  The game lasted just 1 hour and 38 minutes.

Well. that to has changed as WGN is not televising any Cub games this year as per owner Ricketts.

--RoadCub

Hold On To That Old Sports Memorabilia

From the December 23, 2018, Chicago Tribune advertisement of Heritage Auctions who was to have an auction February 23-24, 2019.

They showed what five earlier auction items had sold for.

**1908 Chicago Cubs World Series Championship Last Out Baseball     Sold for $119,500.

**  1964 Mickey Mantle World Series Home Run Record Setting Game Worn New York Yankees Jersey.    Sold for $1,320,000

**  1970 Dick Butkus Game Worn Chicago Bears Jersey, MEARS A10.    Sold for $1,320,000

**  1948 Original Study for "Tough Call" by Norman Rockwell.  Gifted to Legendary Umpire "Beans" Reardon.    Sold for $1,680,000    (The one with the umpires gathered and checking the rain.)

**  1916 M101-5 Blank Back Sporting News Babe Ruth Rookie #151 PSA NM 7.    Sold for $717,000  (Shown, of course, as a pitcher for the Red Sox.)

And My Mom Threw Out All My Old Baseball Cards.  --CootCard

An Interesting Tidbit on Cubs Attendance in 1965

From Baseball Refernce.com.

In these days of the Cubs selling out Wrigley Field most games, here is something interesting about attendance back in 1965.

The Cubs opened the season at home against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.  You'd have to figure a sellout.

Game 1 vs. Cardinals:  Attendance;  19,751  This game ended in a 10-10 tie
Game 2   9,358  Won 3-1
Game 3   3,569   Won 7-3

Game 8 vs. Cincinnati Reds  6.752   Lost 9-2
Game 9   3.813   Won    3-2
Game 10  vs. Milwaukee Braves   4,281   Won  3-1

Where'd All These Current Cub Fans Come From?  --Cooter

Then, There Was Roberto Pena of the Chicago Cubs

Mr. Hazle certainly made an impression with the Milwaukee Braves when he first came to the major leagues, but I remember a player named Roberto Pena from the Dominican Republic who made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs and made quite the impression in 1965.  I watched it all on the Cubs TV station, WGN, which has it last games being televised this season.

At the time I was just getting interested in baseball.  Had Roberto Pena continued his career hitting like that I might well have become a Cubs fan instead of White Sox.

In his first game with the Cubs, the season opener, Mr. Pena hit a home run off Bob Gibson and went 3 for 6 scoring two runs and three RBI.  In his second game, he hit 1 for 3 with another home run off Curt Simmons, scored two runs and one RBI and went 1 for 4 in the third with one RBI..

And that was his season highlight for the Cubs  as in 51 games and 170 at bats, he got 37 hits, batted .218 and hit no more home runs.  He was sent to the minors part way through the season.  In 1966, he played just six games for the Cubs and after that played one year each in Philadelphia, San Diego and Oakland and two years with Milwaukee.

His career stats:  587 games, 1907 At Bats, 174 hits, Batting Average .239 AL and .248 in NL, and 13 Home Runs.

Another Fast Start That Fizzled.  --Cooter

Baseball's Bob "Hurricane" Hazle-- Part 1: 1957 Milwaukee Braves

While going over a post on my August 21, 2007, Down Da Road I Go blog, I came across a mention of this baseball player who had an interesting nickname and had one unbelievable major league baseball career after being called up from the minors by the 1957 Milwaukee Braves and helping them get to the World Series.

I was talking with another Milwaukee Brewer fan at the Kenosha County Fair in Wilmont, Wisconsin.  I back the Brewers if they are not playing my 2nd favorite MLB team, the Chicago Cubs, or favorite one, the Chicago White Sox.  I didn't get interested in baseball until around 1964 and so didn't know anything about the Milwaukee Braves (before they moved to Atlanta and after they moved from Boston), other than some of their key players like Warren Spahn, Eddie Matthews and Hank Aaron.

I was looking at the 1957 Milwaukee Braves team roster on Wikipedia, and there were actually quite a few players I had heard of before.  Here are the players I had heard of before:

Del Crandall
Red Schoendienst
Del Rice
Joe Adcock
Bob Buhl
Frank Torre (Well, older brother of Joe Torre.)
Lew Burdette  (Buhl and Burdette from their time with the Cubs.)
Juan Pizarro  (From his time with the White Sox.)
Wes Covington
Andy Pafko

Lots of History Here.  --Cooter

Wayne Huizenga-- Part 2: "You Just Have To Be In the Right Place At the Right Time"

He was one of the guys everyone else watched in the business world because of his knack of getting in on the ground floors of money-making endeavors.

He built Blockbuster Entertainment into the leading video rental chain by buying competitors and cracked Forbes' list of 100 richest Americans, becoming chairman of Republic Services, one of the nation's top waste management companies and AutoNation, the nation's largest auto retailer.

For a time, he was a favorite among South Florida sports fans as he went on a spending spree and his Marlins won the World Series in the team's fifth year of existence.  (Mortifying Cub fans around the world.)  But then that turned to disdain when he dismantled the team after that season.

--Cooter

Before Wrigley Field, Cubs Had West Side Grounds-- Part 3:

"I just thought that there should be a marker commemorating the ballpark and, more importantly, the success of the '06. '07, '08 teams, said Brian Bernardoni, 49.  "I mean, the Cubs were one of the great teams of the era, like the 1927 Yankees."

The West Side Grounds opened in 1893.  The ballpark sometimes has a II after its name to distinguish it from a predecessor stadium near Congress Parkway that was usually referred to as West Side Park but occasionally was labeled with "grounds" in the title.

Built for $30,000, the park had a capacity of 16,000 and was the name of the same ballclub that used different names:  Colts, Orphans and, finally, Cubs.

Despite playing games in four World Series matchups at the park, including a loss to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1910, the Cubs never clinched a championship at home.

The Cubs played their last game there October 3, 1915, a 7-2 win over the Cardinals in front of 2,800 fans.  The next season, they moved to Weeghman Park, later renamed Wrigley Field and have played there ever since.

--CootCubs

Before Wrigley Field, Cubs Had West Side Grounds-- Part 2

From the June 3 post.

Before I stopped for posts on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, I was writing about the place where the Chicago Cubs played before moving to what is now called Wrigley Field, the West Side Grounds.

Indeed, few people, or even Cub fans have ever heard of the West Side Grounds.  Even UIC students and faculty know nothing of it, although part of their campus is on the site.

Mike Reischl is a big West Side Grounds fan and  has led an effort to get the state and city to recognize the site.  He has joined a like-minded fellow in the person of Brian Bernardoni and together they have formed  the Way Out In Left Field Society to drum up interest.  They eventually raised $1000 and got the support of the university for a marker.

In September 2008, the Illinois State Historical Society unveiled a plaque at 912 S. Wood St. designating the site.  It sits near where the centerfield clubhouse and flagpole of the old park were located.

When the Cubbies WERE REALLY GOOD!!  --CootCub

Before Wrigley Field, There Was the West Side Grounds for the Cubs-- Part 1: Tinker to Evers to Chance

From the October 6, 22017, Chicago Tribune  "Cubs rules at long gone West Side Grounds" by Patrick M. O'Connell.

A century ago, it was baseball, not medicine that was featured at the plot of land now occupied by the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Medicine.  This was the site of the Chicago Cubs' most dominant and successful period in franchise history.

"Before Wrigley Field's ivy, before the 'W' flags and the beloved manual scoreboard, there was the West Side Grounds."  The legendary Tinker to Evers to Chance combination were doing their thing in the infield.  Attendance was booming and fans also packed adjacent rooftops.

The Cubs won back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908.  And, this is where the only intercity World Series between the White Sox and Cubs took place. the year before when the Hitless Wonders downed the heavily favored Cubs in 1906.

The field was located between Polk, Wood and Taylor streets and Wolcott Avenue (then Lincoln Avenue).

)h, Those Were the Days My Friend.  We Thought They'd Never End.  --DaCootSox