By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 11th, 2023
0 Comments
4984 Views
~Charlie Hollocher 1896–1940 (Cubs 1918-1924) Charlie’s life was a series of very high highs and very low lows. He was one of the greatest hitters on the Cubs in his seven seasons in the big leagues. He led the 1918 team to the pennant, and led the league in hits. In 1922, he only struck [&hell...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Jun 11th, 2023
2 Comments
6265 Views
June 14, 1949 Eddie Waitkus became a household name in America, but he certainly didn’t want it to happen the way it did. While he was with the Cubs, the young first baseman was known for his great defense, his smoking line-drives, and his left-handed bat. The pinnacle of his Cubs career came i...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 10th, 2023
0 Comments
3098 Views
~Frank Demaree 1910–1958 (Cubs 1932-1938) Frank had a very unusual upbringing. He grew up in California to deaf-mute parents, but he managed to thrive in both school and athletics. Demaree became an important cog for a very strong Cubs team in the 1930s. The outfielder appeared in three World S...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Jun 9th, 2023
1 Comment
6040 Views
How long ago was 1908? Chicago’s Board of Aldermen announce that the addresses in Chicago will all be changed beginning September 1st, 1909. Madison and State streets are declared the center of the grid system, and all addresses will be based on their proximity to those streets. (Photo: Madison...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 9th, 2023
0 Comments
3302 Views
~Roy Smalley 1926–2011 (Cubs 1948-1953) Roy had good pop for a shortstop, hitting 21 home runs one year, but his lifetime batting average was only .227, and he didn’t draw many walks either. In his first season, his on-base percentage was .265. That’s a pretty stunning total for a player with o...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 8th, 2023
0 Comments
2555 Views
~Tim Donahue 1870–1902 (Orphans/Colts 1895-1900) His teammates may have nicknamed him Bridget, but Donahue was one of the toughest men in the league when he played for the Cubs (then known as the Orphans and Colts). He was so tough, he once caught an entire game with two splints on broken finge...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 7th, 2023
1 Comment
4237 Views
~George Mitterwald 1945– (Cubs 1974-1977) While the Cubs were surging toward their 1945 National League pennant, future Cubs catcher George Mitterwald was born in California. Acquired in a trade for Randy Hundley in 1974, George hit 26 home runs for the Cubs. Granted, that was in four full seas...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1945
Jun 7th, 2023
1 Comment
5793 Views
This week (June 7-13) during the last year the Cubs went to the World Series (before 2016)… World War II *The Franck Committee recommends against a surprise nuclear bombing of Japan. The committee was led by Manhattan Project scientist, Nobel Prize winning physicist James Franck (photo). His co...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 6th, 2023
0 Comments
3392 Views
~Bill Lange 1871–1950 (Colts/Orphans 1893-1899) Bill Lange was one of the star players for the 1890s Cubs/Colts. A flashy charismatic outfielder that played with grace, he was just as well-known for his fancy dance moves off the field. They called him “Little Eva” because of his dancing prowess...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 5th, 2023
0 Comments
3506 Views
...
The Pothole Store | Eckhartz Press | Rick Kaempfer's Blog | Illinois Entertainer
Site construction by WorkSite, LLC