By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Jul 31st, 2024
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6742 Views
August 2, 1923 President Warren G. Harding dies unexpectedly. He wasn’t from Chicago, but Chicago nevertheless played an important role in the his presidency. For one thing, in 1920 he was nominated by Republican party leaders in a smoke filled Chicago hotel room; Suite 4046 on the 13th floor o...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 31st, 2024
1 Comment
4008 Views
~Leon Durham 1957– (Cubs 1981-1988) Of course, his real name was Leon, but it was hard to be named Durham without getting the nickname Bull. No Cubs fan will ever forget him. Durham had a pretty good career with the Cubs, making the All-Star team twice, hitting more than 20 homers five times, a...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 30th, 2024
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3876 Views
~Steve Trout 1957– (Cubs 1983-1987) Steve Trout was nicknamed Rainbow by his high school teammates for obvious reasons…the Rainbow Trout. He was a flaky lefty who probably would have been nicknamed Dizzy if not for his father who already laid claim to the nickname. (Dizzy Trout pitched for the ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Jul 30th, 2024
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July 30,1962 The All-Stars gather in Chicago’s Wrigley Field to play their second All-Star game of the season. The first one was played in Washington in early July. There are 21 Hall of Famers in the game on this Monday afternoon (yes, that’s right, a Monday afternoon All Star Game). The ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 29th, 2024
1 Comment
4531 Views
~Ken Kravec 1951– (Cubs 1981-1982) Kravec had been a 15-game winner for the White Sox just a few years before he was acquired by the Cubs in a rare crosstown trade (for Dennis Lamp). This one worked out for the Cubs, but not in the way you might expect. Kravec was terrible as a Cubs […]...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Jul 28th, 2024
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4439 Views
How long ago was 1908? Meet Hinky Dink Kenna, one of the two Aldermen who represent Chicago’s red-light district, The Levee. The official name of the area, of course, is the First Ward, and Alderman Kenna is a proud and vocal supporter of his constituents. If anyone asks about the seediness of ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 28th, 2024
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3678 Views
~Joe E. Brown 1891–1973 (Cubs fan/movie star) His name isn’t remembered by many people today, but Joe E. Brown was an actor, comedian, and baseball nut. He was also one of the biggest movie stars in America during the 1930s. He made his mark in a series of baseball movies, and in his two ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 27th, 2024
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5865 Views
~Leo Durocher 1905–1991 (Cubs manager 1965-1972) How did people really feel about Leo Durocher? A quote from Jack Brickhouse: “In the early days Leo was an SOB, but a sharp SOB. By the time he finished in Chicago he was just an old SOB.” Suffice it to say, Leo was not beloved. When he was [&hel...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 26th, 2024
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3069 Views
~Hoyt Wilhelm 1923–2002 (Cubs 1970) The future Hall of Famer was 47 years old when the Cubs got him in 1970. He will be remembered for his great knuckleball, and his outstanding career as a reliever. When he retired he held the record for most games and wins in relief, and was the first relief ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1945
Jul 26th, 2024
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4165 Views
This week (July 26-Aug 1) during the last year the Cubs went to the World Series (before 2016)… World War II *Winston Churchill resigns as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister after his Conservative Party is easily defeated by the Labour Party in the 1945 general election. Clement Attlee b...
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