By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Apr 17th, 2024
0 Comments
3964 Views
~Cap Anson 1852–1922 (White Stockings 1876-1897) He still holds Cubs career records for most hits, most runs, most doubles, most RBI, and highest batting average (with 2000 or more at bats). Anson is quite simply the greatest player in Chicago Cubs history, and probably the most important playe...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Dec 31st, 2023
0 Comments
2980 Views
~King Kelly 1857 (White Stockings 1880-1886) King Kelly was famous for his running and hitting (he invented or at least perfected the hit and run), and he was said to have inspired the poem “Casey at the Bat,” but he was also considered a big fat cheater. If the umpire wasn’t looking, he would run [&...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 11th, 2023
0 Comments
3585 Views
~Rabbit Maranville 1891–1954 (Cubs 1925) His real name was Walter. Nicknamed for his speed and rabbit-like leaps, Rabbit Maranville was always a great fielder, but he was even better known for his partying. When he was with the Pirates he was known for playing with a flask in his pocket. One ti...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Oct 27th, 2023
0 Comments
4190 Views
How long ago was 1908? Cubs utility player Solly Hofman turns 26 years old. He is finally celebrating his wedding and honeymoon, something that manager Frank Chance made him put off until the season ended. Hofman followed the boss’ orders without complaint: “I guess Miss Looker’s ju...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Oct 23rd, 2023
0 Comments
5420 Views
October 23, 1886 The Cubs finished up the World Series. The 1886 National League team from Chicago was known as the White Stockings–it would be another fifteen years before the Cubs name emerged. But they were a powerhouse team; the defending champions. Led by their first baseman/manager Cap An...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Sep 24th, 2023
0 Comments
4191 Views
September 27, 1876 The last game of the first official National League season is played. The Chicago White Stockings (today’s Cubs) beat the Hartford Dark Blues 16-10. Because Chicago ends the season seven games ahead of the second place St. Louis Brown Stockings, they are declared the champion...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Sep 2nd, 2023
0 Comments
3806 Views
~Albert Spalding 1850–1915 (White Stockings player 1876-1877, owner 1878-1891) Spalding was already a four-time champion in Boston before he came to Chicago and convinced a few of his teammates to help stock the first National League team in Chicago. It was the beginning of a dynasty in Chicago...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 30th, 2023
0 Comments
3684 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 Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 25th, 2023
0 Comments
3049 Views
~Steve Goodman (Cubs fan 1948-1984) Steve Goodman was born on the north side of Chicago. His family later relocated to the northwestern suburbs (Steve attended Maine East in Park Ridge), so it was only natural that Goodman became a Cubs fan. His music career began the same year his beloved Cubs had o...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 11th, 2023
0 Comments
3297 Views
~Jimmy Slagle 1873–1956 (Cubs 1902-1908) One of the wily old veterans on the last Cubs team to win the World Series (1908) in the 20th century. Slagle was 35. He was known as Rabbit (because of his speed), and Shorty (because of his height — 5’7″), but most of his teammates referred to him as [...
The Pothole Store | Eckhartz Press | Rick Kaempfer's Blog | Illinois Entertainer
Site construction by WorkSite, LLC