By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Apr 23rd, 2024
4 Comments
7517 Views
April 23, 1914. One day after the Cubs drew the smallest Opening Day crowd in their history, a new ballpark opened on Addison & Clark. At the time, it was called “Weeghman Park”, and the team that played there was in the Federal League. This is how the Chicago Tribune described that ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 27th, 2023
0 Comments
2831 Views
~Johnny Schmitz 1920 (Cubs 1941-1951) He was nicknamed Bear Tracks because of his lumbering shuffle to the mound. Schmitz was only twenty when he was called up to the majors, and pitched two seasons for the Cubs, but was drafted to serve in World War II in 1942. Bear Tracks was one of the rare [&hell...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 20th, 2023
0 Comments
4324 Views
~Wid Matthews 1896–1965 (Cubs GM 1950-1956) When Matthews came to the Cubs in 1950, he arrived with a sparkling reputation. Wid had been an assistant to Branch Rickey with the Dodgers, and he promised to return the Cubs to their glory days. He did do one thing that was long overdue before he le...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 3rd, 2023
0 Comments
3269 Views
~Dennis Eckersley 1954– (Cubs 1984-1986) Dennis was a 2-time All-Star as a starting pitcher, and a 4-time All-Star as a relief pitcher in 24 big league seasons. He was one of the rare pitchers who was a superstar in both roles. Eck won 20 games in a season and threw a no-hitter as a starting [&...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 27th, 2023
0 Comments
3912 Views
~Jim Edmonds 1970– (Cubs 2008) Edmonds was an eight-time Gold Glover and four-time All-Star with the Angels and Cardinals before coming to the Cubs from the Padres in the middle of the 2008 season. He had been a hated rival while a member of the World Series champion Cardinals, but Cubs fans wa...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 9th, 2023
0 Comments
3282 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...
The Pothole Store | Eckhartz Press | Rick Kaempfer's Blog | Illinois Entertainer
Site construction by WorkSite, LLC