By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 12th, 2023
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3652 Views
How Long Ago was 1908? The vast majority of games are umpired by only one man. This leads to what we would consider to be widespread cheating. Cubs third baseman Harry Steinfeldt is notorious for “accidentally tripping” players approaching third base while the umpire is watching the actio...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 5th, 2023
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4818 Views
How long ago was 1908? The first modern day Mother’s Day in America was celebrated this week in 1908. The first attempt to make Mother’s Day a holiday had come in 1870, when social activist Julia Ward Howe tried to create a holiday to unite women against war. She was inspired by Ann Jarvi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Apr 17th, 2023
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9182 Views
April 21, 1986 It’s hard to imagine a more heavily hyped television program than Geraldo Rivera’s broadcast on April 21, 1986 from the former Al Capone headquarters (1928-1931) at the Lexington Hotel in Chicago. The hotel was about to be renovated, but not before Geraldo was allowed to in...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 14th, 2023
1 Comment
5531 Views
How long ago was 1908? The Cubs open the 1908 season as the defending champions. They play in Cincinnati against the Reds, one of the worst teams in the National League. Stud pitcher Orval Overall has a shaky first inning, but settles down after that and the Cubs win the game in the ninth. Pinch [&he...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 31st, 2023
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4417 Views
How long ago was 1908? A Republican is the Mayor of Chicago. That’s right, a Republican. The Honorable Fred Busse(photo) was voted into office last year by reform minded Chicagoans. Unfortunately for the reformers, they don’t know Busse likes going down to the Levee. They don’t know he li...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Dec 1st, 2022
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4131 Views
How long ago was 1908? The Chicago Coliseum (photo) is the largest venue in Chicago. Earlier this year it hosted the Republican Convention, which turned into quite a party. Every December, however, it holds an even bigger party, the party event of the year in Chicago–the First Ward Ball. The Fi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Dec 1st, 2022
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3021 Views
~Javier Baez 1992– (Cubs 2014-Present) Baez was the 9th overall pick of the 2011 draft: the last first round pick of the Jim Hendry era. At each level of the minors, Baez was a superstar, but when he joined the Cubs in August 2014, Javy struggled. Despite hitting a game-winning homer in his fir...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 13th, 2022
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3035 Views
~Johnny Kling 1875–1947 (Cubs 1900-1911) Kling was one of the best catchers in baseball; a grizzled veteran who was so good defensively, he caused former catcher Frank Chance to move positions (to first base). Hall of Fame pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown often said that his secret weapon ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Oct 23rd, 2022
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4992 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 Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 19th, 2022
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4161 Views
~Mordecai Brown 1876–1948 (Cubs 1904-1912, 1916) He was born in 1876, the same year the Cubs played their very first season in the National League. Three Finger probably owns one of the best nicknames in baseball history, and he earned it the hard way. As a seven-year-old boy, Mordecai caught h...
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