By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Oct 2nd, 2024
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October 3, 1915 The Cubs play their final game in the dilapidated ballpark known as West Side Grounds. It has been their home since 1893, but it is considered a fire (made of wood) and safety (falling apart) hazard. Cubs owner Charles Murphy simply refuses to spend any money on the park’s upkee...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Aug 4th, 2024
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How long ago was 1908? Many historians consider Big Jim Colosimo the father of the Chicago mafia. His official title in 1908 is precinct captain (for First Ward Aldermen Kenna & Coughlin), but his real job is providing muscle, and collecting bribes. In exchange for these services, he is allowed ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Jun 2nd, 2024
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How long ago was 1908? One of the biggest stories in Chicago is the “epidemic of white slavery.” White immigrant girls and innocent White American farm girls are being lured from all over the country to come to Chicago under false pretenses. They think they have received marriage proposal...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
May 24th, 2024
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~Jack Pfiester 1878–1953 (Cubs 1906-1911) Jack was an important member of the starting rotation during the Cubs dynasty. The team went to the World Series four of his six seasons. He won 20 games for the 1906 team that won a record-setting 116 games before losing the World Series to the White S...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 19th, 2024
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This week (May 19 – May 25) in 1908 How long ago was 1908? The 1907 Championship flag is raised amid great fanfare at West Side Grounds in front of sold out crowd. Cubs owner Charles Murphy thinks it’s a bad omen when the flag gets stuck halfway up the flagpole. A who’s who of [&hel...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 28th, 2024
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How long ago was 1908? In nearby Portage Indiana, a notorious murder starts to make the news. It starts with the discovery of three children and a headless woman after a fire in Portage. Upon investigation, however, details begin to emerge. It turns out the woman who owned the farm, Belle Gunness, ha...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 14th, 2024
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6630 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 Today's Cub Birthday
Feb 2nd, 2024
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~George Halas 1895–1983 (Cubs fan 1900-1983) Growing up in Chicago during the Cubs championship era (the first decade of last century), George Halas was a die-hard Cubs fan. When he was a boy, he and his friends used to hang around the player’s entrance at West Side Grounds and wait for F...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Dec 1st, 2023
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3763 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 23rd, 2023
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~Harpo Marx 1888 (Cubs Fan) The Marx family moved from New York to Chicago in 1909. For much of that time they lived in a large house at 4512 South Grand Boulevard (now called Martin Luther King Boulevard). The house is still there. The Marx Brothers (Gummo, Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo) were alr...
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