By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Sep 23rd, 2024
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5980 Views
September 24, 1943 The Cubs call up outfielder Andy Pafko from their Los Angeles minor league team, and put him in the lineup. He would remain there for the next eight seasons. His first game at Wrigley Field is played in absolutely miserable weather conditions. It is freezing cold, the wind is howli...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Aug 27th, 2024
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5012 Views
~Emil Verban 1915–1989 (Cubs 1948-1950) Verban was a second baseman for the Cubs. They called him the Antelope because of his speed early in his career, but by the time Verban played in Chicago, he wasn’t exactly tearing up the base paths. In his three seasons with the Cubs he stole a total of ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1945
Aug 23rd, 2024
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4405 Views
This week (Aug 23-Aug 29) during the last year the Cubs went to the World Series (before 2016)… World War II *The depth of the destruction in Japan is slowly seeping out. From the New York Times: “30,000 MORE DIE SLOW DEATH IN HIROSHIMA: JAPS – Report Many Sufferers Cry, ‘Kill...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
May 29th, 2024
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5445 Views
June 1, 1967 The Beatles, who have recently announced they will never tour again, finally release their new studio album. It’s called “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, and is an immediate sensation. It’s dubbed an instant classic, and to this day is considered by many critics to be the best al...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
May 14th, 2024
3 Comments
7487 Views
May 15, 1960 In his first start since being acquired from the Phillies, Cubs pitcher Don Cardwell has the most miraculous debut in Cubs history. He is facing the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a double header at Wrigley Field. Stan Musial was given the game off, but the Cardinals lineup st...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 1st, 2024
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3992 Views
~Harry Caray 1914–1998 (Cubs announcer 1982-1997) Harry was more than just the announcer for the Cubs. He was the symbol of the team during his time on the North Side. He had some great moments in the division winning year of 1984, but Cubs fans truly got a taste of what it would be without [&h...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Feb 6th, 2024
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3870 Views
~Smoky Burgess 1927–1991 (Cubs 1949-1951) His real name was Forrest Harrill Burgess, but no-one called him that. He was Smoky Burgess, a five-time National League All-Star. He was a very good catcher, but he became even better known as one of the best pinch hitters of his era. He retired with a...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Feb 3rd, 2024
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7008 Views
~Februay 9, 1914 Wrigley Field (then known as Weeghman Park) was just a few months away from opening its doors for the first time when a boy was born to Chicago sportswriter Bill Bailey and his wife. Bailey’s real last name was Veeck, and he named his son after himself, William Veeck Jr. The el...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1945
Feb 2nd, 2024
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5384 Views
This week during the last year the Cubs went to the World Series… World War II Rages On… *Feb. 5, 1945 TIME magazine. On the cover: Joseph Stalin (“Facts are stubborn things”) *Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Jose...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Weeks Historical Events
Feb 1st, 2024
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7279 Views
Where were the Cubs? February 6, 1911 The most famous Cubs fan in history was born on this day. His name was Ronald Reagan. Reagan didn’t just grow up a Chicago Cubs fan. He owes much of his success to the team. Following college graduation, Reagan landed a job as a radio announcer at WOC [&hel...
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