By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Jun 2nd, 2023
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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 This Week in 1908
May 26th, 2023
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How long ago was 1908? The Chicago Cubs were all set to play a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at West Side Grounds. Cubs outfielder Jimmy Sheckard, a known prankster, began teasing Cubs backup infielder Heinie Zimmerman about his terrible fielding. The players had to be separated on the field. A...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
May 10th, 2023
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3723 Views
~Jim Hickman 1937–2016 (Cubs 1969-1973) After eight forgettable seasons with three different teams, Jim Hickman was magically transformed from a perennial struggler to a powerful slugger. In 1970 at the age of 33, “Gentleman Jim” somehow batted .315, with 32 home runs, 115 runs batted in, and 1...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
May 4th, 2023
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3536 Views
~Vic Saier 1891–1967 (Cubs 1911-1917) Vic was one of the players who played in the last season at West Side Grounds, and the Cubs’ first season at Wrigley. The first baseman had huge shoes to fill on the Cubs–he replaced the Peerless Leader, Frank Chance. When he was healthy, Saier was a beast–...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 21st, 2023
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4794 Views
How long ago was 1908? Opening day is a huge day in Chicago for the defending champs. The Cubs have their home opener at the newly refurbished West Side Grounds (April 22). Owner Charles Murphy has turned the ballpark into a shrine for his players. There are two big sculptures outside the park, one o...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 24th, 2023
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6433 Views
How long ago was 1908? The first few years of the century the Cubs conducted spring training in Frank Chance’s home state of California (in Los Angeles and Santa Monica). During their first pennant season of 1906, they trained in Champaign, Illinois. The site of spring training before their fir...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 10th, 2023
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5627 Views
How long ago was 1908? Chicago’s aldermen of 1908 make today’s look like alter boys. Meet “Bathhouse John” Coughlin. He is one of the aldermen from Chicago’s notorious First Ward. Along with his partner in crime (literally), Hinky Dink Kenna, Bathhouse protects Chicago&#...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 3rd, 2023
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4697 Views
How long ago was 1908? *Alexander Graham Bell turns 61 (March 3), and is one of the most famous men in America–known as the inventor of the telephone. Now he is experimenting with aviation. He and his aviation team are working very hard on preparing his aeroplane “Red Wing”. It will make the fi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Dec 23rd, 2022
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4277 Views
Ken Hubbs 1941 (Cubs 1961-1963) He wasn’t even 20 when he debuted for the Cubs in September of 1961, but he made enough of an impact to be named the starting second baseman in 1962. It was a rough year for the Cubs (they finished with their worst record ever—behind even the expansion Houston Co...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Dec 5th, 2022
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2978 Views
~P.K. Wrigley 1894 (Cubs owner 1932–1977) He was 38 years years old when he inherited the Chicago Cubs. At his father’s deathbed in 1932, Wrigley promised he would never sell the team. Unfortunately for the Cubs, he lived up to that promise. Not only didn’t he have the passion for b...
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