American Graffitti

It came out this week in 1973, and started the Oldies craze.

Rainbow

Steve "Rainbow" Trout is 53 today.

He's still around. I've run into him at many different Cubs-related events.

Facebook birthdays

My son Tommy came down to ask me something yesterday while I was checking my Facebook account. Because it was my birthday, I had something like 200 birthday wishes on my page. I showed it to Tommy and said...

"Look, all these people are wishing me happy birthday."

He replied, "How many are there?"

I had no idea, so we counted them together. At the time it was something like 150.

"Not bad, huh?" I said.

"But don't you have something like 1200 Facebook friends?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"That means that more than a thousand didn't wish you happy birthday."

He doesn't look very much like me, but there is no doubt about it. That's my son.

Roy Henshaw & Steam Engines in Boots

Two Cubs were born on this day.

Roy Henshaw, the author of what should have been a no-hitter in 1935.




and

Earl Moore, a man with one of the most memorable nicknames of all time: Steam Engine in Boots





 Roy would be 99 if he were still alive. Moore was born 131 years ago today.

Birthday Milestones

Thanks to Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac, I know the following things happened on my birthday throughout the years.

On my fifth birthday (1968)...The Beatles held their "Mad Day Out," an all-day group photography session across London, which produced most of their well-known latter-day photographs, including the cover of LIFE and the inside gatefold of their "Beatles 1967-1970" album.

On my tenth birthday (1973)...Grand Funk Railroad released "We're an American Band." Lee Majors divorced Farrah Fawcett on that same day.

On my 35th birthday (1998)...Monica Lewinsky received blanket immunity from prosecution to testify before a grand jury about her relationship with U.S. President Bill Clinton.

And finally, tragically...

On my 37th birthday (2000)...Kathie Lee Gifford made her final appearance as co-host of the ABC-TV talk show "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." (I'm still reeling from that sad birthday)

Just out of curiosity, I also looked up the Cubs record on my birthday. They won a double header against the Cardinals the day I was born (I was actually born midway through the first game), and they lost today. Overall, they are 28-20. Not too bad, actually, considering how horrible they have been most of my life.

Walter Jacobson

One of Chicago's favorite TV newsmen, Walter Jacobson, turns 73 today. You may know him as a journalist, but I always like to think of him as a Cubs fan.

And a guy that shares my birthday. (Although I'm 26 years younger)

Some great Andre Dawson highlights

Featuring the voices of our departed announcers Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, and Lou Boudreau...

Smoking ads

On this day in 1965, Lyndon Johnson signed the bill that required warning labels on cigarette packages. Of course, cigarette television ads stayed on the air for several more years. I still remember this one from my childhood. I thought it was so cool that these kids hopped out of the television.

Bugs Bunny is 70

This first one debuted exactly 70 years ago today...

50 years ago today...

The Republicans nominated this guy...

Joe Tinker

Joe Tinker was the shortstop in the most famous Cubs double play combination of all time. So what if he and his second baseman (Johnny Evers) didn't speak to each other--they were so smooth in the field they inspired a famous poem.

100 years ago the threesome (Tinker, Evers, and Chance) played in their final World Series together. You can actually see them in action in this video.

Joe Tinker was born 130 years ago today.

Back in Black

AC/DC released Back in Black exactly 30 years ago today. It's still one of the greatest albums of all-time.

Jeremy Piven

He may have made the powers that be a little angry with his "Let's hug it out bitch" comment at the end of his Take Me Out to the Ballgame rendition, but Jeremy Piven remains an actual honest to goodness, Cubs fan.

He turns 45 today.

Andre Dawson: Hall of Famer

I thought this was a nice recap of some of Andre Dawson's career highlights.

Always loved the Hawk. He richly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He may not be wearing a Cubs hat in the Hall, but he'll always be a Cub to us.

There will certainly never be another Montreal Expo in the Hall of Fame. It's nice that someone is wearing their hat.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This one is called "Easy Money" and it's about a ridiculous bet I made with my kids.

You can read it here.