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EveryCubEver--Hall of Famers

 

Yes, it's true, I'm not doing an update of EveryCubEver this season. On the other hand, I do plan on featuring every Hall of Fame Cub on or around their birthdays this year right here on this blog. And those entries will be from EveryCub Ever.

There are three Cubs Hall of Famers born this week.

February 25—Monte Irvin  1919–2016 (Cubs 1956)

Irvin was a star in the Negro Leagues and didn’t make his debut in the majors until at the age of 30. But even though he only played a few big league seasons and hit only 99 career homers, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973. He had a few great seasons with the Giants, leading them to the National League pennant in 1951 and the World Series championship in 1954. When the Cubs got him in 1956, he was already 37 years old. His power stroke was diminished, but he was still the best left fielder in the league. In his last big league season he led the National League in fielding percentage and range. When he died in 2016 he was the oldest living major leaguer.

February 25—Ron Santo 1940–2010  (Cubs 1960-1973, Cubs announcer 1990-2010)

He was the captain of that ill-fated (but incredibly talented) 1969 Cubs team – the man who clicked his heels after each Cubs victory. Santo was also the one who had the black cat cross his path while he stood in the on-deck circle in New York. Ron Santo is a Hall of Famer, something he wanted to be more than anything else in the world. Unfortunately, he wasn’t inducted until after his death. His credentials should never have been questioned. Santo was a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glover at third base. He hit 342 homers, and was the dominant player at his position (in the National League) during his playing days. And he did it all despite suffering from diabetes.

After his playing career he joined the Cubs radio broadcast booth, teaming up with the great Pat Hughes. He lost both legs to diabetes during his broadcasting days, and made an even stronger bond with Cubs fans. He never complained about his medical misfortune, and he exhibited the same kind of raw emotion that Cubs fans experienced: incredible joy when they won, and pure agony when they lost. His number was retired in 2003 and a #10 flag now flies on the left field foul pole at Wrigley Field. 

Santo also holds the Cubs career record for grounding into the most double plays (240).

Historical note: On the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon (1969), Santo hit a game-winning home run against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

February 26—Grover Cleveland Alexander 1887–1950 (Cubs 1918-1926)

His 373 wins are the third most in baseball history. And yes, he was a Cub. He won 128 games in his years with the Cubs and had one of the best seasons in baseball history in 1920, when he led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. But Alexander was troubled during his Cubs years. The only reason they got him at all was because the owner of the Phillies didn’t want to get stuck paying the contract of his star pitcher (a three-time 30 game winner) if he got drafted into World War I. He did get drafted, and he came back from the war a changed man.

Old Pete, as he was known, became one of the biggest drinkers in the league during Prohibition. He showed up drunk to games. He fell asleep in the clubhouse and passed out drunk in the dugout. He smoked like a chimney before every game. He ignored his manager and openly challenged his authority. The Cubs understood up to a point. After all, the man was suffering through medical, physical, and mental problems. He was an epileptic and was prone to seizures. His arm started hurting during his Cubs career, and he had the ligament “snapped back into place” by a man named James “Bonesetter” Smith. And throughout it all he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after his horrific war experience.

Somehow, against all odds, he continued to pitch well. In 1923, he pitched 305 innings and walked only 30 men. In 1924, he won his 300th game. But in 1926, after his catcher and best friend Bill Killefer went to the Cardinals, Alexander fell apart. In his last ten games with the Cubs, Old Pete showed up drunk six times and missed two games altogether. The Cubs released him and the Cardinals picked him up on waivers. Back with his best friend Killefer, he regained his pitching touch and led the Cardinals to the World Series championship, winning Game 6, and saving Game 7 of the 1926 series. Two years after his 1950 death, his story was told in the film The Winning Team, starring Ronald Reagan. Grover Cleveland Alexander remains the only player in baseball history to be named after a president and portrayed in a movie by a president.

Historical note: On the day that Warren Harding made history by being the first president to broadcast on the radio (1922), Alexander was on the mound for the Cubs. He lost the game 5-4 to the Giants.

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Publishing Portal--February 16, 2026

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

40 Years, 40 Films

=Huge event coming up soon for Nick Digilio at the Museum of Broadcast Communications...

Oscar Sunday at the Museum with Nick Digilio and Rick Kogan

Sunday, March 15, 2026 | Noon – 2:30 PM | Museum of Broadcast Communications

Celebrate Oscar Sunday with legendary Chicago film critic and broadcaster Nick Digilio, hosted live by WGN Radio’s Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune columnist and cultural icon. For more than four decades, Nick has entertained audiences through his 35-year career at WGN Radio, where his movie reviews and commentary made him one of Chicago’s most trusted voices in film. Today, he continues that legacy through his two hit podcasts, The Nick D Podcast and That Show Hasn’t Been Funny in Years: An SNL Podcast.

This special live event will feature Nick’s Oscar predictions, insights from his four decades reviewing films, and reflections from his new book, 40 Years, 40 Films. This deeply personal collection features essays on his favorite film from each year, along with his Top 10 lists and stories from his lifelong journey as a passionate moviegoer and respected critic. The program includes a live on-stage conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing.

Museum admission applies. For tickets, visit museum.tv

=Nick Digilio's pick at the Lake Theater in Oak Park this month was the film Crash. Thanks to everyone who came out last Wednesday night to see the film and pick up a copy of Nick's book.

=Have we mentioned that Nick is also writing his follow up book for us about horror movies? That will be out later this year. More info to come.

Chili Dog MVP

=Chili Dog MVP co-author John Owens checked in about the progress of his film/TV project based on their book. Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern will be traveling down to Arizona for the debut showing there on March 12. Wanna come? I understand there might some spring training games nearby.

=The poster they came up with for this upcoming series of events is amazing. We'll let John Owens explain...

Here's the new poster for My Father, Dick Allen , designed by the great Todd Radom, the sports designer responsible for numerous logos/branding in the MLB, NFL and other sports.

=John and Dr. David Fletcher (his Chili Dog MVP co-author) are actually in Colorado right now. Here's a photo of Doc in the airport on Sunday. They are in Colorado Springs to interview Hall of Famer Goose Gossage for the project. Goose was Dick's teammate on the Sox, and wrote the foreword to Chili Dog MVP. The bat Goose is holding in this picture is autographed by every living Hall of Famer.

Bubble Boy

=An entertaing Q&A with Bob Williams

The Best of Words on Birds

=Jeff Reiter was hanging out with some superstars from the birding world over the weekend at the Gull Frolic in Winthrop Harbor. Only three authors were invited to participate; Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds), Dexter Patterson (Birds of the Great Lakes and featured speaker), and Amar Ayyash (The Gull Guide, and the nation's leading expert on gull ID).

=Jeff's description of the two photos below...

    That's me with Jo Fessett, executive director of Illinois Audubon Society, the sponsor of the event. The other one was the scene behind the yacht club...

  

Sirens in the Loop

=Today's the day the book ships to those of you who pre-ordered it.

=Jim Elsener did a great job on WBEZ on Tuesday talking about it. Listen to it here.

    Jim: Thanks to Sasha-Ann Simons (holding “Sirens in the Loop A History of the City News Bureau of Chicago) who moderated our panel discussion about CNB this morning on WBEZ 91.5 FM. Joining me were alumni Rummana Hussain and Abdon Pallasch. I think we made Good Radio.

=Jim will be a guest this week on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.

The Kiss of Night

=Your chance to meet Mark Wukas is tonight, February 16th at 7:30pm. A musical guest is appearing, too—and it’s free admission. No cover! Come out for a fun evening. Welcome to the Show at the Getaway (4530 N. Lincoln Avenue).

=If you want to know why people like his novel so much, read this Q&A with author Mark Wukas. Or, check out these blurbs from some of the most respected journalists in America.

Surviving Sue

=Vicki Atkinson (Surviving Sue) will be appearing at Wauconda Library (11am-12:30pm) on February 20. Unfortunately, it's sold out. 

=On the other hand, her debut novel "Slivers" is now also in the pipeline at Eckhartz Press, and is coming out very soon. If you are a fan of Vicki, you'll love it. What's it all about? See if this intrigues you...

    In a single week in the summer of 1973, a quiet suburban neighborhood implodes when generations of mystical deceit become too much to bear. Drawn to the web of secrets and lies, the other worldly slivers refuse to be ignored, pushing one family to the brink.

Celtic Knot 

=On February 28th, Robert Conlon will be part of the Boozy Book Fair at Printer's Row Brewing (4801 N. Austin Avenue in Chicago) from Noon-4pm. 

=Who is Robert Conlon? We'll let Depaul University tell you...

]

Additional upcoming Eckhartz Press author events. Mark your calenders...

=The Loop Files author Rick Kaempfer is appearing at a  book club in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago on February 23.

=Chili Dog MVP--Two upcoming appearances promoting their new film in Pennsylvania. March 5 in Philadelphia, March 7 in Wampum Pennsylvania

=Nick Digilio--Nick's Pix at the Lake Theater on March 11 in Oak Park. The film will be Zero Dark Thirty.

=Lauren LoGiudice (Inside Melania) brings her Misfit Variety show to the Annoyance March 13.  Show's at 9.

=Robert Conlon will also be appearing at the G-man (on Clark in Chicago) on March 15. 

=Mark Wukas will be doing a reading at CWA Live Lit readings at After Words Book Store on March 26.

The Loop Files

=Would you believe that one of the stars of The Loop Files, former Loop personality Kevin Matthews, met Pope Leo this week? It's true. This is not an AI picture. Kevin is a devout Catholic who created a film called "Broken Mary" about a broken statue of the Virgin Mary that he found. He makes appearances at churches around the country with the statue, and talks about how much it affected him. This week, he talked to the Pope about it. The Pope blessed the statue. Not too shabby.

=Kevin has now produced two movies in the last few years. His previous movie "Ed Zeppelin" was directed by Eckhartz Press publisher Rick Kaempfer and edited by Rick's son Tommy Kaempfer. That's Tommy and Kevin at the film's debut in October 2023.

Nose Over Toes

=Saturday's birthday girl (Feb 14) Eckhartz Press author Janet Sutherland was honored last week. She was named Spring VIP for 2026 by POWER, an organization of professional women, for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the media industry. Congrats to Janet. (More info here)

=Janet has another book coming out via Eckhartz Press later this year.

The Sun at the End of the Road

=A very important person in Tony Fitzpatrick's life, director Jonathan Demme, was born this week (February 22, 1944). Demme was an early champion of Tony's art, and later cast him in a few of his films (Married to the Mob, Philadelphia). Tony also designed the soundtrack cover for Demme's film Something Wild. Hard to believe that both Tony and Jonathan are gone now.

=Turns out that Tony's last book The Sun at the End of the Road won't be his final book. We made the announcement during our Zoom tribute to Tony a few weeks ago, but in case you missed it, Tony wrote one more book in his final weeks. That book will be released in October on the one year anniversary of Tony's death. 

Worth a Second Look & Oscars Biggest Mistakes

=Eckhartz Press author Eric Litt has a day job working at WGN-TV. Naturally when you work there you'll run into the biggest star at the station (photo). He may be retired now, but Tom Skilling is celebrating a birthday this week (February 20).

=This is the busy season for Eric. The Oscars are coming up in a few weeks (March 15). We'd all but guarantee a repeat visit as a guest on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.

Take Me Back to Chicago

=We dig the video...

The Flip Side

=Here's one from the archives. This week in 1977 (February 16), Genesis performed at the Auditorium in Chicago. That show was presented by The Flip Side's concert arm. The Rosenbaum brothers Carl and Larry pose backstage with the band.

To Nudge the World

=Daily Herald writer Jim Slusher's book To Nudge the World is a collection of his excellent essays from the newspaper over the past 25 years. The one he wrote this week in 2000 (February 17) seems to really have resonance today. It's about something that has slowly eroded in the years since it was written, objective reporting. That piece alone is worth the price of admission. It's an award winner, folks. Book of the Year. 

Happy birthday Michael Jordan!

=The greatest player in basketball history appears in several Eckhartz Press books. As he turns 63  (February 17), we imagine him perusing the pages of Your Dime, My Dance Floor by Chet Coppock or Life Behind the Camera by Chuck Quinzio.

The Daly News

=This was the week in 2014 when Joel Daly began making the rounds to promote his book The Daly News. The book got a great review from Robert Feder (Feb 19). And then Joel appeared on the WGN-TV Morning News. (Feb 20)

Records Truly is My Middle Name

=Two of the most memorable stories in John Landecker's memoir Records Truly Is My Middle Name involve two men who are both celebrating a birthday this week (Feb 18), Dennis DeYoung (Styx) and John Travolta. Dennis tells the tale about the first time he heard his song "Lady" on the radio. It was played by John Landecker on WLS. Dennis really paints a picture of the excitement of the moment. But probably the best story in the book revolves around a John Landecker/John Travolta appearance at Woodfield Mall. It's captured here on tape. It's captured below in a photograph.

Ike & Me

=This week in 2016 (February 19), Rich King joined the Chicago Blackhawks at the White House as they visited President Obama. This photo from that day (with fellow sportscaster Jim Rose) appears in the pages of Rich's 2022 memoir Ike & Me.

City U

=This week in 2022, with the pandemic still not fully contained, Bob Boone made an appearance at The Book Stall in Winnetka. Masks were still required.

Behind The Glass

=This week in 2022 (Feb 19), Randy Merkin also made an appearance in Homewood, Illinois to promote his book. A few photos are here. Former Bears receiver Tom Waddle, who is celebrating a birthday this week (Feb 20), had this to say about Randy...“Randy is an incredible radio talent. His vast knowledge of the business and bottomless pool of contacts are unmatched. I’ve learned a lot about the business from Randy. His talent is only exceeded by his loyalty and integrity. Randy is the best!!!”

=You know who else loves Randy? Another person celebrating a birthday this week (February 20). A man who rates his own chapter in Behind the Glass, Charles Barkley (shown below with Randy).

=Randy's next book is our next book. We're putting it together as you read this. Soon, soon.

Signature Shoes

=This week in 2022 was a busy one, because Ryan Trembath also released the audiobook version of his book Signature Shoes (February 20). You can find it here. 

Cubsessions

=Randy Richardson and Becky Sarwate interviewed comedian/actor Ike Barinholtz for their Eckhartz Press book Cubsessions. Ike tells the story of his love for his hometown Cubs. Happy birthday Ike! (Feb 18)

=Does Randy Richardson have another book coming soon on Eckhartz Press? Why yes he does. Stay tuned for more information.

The Living Wills

=This week in 2012, Rick and Brendan did a presentation about using improv techniques to write. You can see a little bit of that here. One big fan of the book, CSI star William Petersen is celebrating a birthday this week (Feb 21). This is what he had to say about Eckhartz Press's debut release...…a hell of an old-fashioned read. It brings to life ‘the city of broad shoulders’ and makes me homesick. I want a Billy Goat cheesborger and a shot of whiskey.

 Hugh Hefner's First Funeral

=This week in 2017, Pat Colander appeared on Dave Hoekstra's radio show on WGN Radio.

=Dave Hoekstra was kind enough to join us in our tribute to Tony Fitzpatrick a few weeks ago. If you missed it, you can watch it here.

 Father Knows Nothing

This week in 2015, Rick Kaempfer appeared on WBEZ's Morning Shift program to discuss his book Father Knows Nothing with Jason Marck. You can listen to it here.

Valentine's Day special 

=Don't let anyone tell you that publishers Rick and Dave aren't romantics. Exhibit A: This is Dave's wife Michelle (left) on Valentine's Day. She was at an art fair at Kino Werks with Dave. Isn't that a romantic outing for Valentine's Day? Sure, she also had to sell Eckhartz Press books there for a few hours, but who can put a price tag on that kind of marital togetherness?

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The Sweetest Words

Bill Holub spent eighteen years laboring in the news department of WLUP Radio in Chicago. He wrote news for the likes of Buzz Kilman, Laura Witek, and Maggie Brock, and he hosted his own public affairs show on the station: "Chicago Street Talk." During his years at WLUP, he also introduced a young intern from his news department to the producer of the Steve and Garry show. The couple was married a few years later. (Yes, I'm referring to Bridget and me) 

 Bill Holub is a huge baseball fan, and that's the reason I asked him to contribute to the blog. That was twenty years ago, and people loved this piece so much, I've run it every year since. It's become a tradition, and this year we need it more than ever. 

Every year at this time, when the pitchers and catchers started reporting to spring training (that's today for Cub fans), Bill would walk the hallways of WLUP saying...

THE SWEETEST WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

By Bill Holub

“Pitchers and catchers report”

These are indeed the sweetest words in the English language. Friends have been hearing me recite this every year at this time. I once had an old poker playing friend who used to say the sweetest words have always been “I’ll play these”. This is the same friend who couldn’t win even when dealt a pat hand. That however is a story for another time and place, where an explanation of the relationship between the quantity of beer consumed, what the cards in your hand really look like and the amount of money you bet can be fully explored. It’s really something scientists should be looking at.

In the meantime, I apologize to all those who came here looking for a sentimental dialogue on romance. I’m sorry to say it but the sweetest words in the English language are not “I love you”. Now that I think of it, this may instead be a sentimental dialogue on romance and baseball.

It’s funny how the two always converge around Valentine’s Day. Spring fever is referred to as that time of year when things start to bloom as the weather changes and love is in the air. It is no coincidence that this is the same time the baseball season opens and brings hope to all of us diehard baseball romantics.

My love affair with baseball was re-ignited in 1987-88. There was only one place to catch baseball highlights from all over the major leagues back then. Once a week you could tune in to “This Week In Baseball” with good ol’ Mel Allen. During those two seasons I was hooked into witnessing two West Coast baseball Gods embodied in the forms of a young Mark Mcgwire and Jose Canseco. This is before anyone had ever heard of andro, anabolics and the other chemical cocktails that have since cast a pall over these two. Back then, I was treated week in and week out to mammoth sized home runs flying out of every ballpark in the country. The fact that these home runs were being hit by players wearing what my brother and I had always considered the coolest looking baseball uniforms in the world (the Oakland A’s green and gold) had me embracing the game I grew up on all over again.

By 1989 I was so hooked on this game I even started collecting baseball cards again, although as much as an investor as a fanboy. I also started another nasty habit that impacts my life to this day. That is when I started a fantasy baseball league with a bunch of guys at work. 1989 also happened to be a division winning season for my beloved Cubs, so I was in baseball heaven and haven’t looked back since.

THE NATIONAL PASTIME

I think we can honestly say that baseball is no longer the national pastime in this country. It has been supplanted by football. I can accept that. Although I would insist the true national pastime is gambling, which is the driving force that makes football the number one spectator sport in America. I suppose I could go off on a George Carlin type of rant here on the differences between football and baseball, but that’s not why I’m writing this piece.

I just want to point out there is one major difference between the two and that is commitment. I’m talking about the commitment between baseball fans and football fans. Football is a four month season requiring your undivided attention one day a week, or two if you’re both a college and pro fan. Baseball is a six month season requiring your undivided attention throughout with your favorite team(s) playing as many as five or more games a week.

Baseball is a commitment. I believe it carries as much of a commitment as love. They both require dedication and attention. They can both go awry despite the best laid plans. An early swan dive in the standings in May that ends a team’s season before it even had a chance can be just as painful as not having your phone calls returned after the second or third date. Meanwhile an October champagne shower celebrating a pennant or World Series championship is as sweet and memorable as a ‘yes’ to a question posed on one knee.

BASEBALL AND THE CINEMA

Once that warm baseball is back feeling starts sinking in every year, I like to get fully immersed by throwing myself into my favorite baseball movies before the games actually begin. This is my form of spring training.

You’ve got your “Bull Durham”, “Field Of Dreams”, “Major League” (only the first one, please), but there is one movie that hits me in the right spot. “City Slickers” is not a real baseball movie per se, but there’s one scene that remains among my all-time favorites. It’s where the three friends (Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby) are on the cattle drive and passing the time by discussing their favorite baseball memories. Billy Crystal remembers the first time his father took him to Yankee Stadium as a kid and how he had never seen grass that green before. Mickey Mantle even hit a home run that day. Daniel Stern recalls how growing up he and his father never saw eye to eye, but they could always talk about baseball with each other. “We always had baseball” he says.

As for me, one of my earliest baseball memories was getting to take the day off of school with my brother because my Dad got opening day tickets to Wrigley Field. I still remember wearing our warmest winter coats and knit hats, waiting to sit down while the Andy Frain usher brushed the snow off our seats. They don’t make Aprils in Chicago like that any more.

THE SWEETEST SOUND

There is a sound that accompanies the words “pitchers and catchers report”. It is the sound of a ball popping into a mitt. The sound of a simple game of catch. It is more than the crack of a bat sound. The sound of a mitt popping brings the memories and feelings of a lifetime of baseball flooding your senses all at once. It happens every time, whether it’s major leaguers or just a game of catch with your dad or your kid. The week pitchers and catchers report there are no cracking bats, only popping mitts. The sweetest sound in the world. “Pitchers and catchers report”. The sweetest words in the English language.