A no-no

On this day in 1955, Sam "Toothpick" Jones threw a no-hitter for the Cubs. He was the first African American in history to accomplish the feat.

Listen to the last out here.

The Former Playboy Mansion

One of the luxury condo units in the old Playboy mansion on State Street is for sale. You can check out the listing here.

Bridget and I used to live in the building directly behind the mansion. (You can see our old white building in the picture of the patio). I used to look at the old mansion from our rooftop and try to imagine what it was like twenty years earlier (now forty years).

Rolling Stones biographer Robert Greenfield described it this way in his book: "The couches pulse with women. In the nights to come, the Stones will have their own man on the door, selecting talent, but tonight the gathering is official...mostly bunnies, ex-Playmates, future Playmates, glossy four-color ladies with polished faces and made-up eyes. None of your New York city darkness here, no clean puritan New England faces or spaced-out California smiles; these ladies are the real thing: products of the heartland..."

That doesn't come with the condo, as I understand it. You'd think it does based on the asking price.

Mr. Tamborine Man

The Byrds made their television debut this week 45 years ago. I found the video of it on YouTube. Check out some of the other music stars on the show with them (all are mentioned in the intro--some of whom I've never heard of--some of whom ended up being even bigger stars)...

Salvador Dali

He was born on this day in 1904. Dali was always odd, but even he must have felt like the day he appeared on the game show "What's My Line" was one of the strangest days of his life. One might even call it a surreal experience...

Charlie Grimm

Charlie Grimm retired as a player (he was still the manager) on this day in 1935. He came out of retirement the following year, and gave himself a little more than a hundred at bats, before officially calling it quits for good after the 1936 season.

Charlie's managerial reign with the Cubs is among the most interesting in Cubs history.

He was almost fired on his first day.

He was traded for the radio broadcaster on his last day.

He also led the team to two NL pennants, including their last one.

Billy Jurges

He was born on this day in 1908 and grew up to become the starting shortstop on several pennant winning Cubs teams.

Oh, and he was also shot by a crazy fan.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted a new Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's is called "Mother's Day" and features an audio presentation from the boys.

Check it out here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Mel Tovar

This week I talk to the co-host of the DreX morning show: Mel Tovar.

You can read the interview here.

Castro homers in debut

Nice work here by Edwardo and Squirehogg...

Newton Minnow

On this day in 1961, Newton Minnow made his famous "vast wasteland" speech to the National Association of Broadcasters. Fun to listen to today...

Toyota Sign

The Landmarks commission approved the Toyota sign at Wrigley Field, but it still might not happen.

I've gotten quite a few e-mails from fellow Cub fans at Just One Bad Century, outraged by this potential sign. I just can't seem to conjure up any emotion about it.

Maybe it's because every other renovation done to the park the past few years has turned out just fine, despite dire warnings about destroying the sanctity of Wrigley. The sky didn't fall, and the ballpark still looks great. It's just a sign. Yes, it's an ad, but does anyone really care about the Under Armour ads on the doors in the outfield? Remember what a big deal that was going to be?

I suspect this will be just fine too.

Sammy Sosa

He hit his first home run for the Cubs on this date in 1992.

It was shortly after the Chicago Flood.

Boring Cars

Enjoyed this article describing the ten best boring cars.

As the biggest non-car guy you'll ever meet, you know I'd be happy with any of these boring cars. I have only one requirement: Does it get me from point A to point B without breaking down.

Needless to say, my car (The Honda Oddysey) is not on the list, and not because it isn't boring. It is. It's just not a good car. I found that out when I had to replace the transmission at just over 60,000 miles.

Satisfaction

On this day in 1965 Keith Richards' life changed forever when he wrote the lick to the song "Satisfaction."

Is it just me, or is Mick now completely unable to sing it?

Kerry Wood

On this day in 1998 Kid K wowed the baseball world by striking out 20 Astros in Wrigley Field.

This is what it sounded like.

Different town, same ol' Milton

Now he's not happy in Seattle.

That guy has just got the worst luck of all-time, doesn't he? No need to self-examine.

Bad Moon Rising

Released on this day in 1968...



Note: He's not singing "There's a bathroom on the right."

Cinco De Mayo

I wanted to pay tribute to all of the Mexican born players in Cubs history for Cinco De Mayo. I could only find four. Am I missing anyone? Let me know if I am.


Here's what I found:

Jesse Flores

Jesse was signed as a free agent by the Cubs in 1938, and pitched for them in 1942. He appeared in 4 games, pitched 5 innings, struck out six, and gave up one home run before being sold to the Athletics. The A's converted him into a starter and he won 12 games for them the following year. He played in the majors for seven seasons.

Jesse passed away in 1991 at the age of 77.



Hector Torres

The Cubs acquired Hector in a trade with the Houston Astros in 1971. The Cubs gave up their former first round draft pick, Roger Metzger. Metzger started at shortstop for the Astros until 1979.

Torres, on the other hand, had 58 at bats for the Cubs in 1971, hitting .224 and making several errors in the field during his limited opportunities. The following April they traded him along with Hal Breeden to the Expos for the immortal Dan McGinn.

Torres played nine seasons in the major leagues.




Horacio Pina

He was an important part of the 1973 World Champion Oakland A's bullpen when the Cubs acquired him for the 1974 season (for Bob Locker). He seemed to lose his grip of the strike zone when he got to Chicago and walked 28 men in 47 innings. The Cubs traded him to the Angels in July.

Horacio pitched in the big leagues for eight seasons.



Ismael Valdez

He seemed like a steal when the Cubs got Valdez along with Eric Young for Terry Adams in 2000. Valdez had won ten or more games four of the previous five seasons with the Dodgers. Unfortunately, Ismael was bothered with bad blister problems during his short stay in Chicago. After giving up 17 home runs in 67 innings, with a 5.37 ERA, the Cubs had seen enough.

They sent him back to the Dodgers for a minor league prospect, Jamie Arnold.

Valdez later rediscovered his touch a few seasons later and won 14 games for the Padres and Marlins.

Ernie Harwell

RIP Ernie. He was 92 years old.

This is my favorite audio from Ernie. Enjoy...

1910/1935

This week in 1910, while Orval Overall is throwing a shutout against the Pirates at West Side Grounds, King George V is crowned in London. The Cubs will go on to win the pennant, George will go on to win World War I.

This week in 1935, while Tex Carleton is beating the Braves in Boston with a 5-hit gem, President Roosevelt is signing a major part of the New Deal, the WPA, into law. The Cubs will go on to win the pennant, and Roosevelt will go on to win re-election.

Hotel California

#1 on this day in 1977...

Kent State

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Kent State shooting. I wasn't there, of course, but I know someone who was. I interviewed him last year for Chicago Radio Spotlight. The legendary Mitch Michaels was there, and this is how he described the scene to me...

"I was working for a radio station in Cleveland at the time, as a board op, and doing some stringer reporting for them while I was at school, and the whole weekend before the shooting had been crazy. There were sit-ins and protests, and helicopters hovering, tear gas in the air, and spotlights, it was like a movie set. The protesters burned the ROTC building on Saturday night. The National Guard members were wearing gas masks and were pounding everyone. They couldn’t see anything out of those masks. I had a press pass, and they pounded me too.

On Monday I was in the car with my wife on the way to the dentist when I saw all the commotion. Police cars, sirens, people running all over, complete mayhem. I pulled over to the side of the road, locked the door, and told my wife not to move, and I went over to see what was happening. I got there just as they were carrying the girl into the ambulance. It was around 12:30 or so. By 2pm, it was completely deserted. They had closed down the campus and sent everyone home. It was eerie."

George Will

Writer.

Pundit.

Columnist.

Cubs fan.

And today he's also a birthday boy (69).

The Sears Tower

It was completed on this day in 1973. This tour the Sears Tower gave the History Channel is a little more involved than any tour you or I could go on. I thought it was fascinating...

The Columbian Exposition

We all know the Cubs have been around a long time, but sometimes it takes a little look at Chicago history to put it into perspective.

The Columbian Exposition premiered this week in 1893, and the Cubs played a game nearby.

Read all about that era here.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's installment is about the installation of the Wii Fit game in our home. I call it "Wii (Not So) Fit."

You can read it here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Greg Solk

I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I interviewed my old boss, Greg Solk. We talked about his amazing run of success as a programmer in Chicago, beginning with his days at the Loop. You can read the interview here.

Happy Anniversary Elvis & Priscilla

So what if they got divorced a few years later... a wedding day is a wedding day (1967).



The anniversary is actually tomorrow, but I wanted to be the first to congratulate the youngsters.

Billy Williams 1000 games in a row

On this day in 1970, Billy Williams played in his 1000th game in a row--adding to his NL record. The previous NL record, by the way, was 694 games in a row. On the day he beat that record, he was asked about the odds of reaching 1000 one day...

E-mails, we get e-mails...

"SL" sent this to me regarding my Father Knows Nothing column about Sean's first cup...

"A little known fact....The first testicular guard "Cup" was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974...That means it took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important."

 "DB" sent this to me regarding my story about Mike Royko...

"Saw your piece this morning on the legendary Mike Royko. I never had the chance to meet him, but after I discovered his column, I read it everyday that I could all through high school and college. I either started the day or ended it by reading his column. I wanted to get into journalism because of him. I changed courses into radio, though. I still have his last two books...now, I have to go find them and re-read them...That is a great story. Thanks for sharing it!"

Bob Hendley

His Cubs career was far from spectacular, but for one glorious day in 1965 he pitched the game of his lifetime.

Unfortunately for Bob Hendley, it was against Sandy Koufax...who threw a perfect game.

That amazing story is here.

Hendley turns 71 years old today.

Mike Royko

On this day in 1997, Chicago lost one of our greatest writers: Mike Royko.

I still remember my brush with Mike Royko quite well.

Lee Elia

OK, it's a tradition. Every year on this day we have to listen to the tirade that Lee Elia screamed on April 29, 1983. This is the cleanest version we have.

Dating Guide

This dating guide is from 1938. 

It's hilarious in retrospect.

Bud Abbott

He and Lou Costello formed the famous comedy team of Abbott and Costello. Abbott outlived Costello by 17 years, but the world's greatest straight man passed away this week in 1974.

I have watched this routine, or listened to it, at least fifty times. I still think it's brilliant...

Mrs. Robinson

It was released on this day in 1968...

Joke for Tuesday morning

This is the kind of joke people send to me. Thanks, DM, for sending it...



Meteorologists have determined that the dust cloud that is spreading over Europe and delaying International travel was not from the volcanic eruption in Iceland. They are now interviewing the person responsible for cleaning the Chicago Cubs trophy case.

Rogers Hornsby

He is a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest hitters in history, and he was a Cubs player and manager. As a player he led the Cubs to the 1929 World Series and had one of the best seasons in Cubs history.

As a manager he borrowed money from his players to finance a gambling addiction, tore the team apart, and was fired. That story is here.

He later returned as a roving minor league hitting instructor. In the late 50s he watched every single Cubs minor leaguer hit in the batting cage. He reported back to P.K. Wrigley: "You've only got two players; Billy Williams and Ron Santo. Get rid of everybody else."

In his later years he also did color commentary on Cubs TV broadcasts.

Rogers Hornsby was born on this day in 1897.

Seinfeld Rock Band

Seinfeld Rockband - watch more funny videos

Wrigley's Organ

On this day in 1941, the Cubs became the first team to install an organ at a Major League ballpark. The first organist was a man named Roy Nelson.

The first team the Cubs played, organ in hand (so to speak), was the Cardinals.

The Cardinals won 4-2.

Carol Burnett

She's 77 years old today. I bet here's one clip of her you've never seen...

Hack Wilson

He was one of the most colorful Cubs in history, and he still holds the record for RBI in a season with 191.

Read all about Hack Wilson, here and here.

He was born on this day in 1900. Wilson died much too young (at the age of 48), but he lives on in baseball's Hall of Fame.

Father Knows Nothing

This week's Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Lost another one to showbiz" and it tells the tale of Sean's first time on stage. It happened last weekend.

You can read it here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: J-Hood

I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I talked to ESPN Radio's Jonathan Hood (J-Hood) about his career in sports-talk radio.

You can read it here.

McCaskey Smackdown

I just read Steve Rhodes' scathing smackdown of Michael McCaskey, and it sums up beautifully why Chicago is so happy to see him step down as the Chairman of the Bears.

You really should read it.

New Coke

It sounded like a good idea at the time. New Coke came out exactly 25 years ago today...

Hal Totten

On this day in 1924 the Cubs were broadcast on the radio for the very first time. The man behind the microphone was sportscaster Hal Totten (photo). The radio station was WMAQ.

What did he sound like?

You can hear his voice in this montage of early Cubs announcers.

Incredible play

You have to see this to believe it. It happened in a college baseball game. The runner jumped over the catcher and touched home plate...

The Best Earth Day Jokes

Today is the 40th Earth Day.

Earth Day is considered overly serious, but it doesn't have to be.

Watch this video

Blues Brothers

They debuted on this day in 1978. Two years later, they starred in their own movie...

A few more baseball stories

This is a lovely piece about Ron Santo in Salon.com.

And this is another great piece in Salon.com about the joy of playing catch with your son. I've been doing a lot of this lately with my seven year old son Sean, and I'm loving every minute of it.

Thanks to "DE" for pointing these out to me.

1935

75 years ago today...Bill "General" Lee pitches the Cubs to victory to get back to .500 (4-4). They don't look much like a pennant-winning team yet. Meanwhile in Chicago, a radio show debuts that will become one of the most popular shows in America: Fibber McGee and Molly.

Bernie Goldberg Smackdown

This is a classic Jon Stewart smackdown to an amateurish Bernie Goldberg smackdown attempt. It reminds me of Super Bowl XX. Jon Stewart is the Bears defense. Bernie Goldberg is Tony Eason. (For those of you too young to remember, at halftime of that game Tony Eason had more testicles than passing yards.)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Bernie Goldberg Fires Back
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Mark Twain

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) died exactly 100 years ago today. I always heard he was a baseball fan, but now I know for certain. I found a website that chronicles all things Twain, and here's a pretty comprehensive account of Twain's love of baseball.

He went to his grave thinking the Chicago Cubs were the ultimate baseball dynasty. They had been to the World Series four times in the last five years of his life.

Happy Secretary's Day

From the folks at Funny or Die...

Man in the Box - Secretary Day - watch more funny videos

Perception

This was sent to me by MG, and because it was a forwarded e-mail I didn't believe it was true (a natural assumption by the way...always assume forwarded e-mails are not true). But I checked on Snopes, and sure enough, this is real...

THE SITUATION

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $200 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . ......
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

Fergie Jenkins

On this day in 1966 the Cubs traded away two big name pitchers, former all-star Bob Buhl, and former 24-game winner Larry Jackson, for two outfielders (Adolpho Phillips and John Herrnstein) and a little known reliever named Fergie Jenkins.

The outfielders didn't amount to much, but that little known reliever was converted into a starter by Leo Durocher and won more than 140 games for the Cubs over the next seven seasons.

He's in the Hall of Fame wearing a Cubs cap.

The story of Wrigley's first opening day

It's this week's Tale from a Bad Century.

The craziest Cub

If he were still with us, former Cub pitcher Bill Faul would have turned 70 years old today. He might not have been a great pitcher, but he certainly was memorable.

Read all about his crazy antics here.

Sad news

My old friend Leslie Keiling lost her mother this week.

Two summers ago I filmed Leslie for my website Just One Bad Century talking about her mother, and the love she had for the Cubs....



ESPN saw the video on my site and included Helen Keiling in their 100 years of losing special later that year. Here is Helen's profile from that story. She represented the decade of the 1910s.

RIP Helen.

We'll carry on the quest.

Viva Las Vegas

The movie came out on this day in 1964. Still one of my favorite Elvis movies (although, admittedly, that's not saying much)...

Weeghman Park

On this day in 1914 a brand new ballpark officially opened on the North Side of Chicago. It was conveniently located near the elevated train stop on one side, and the streetcar on the other.

The home team was the Chicago Whales of the Federal League, and the stadium was called "Weeghman Park"

Here come da Judge

One of the biggest Cub fans in America happens to reside on the United States Supreme Court. His name is John Paul Stevens, and he is 90 years old today.

Read all about his Cubs love here.