Kids and Politics

I just posted my weekly contribution to Kim Strickland's "A City Mom" blog at ChicagoNow. This week's Suburban Dad entry is called "Kids and Politics" and it's about my attempt at raising kids that aren't temple-throbbing haters.

You can read it here.

George Will

Newsman.

Pundit.

Cubs Fan.

Birthday Boy...70 years old today.

White Sox No-Hit

I watched some of the no-hitter thrown by Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano against the Sox last night, and there was at least one controversial call.

In the eighth inning the umpire made a bad call at first base. Gordon Beckham should have been safe because Twins first baseman Justin Mourneau missed the tag. There were also six walks, so it wasn't like it was a masterpiece.

On the other hand, the Sox weren't exactly "All In" last night, were they?

Have we started the countdown clock on Ozzie's meltdown yet? The Sox are ten and a half games out of first on May 4.

On Baseball Tonight (ESPN) Bobby Valentine predicted that this was rock bottom for the Sox, and it would serve as a wake up call. I guess we'll have to see. Believe it or not, I'm sort of hoping he's right. Don't worry Cub fans, I haven't changed allegiances. I just have two Sox players (Dunn & Rios) on my fantasy team.

UPDATE: "RP" correctly points out that the controversial Beckham call at first base was the second half of a double play--so even if he was correctly called safe, it still would have been a no-hitter. My bad.

Margaret Donahue

The Cubs may not have been on the cutting edge of allowing African Americans to play in the big leagues (and, sadly, actually contributed to erecting the color barrier in the first place), but they were trailblazers when it came to promoting women.

P.K. Wrigley famously came up with the All-American Girls League during World War II, but at that time the Cubs already had had a woman working in their front office for more than twenty years. She was the Vice President of the team.

Her name was Margaret Donahue, and among her many accomplishments with the Cubs was coming up with the concept of Ladies Day.

Read all about her here, in her hometown newspaper the Huntley Patch.

(Photo: Margaret and Chicago Mayor Kennelly. Photo by Gloria Casas)

Sports Illustrated Cover

Uh oh. Does anyone know of an anti-jinx medicine Starlin Castro can take right now?

Addicted to Love

25 years ago today, this was the #1 song in the country...

Cubs pitchers

If you're like me and just chalk up a loss when you hear that Casey Coleman and/or James Russell are pitching, there is some good news on the injury front.

Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells both threw off a mound yesterday. It looks like they'll be going on a minor league assignment soon.

Also, Todd Wellemeyer has been rehabbing and looks like he'll be ready soon.

I know it's not exactly Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and Greg Maddux, but it also ain't Casey Coleman and James Russell. (No offense, fellas).

The JOBC Contest

On this day in 1986 the Cubs signed a free agent player that is now a very prominent manager in the big leagues. What is his name?

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard, an autographed copy of the excellent baseball novel "The Pitch" (by Hank Owens), plus a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.


UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Michael Kilinski of Chicago. He was the first person to e-mail with the correct answer to this week's question. Michael wins the program, the book, and shirt. By the way, the answer was...

Terry Francona

Obama's Speech

I thought that was a very powerful speech by the President last night, confirming that Osama Bin Laden was dead. He isn't even being criticized (yet) from the right, and I think that's partially because of the classy way he spread the credit around to everyone, especially and including his predecessor. (Here's a good piece in the Washington Post that captures the anticipation we all felt in the hour leading up to the speech)

But as much as I loved that speech, and will always remember where I was when I heard the news, I thought this other speech he gave this weekend was even better. Let me correct that---it was funnier. Much funnier.

This is his annual appearance at the White House Correspondent's Dinner...

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's is called "Birds of a Feather" and it's about the strange coincidence I've discovered about people that share my last name.

You can read it here.

Coming this weekend

I've got an action-packed weekend planned. This afternoon I'm driving down to the old Alma Mater (University of Illinois) with my son Tommy. He's a "mathlete" participating in the state math meet. Looking forward to seeing some old friends, and I guess, watching kids do math problems? Then Sunday is Sean's First Communion, so excitement abounds.

I won't be posting a Chicago Radio Spotlight interview this weekend, but I will be posting a new Father Knows Nothing column on Sunday. It's about birds. A very strange coincidence involving birds.

Have a great weekend!

100 years ago

Two Cubs related births this week, one hundred years ago.

One was born in a little town in North Carolina and became a catcher for the Cubs with the memorable nickname of Tarzan: Walter Stephenson.

The other was born in Chicago, sold Cubs banners as a boy, and became the assassin of an assassin: Jack Ruby.

Ann Margret

Can you believe she's 70 years old today? This is way I always think of her...and remember she was playing Tommy's mom in this movie....

Warren Spahn

Exactly 50 years ago today a very special baseball game was played in County Stadium in Milwaukee. 40 year old lefty Warren Spahn was on the mound for the Milwaukee Braves, and Sam "Toothpick" Jones (the first African-American pitcher in Cubs history) was on the mound for the San Francisco Giants. Less than 9000 fans were on hand to witness it.

The Giants had one of the most powerful lineups in history. Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Orlando Cepeda (all in their prime) batted 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Sam Jones was masterful that day. Hank Aaron knocked in an unearned run in the first inning with a single, but Jones allowed only 3 more hits the rest of the game, while striking out 10.

But Warren Spahn, the crafty 40-year-old, no-hit that feared Giants lineup, facing the minimum 27 batters. He walked two men, and both of them were wiped out by double plays. The Braves won the game 1-0.

Spahn went on to 21 games that season at the age of 40, and won 23 more two seasons later at 42. He pitched in the big leagues until 1965, when he finally hung up his spikes at the age of 44.

The last team he pitched for? The San Francisco Giants.

Teaching babies how to hate

Scandalous video from the St. Louis area...



This is how it starts. Teach them to blindly hate before they can even form complete sentences. It's sad, isn't it?

Which reminds me, have you seen these incredible onesies we're selling at Just One Bad Century?

You can buy yours here.

Cubs tickets not selling

If you've been uninspired by this year's version of the Cubs, you're not alone. To hear some real tales of woe, read about the difficulties the ticket brokers are experiencing this year.

Kind of makes you think that, hmmm, I don't know, maybe the ticket prices have gotten a little too high in this down economy. But that's just me, Mr. Logical.

I've had the same seats for fifteen years. This is my ticket stub from the Kerry Wood 20 strikeout game in 1998. Look at the price. It was only $11. That's nearly two strikeouts for a buck. Those same seats today are $60 face value, and Kerry Wood strikes out an average of 19 less guys every time.

Do the math.

Keith Richards; Still Tickin'

One of my favorite stories of the past decade happened on this day in 2006. From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac...

April 27, 2006…In Fiji, Keith Richards was admitted to a hospital with a head injury reportedly suffered when he fell out of a palm tree.

It just doesn't get funnier than that, does it? Let's face it, Keith is indestructible.

Chaperoning in Iowa

My buddy Kim (A City Mom) is chaperoning a school trip to Washington this week and has been blogging about it, so my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to her blog is also about chaperoning.

I've done it exactly once.

I call this piece "Chaperoning in Iowa"

(By the way, just as an aside, we've decided upon Wednesday as my day to contribute to ChicagoNow. I don't know if anyone makes notes of that sort of thing, but if you do, this info's for you.)

Jim Tracy

I watching the Cubs game on TV last night with my son Sean (age 8), and when Rockies manager Jim Tracy was shown in the dugout, Sean said: "He was on the Cubs!"

I just recently gave all of my old baseball cards to Sean, and sure enough, he had just seen this card of Jim Tracy. This is his 1982 Fleer card, though Tracy never played for the Cubs that year. He got 122 at bats in 1980, and 63 more in 1981 (all with the Cubs), and that was the full extent of his major league career.

But he is one of only 94 managers in MLB history that have managed in the big leagues for ten years or more.

Matt Murton

Cub fans, do you remember Matt Murton? Sure you do. Red hair, outfielder, hit well, but not well enough? Ever wonder what happened to him?

Well, here's a little bit of irony for you. He is a big star in Japan right now. Last season he broke Ichiro's record for hits in a season (214), and batted .349 for the year. He plays for the Hanshin Tigers, and here's where the irony comes in. The Hanshin Tigers are known as "the lovable losers."

In the audience for Babe's called shot

This week's Tale from a Bad Century goes back to the famous "called shot" by Babe Ruth. The Who's Who list of people on hand that day goes beyond the many big stars on the field. In the stands: a future president, a future assassination victim, and a future Supreme Court justice.

Good Lovin

One of the enduring rock and roll classics was the #1 song in this country, exactly 45 years ago today...

Ryan Dempster offers financial advice

What does 30-something millionaire Ryan Dempster do with his money? Just what your mom and dad always told you to do with yours. Take care of it, and be ridiculously conservative.

I'm with Ryan on that.

I found this strange but enjoyable article in the business section of the Joplin Globe.

The Bartman Movie

USA Today reviews the movie about Steve Bartman. It's called "Catching Hell."

Sounds to me it's the fans of the Chicago Cubs that will be catching hell for scapegoating that poor guy. For what it's worth, I agree that it wasn't our finest hour. I never believed it was his fault.

The JOBC Contest

In honor of the 35th anniversary of Rick Monday's heroic saving of the flag (see below), this week's JOBC contest is about the hero himself. The Cubs acquired Rick Monday from the Oakland A's in November of 1971. Who did they trade to Oakland to get him?

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard, plus a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Grace Ross who e-mailed me the answer to today's contest question. The person the Cubs traded to Oakland to acquire Rick Monday was Kenny Holtzman. We'll have another contest next Monday. Be sure to check back for your chance to win.

Rick Monday

35 years ago today, Cubs outfielder Rick Monday rescued the flag from a couple of hippie protesters at Dodgers Stadium.

Relive the story here.

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend (even Easter weekend), JOBC goes back in time to the last year the Cubs won the pennant (1945), and the last year they won the World Series (1908).

This week in 1945, Hitler celebrates his last birthday in a bunker beneath Berlin, Happy Chandler is named the second baseball commissioner, and the Cubs get their ace pitcher back from an injury.

This week in 1908, a gruesome murder in Indiana is getting headlines, and the Cubs surge into first place on a 2-hitter by Orval Overall.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column. This week's is called "Lent is Over! (I mean "Happy Easter!")

You can read it here.

Coming this weekend

I'm not posting a Chicago Radio Spotlight interview this weekend or the following two weekends because of family commitments (Easter, First Communion, and Mother's Day), but Chicago Radio Spotlight will return on May 14th with an interview of a Chicago radio legend that I've never interviewed before. I'll say no more for now.

There will be a Father Knows Nothing column on Sunday. This week I present the final leg of my Extreme Lent journey. I'll probably be drunk when I post it.

Have a great Easter weekend!

Road Trip!

I just posted my weekly "Suburban Dad" contribution to the "A City Mom" blog at ChicagoNow. This week I offered a counterpoint to Kim Strickland's recent trip to London with her family. Mine is more about the dirty underbelly of the family vacation--The Cross Country Road Trip.

You can read it here.

Earth Day

My youngest son Sean pointed out to me that this year Earth Day and Good Friday are on the same day. He thinks that this is bad planning by God, who Sean points out, is in charge of both the Earth and Good Friday.

"He should spread these things out a little bit," Sean opined.

I'm sure God appreciates Sean's solid marketing advice.

The Bartman movie

I can't wait to see this movie called "Scapegoats," and not just because my buddy Dane Placko is part of it (the filmmaker saw him tell the story on JOBC). I'm also excited because the filmmaker on this project, Alex Gibney, is an Academy Award winner--and his other projects have been tremendous.

He was interviewed about the film by ABC. It's here if you'd like to read it.

The 1918 World Series

OK, I'm starting to get a little ticked at the coverage of this 1918 World Series story. If you've missed it, a new document has been revealed, an interview of disgraced White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte. In the interview he says he "heard that the Cubs threw the 1918 series."

That one comment, from a guy trying to save his own skin, with absolutely no evidence or proof to back it up--and zero corroborating evidence--has led to articles in just about every publication in America saying that the Cubs may have thrown the 1918 World Series.

It was on the front page of the Daily Herald yesterday. It's in the Boston Globe today.

I've looked at this story pretty extensively. In fact, I researched it for weeks. There's an entire book written on the subject, and that author spent more than a year researching it. After that whole time he came up with a few potentially fishy plays in the series, and a notebook written by a White Sox executive, who called somebody on the Cubs "a fixer." Two of the pitchers on the Cubs were later accused of fixing games too--but there's no evidence at all that they did in this series.

I'm not saying it didn't happen. I'm just saying that there's no proof at all that it did.

Good Friday!

It's Good Friday...which means the boys don't have to get up early for school this morning...which means we're sleeping in.

I mean, we're at church.

Yup, definitely at church.

Best Trade Ever

There have been a few (sadly not many) great trades in Cubs history, but I've always argued that the one that happened on this day forty five years ago was THE best. Look at the details...

The Philadelphia Phillies traded John Herrnstein, Fergie Jenkins and Adolfo Phillips to the Chicago Cubs for Bob Buhl and Larry Jackson.

Buhl won six games for the Phillies in 1966, and was out of baseball in early 1967. Larry Jackson pitched three seasons for the Phillies before retiring, but he lost more games than he won.

Meanwhile, Ferguson Jenkins won 20 games for the Cubs six years in a row, and entered Baseball's Hall of Fame wearing a Cubs hat. Plus Adolpho Phillips was the Cubs everyday starting centerfielder for the next three plus seasons.

Am I missing a Cubs trade that turned out better than that?

Al Capone's Vault

25 years ago today the most hyped television program in WGN history aired: The opening of Al Capone's vault

Geraldo Rivera managed to make a two hour special out of that non-event, and at one time it was the highest rated program of it's kind in history.

The full story is here, including something that happened to the Cubs that day...something that couldn't happen to them today.

Steve Tyler says a bad word

He said the bad word on American Idol...

Happy birthday

Two of my former colleagues are celebrating birthdays today. I've interviewed both of them for Chicago Radio Spotlight over the years.

Vince Argento is 40 (!) today.

and

Bob Hale is a little older than that.

Happy birthday, fellas!

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

"WC" writes about my earlier post regarding the first Cubs game at Wrigley...

"Isn't it interesting that the Cubs played their first game in Wrigley Field on Hitler's birthday? I looked it up--he turned 27 that day. I believe he was fighting in World War 1."

Not sure what you're implying there, "WC" (a White Sox fan, by the way), but yes, you're right. It was Hitler's birthday. It's a little odd that you knew that, but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about (rolling eyes).

In case you're wondering, this is what he looked like at the time. He's the one sitting on the right. He hadn't yet ruined the mini-Chaplin mustache for eternity; he still had that more bushy look going. Also, for the record, I'm fairly certain he wasn't a Cubs fan.

Joy to the World

I never met a bullfrog. For that matter, I never even met someone named "Jeremiah." But I was one of the many millions of people in the world that knew the first line of this song in 1971. It was HUGE. Forty years ago on this day it was the #1 song in the country...

First Cubs game at Wrigley

On this day, April 20, 1916, exactly 95 years ago, the Cubs played their first game in what is now known as Wrigley Field.

It was still known as Weeghman Park at the time, named after their owner Charlie Weeghman, the man that built it. William Wrigley had just bought a minority share in the club, but the ballpark wouldn't bear his name for several more years.

The manager of the Cubs that day was the future Hall of Famer Joe Tinker (we have his 1911 baseball card at the link--that's Joe in the photo). The man on the mound, Claude Hendrix, was quietly banned from baseball in 1920 for allegedly betting against the Cubs. (He also started the first game in the ballpark's history in 1914)

It was almost as if the Cubs knew this was going to be an important day in their history. They staged a parade from Grant Park through the downtown streets before the game, and then, before the game started, they sent aerial bombs into the sky--each one shooting an American flag into the crowd, or beyond into the North Side neighborhood.

The Cubs won that first game after a dramatic comeback. They scored twice in the bottom of the eighth thanks to doubles by (future 1918 World Series goat) Max Flack, and (future criminal) Heinie Zimmerman. Cubs first baseman Vic Saier knocked in Cy Williams with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Here's one last piece of trivia from that day. The first ever National League homer hit in that ballpark was slugged by Reds outfielder Johnny Beall. It was the only one he hit that year, one of only three in his career, and the last one he ever hit.

First Televised Cubs Game

The TV era at Wrigley Field is becoming a senior citizen today. The first televised Cubs game was exactly 65 years ago, April 20,1946. They raised the 1945 pennant flag that day.

Bob Buhl

This week's Tale from a Bad Century is about a Cubs pitcher that set a record in 1962. It's not a good one, but it is amazing.

He went 88 consecutive at-bats without a hit, including the entire season of 1962.

Attack of the Flying FIsh

This is awesome. Watch the fish jumping on the Wabash River in Indiana...

Royal Wedding Rehearsal

This is a real good job with very convincing lookalikes done by T-Mobile...

Marse Joe

This week's Great Nickname at Just One Bad Century is "Marse Joe." He was a very successful manager with the Cubs; he won 7 World Series titles...after the Cubs fired him, of course.

Four Pack Rack

Mark Roskuszka is a friend of mine that has come up with an invention. It's called "The 4 Pack Rack." He sent me an e-mail yesterday explaining how he was inspired to come up with this idea, and how people can get it...

"After many years of coaching and attending little league games, I have invented the 4 Pack Rack. This water bottle rack holds four water bottles per rack and easily attaches to any chain link fence. The racks are stackable and portable so they can be used at all the teams’ practices and games. I have about 300 blue racks in stock and have a second production run for black, red and green racks in process and due for completion later this season. I believe this product will be useful for all ages and benefit baseball/softball travel, highs school and park district teams. Please send me an email sales@OrganizeYourThirst.com or visit my website www.OrganizeYourThirst.com"

Diana!

If you turned on ABC-TV exactly 40 years ago tonight, this is what you would have seen...

The JOBC Contest

In honor of today's snow in Chicago, this week's Just One Bad Century quiz is about a different kind of snow. What former Chicago Cub was busted for possession of snow (cocaine) on May 23, 1980 during a customs search in Toronto? (He was found possessing 3.0 grams cocaine, 2.2 grams hashish, and 1.75 grams marijuana.)

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard, plus a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Bernie Cobb of Naperville knew that Ferguson Jenkins was the former Cub busted for cocaine, and was the first person to e-mail me at rick@justonebadcentury.com. Bernie wins the Maddux scorecard and JOBC t-shirt. We'll have another contest next Monday.

Say it ain't so, Snow

It was a nice day yesterday, so people were working outside doing yardwork all day. Then last night, they took their yard bags to the end of the driveway to be picked up along with the garbage (it's garbage day in our neighborhood).

Those yard bags are now covered with snow.

Never a dull moment in Chicago.

Father Knows Nothing

My latest Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is about the single-minded obsession of my youngest son. It's called "Letters from Sean."

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend Just One Bad Century goes back in time to the last year the Cubs won the World Series and the last year they won the pennant.

This week in 1908, the Cubs play their home opener at West Side Grounds--their first game as defending champs--and Edward R. Murrow is born.


This week in 1945, President Roosevelt dies, and the Cub play opening day at Wrigley Field in his honor