The JOBC Contest

We'll be hearing a lot about the 1918 World Series this week because the Cubs will travel to Fenway for the first time since 1918. That 1918 Cubs team featured a first baseman that was one of the best known players in the league at the time...and not for a good reason.

What was 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: Congratulations to Bill Whitburn, the first person to e-mail me the correct answer. He knew that Fred Merkle, the notorious Boner or Bonehead, was the first baseman on that 1918 World Series Cubs team. (Read all about Boner's story here.)

Jim Hendry fired?

Did you hear that Cubs GM Jim Hendry was fired? He wasn't, but Colin Cowherd of ESPN Radio reported it before correcting himself.

Here's how that whole event transpired.

The 1918 World Series

With the upcoming Cubs-Red Sox series this weekend, be prepared to be hearing an awful lot about the 1918 World Series, and the possibility it was fixed.

The New York Times did a story about it this past weekend, and I suspect their version will be the best one out there. They don't have a horse in this race, so at the very least, it's unbiased.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column. This one is about my old neighborhood when I was a boy.

You can read it here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Tommy Edwards

This week's Chicago Radio Spotlight has been posted. I interviewed Tommy Edwards (of "Animal Stories" fame) and we talked about the glory days of WLS, his beginning in radio and what he is up to now.

You can read it here.

Coming this weekend

Sorry about this, but Blogger was shut down all day today (Friday) and for some reason deleted every post from yesterday (Thursday). There was some sort of a glitch, and they deleted posts across the country...not just mine. (Was it haunted because it's Friday the 13th? I'm not ruling it out).

Since I don't even remember what I posted yesterday, I'm just hoping it was nothing important. (I heard that! It is possible there was something important, you know. Maybe not likely, but possible.)

Instead of posting anything else today, I'm just going to let you know what is coming this weekend (Blogger willing).

Tomorrow I'll be posting my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. I had a chance to catch up with Chicago radio legend Tommy Edwards recently. I think you'll enjoy some of the stories he has to tell.

At Just One Bad Century, we'll go back in time to the last year the Cubs won the pennant and World Series--with This Week in 1908, and This Week in 1945.

And finally, on Sunday I'll be posting my latest Father Knows Nothing column. This week's is about my old neighborhood.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Chicago Headline Club

A few months ago my editor at Shore Magazine and NWI Parent, Pat Colander, sent me an e-mail saying that she had nominated me for the awards that the Chicago Headline Club hands out to Chicago journalists every year. She said I would be in the category called "affiliated blogs," which basically means blogs that are affiliated with Chicago-area newspapers. (My Father Knows Nothing blog is affiliated with the NWI Times.)

To be honest, I didn't think anything of it. I just thought it was nice that she thought highly enough of me to submit my work. I didn't think I would be taken seriously by an organization of journalists. I didn't even know that she was referring to the Peter Lisagor Awards, which are pretty prestigious in the journalism community.

So, since I do follow the media pretty closely, I read all about the Lisagor awards this week. I even noticed that Roger Ebert won one in the affiliated blogs category. But I had no idea that I was in that same category, because I didn't know that these were the awards I was nominated for.

It turns out that not only was I nominated, I was named a finalist to Roger Ebert. (I found that out reading Pat's Shore Magazine blog about the event.)

I even e-mailed Pat to make sure I wasn't seeing things, or misinterpreting them, but holy crap, no--it's actually true. She said she would have invited me to the event, but didn't realize I was a finalist until she got there.

Now I'll grant you finishing second place to Roger Ebert is kind of like finishing second to UCLA back in the 1960s--you never really had a chance anyway, so don't get all high and mighty Mr. second rate pipsqueak--but still, I have to admit...this is pretty cool.

Thank you Chicago Headline Club, and thanks to my boys for being entertaining enough to write a column about every week.

The hug heard round the world

Two days later people at Wrigley Field are still talking about the hug heard round the world--between Albert Pujols and Jim Hendry.

If you missed it, the story is here.

Can you picture Albert wearing a Cubs uniform and playing first base every day at Wrigley Field? This is the sort of thing that gives Cardinals fans nightmares.

As for me, I don't think it's going to happen, but I do enjoy Cardinals fans feeling a little of the perpetual anxiety that Cubs fans feel year in and year out. Call it Schadenfreude if you must, but there's nothing wrong with spreading it around a little.

Bob Marley

He died exactly 30 years ago today, but his music lives on...

A Typical Day in the Life of a Househusband

I just posted my weekly contribution to Kim Strickland's A City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week's is called "A Typical Day in the Life of a Househusband."

Every single word is 100% true, and not exaggerated or fabricated or pulled out of my keester in the slightest. (Cough)

Bulls vs. Cubs

What does this say about me? Last night the most exciting player in the NBA, our local hero MVP, led his team to a playoff victory at the United Center...and I was watching the Cubs-Cardinals game instead.

I think I may be sick.

By the way, the Cubs had 17 baserunners last night against Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter and scored a whopping 4 runs.

When is the next Bulls game? I think it's officially time to switch.

The SI Curse

A Yahoo! writer examines the SI Curse and worries that Starlin Castro is already falling victim to it. He also names several other high-profile jinx-victims that SI has strewn across the countryside.

I share his sense of foreboding, but as someone on my facebook page pointed out to me--the curse has also been broken many times. Most recently, Aaron Rodgers of the Packers did OK in that Super-thingee, and if memory serves a certain guy named Michael something or other was on the cover about fifty times.

How to BBQ an entire steer

Ryan Theriot

He's baaaaack. But this time he's wearing red. Ryan Theriot is the starting shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals this year and the Cardinals are in town for a three game series.

You may not remember this, but in the off-season, Ryan said some things that angered Cubs fans. He told a St. Louis radio station in December that he was now "finally on the right side" of the rivalry and questioned his former team's commitment to winning a long-awaited World Series title.

Carlos Zambrano, when told about this comment, labeled Ryan as "the enemy."

Should be a great pitching matchup at Wrigley today (Zambrano vs. Carpenter), but all eyes will be on Theriot when he steps in the box the first time against Carlos. I'm guessing there will be a playful brushback, followed by a total overreaction from Tony LaRussa.


LATE UPDATE: "RP" writes in to make me feel guilty..."No overreaction from Tony tonight. He will not manage the game, but has stayed in Arizona at the Mayo Clinic there to receive treatment on the shingles that has swollen his right eye shut." (Read the story here)

The JOBC Contest

On this day in 1908 future Cub Billy Jurges was born. He played in three World Series for the Cubs, but is best remembered for something that happened to him off the field on July 6, 1932. What was it?

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 of this week's contest! Kel Kissamis of Hampshire was first one to get through on my e-mail, and he's the big winner. He knew that Billy Jurges was shot by a stalker, and wins the prize this week. (Read all about that story here) We'll have another contest next week.

RIP John Walker

He died this weekend at the age of 67. He was the leader of the band "The Walker Brothers" and this song was probably their biggest hit here in America...

Vast Wasteland

Exactly 50 years ago today FCC Chairman Newton Minnow made his famous "Vast Wasteland" speech about television. Here he is talking about that speech...

Cubs love their moms

You may have noticed that some of the Cubs were using pink bats in the game yesterday against the Cincinnati Reds (as were the Reds). That was a tribute to their moms, and breast cancer research.

Fred Mitchell of the Tribune spoke to some of the Cubs players (and Reds manager Dusty Baker) about their moms. That's one sure-fire way to get big tough guys to get emotional.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at NWI Parent. This one is a tribute to this year's Mother's Day.

You can read it here.

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend JOBC goes back in time to the last year the Cubs won the pennant and the World Series.


This week in 1908, the Wright Brothers take the world's first flight with a passenger aboard and 3-finger Brown pitches a one-hitter for the Cubs.

This week in 1945, Chicago celebrates the end of the war in Europe (VE Day), and the Cubs join the celebration on the streets of Philadelphia. They are on their longest road trip of the year.

Coming this weekend

I've got a packed schedule this weekend as you might imagine, so I won't be posting a new Chicago Radio Spotlight interview this week. I have conducted one for next week however...and it was with a Chicago Radio legend. More info to come this week.

I will be posting a new Father Knows Nothing at NWI Parent on Mother's Day. It will chronicle what the boys have done for their mom this year. I can't tease it here, because she occasionally reads this blog.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, especially my own mom. She has requested a GPS device for her Mother's Day present this year. I'm going out to buy that today. (And yes, I can tease that here; she never ever reads this blog)

Paul Simon interview

Brian Williams interviewed Paul Simon about his newest album and his great career.

Highly enjoyable.

Here's Part 2 of the interview.

I'm going to buy his new album. Any idea where you can buy albums these days?

A new Cubs starter?

Is this man going to be starting a game for the Cubs soon? It looks like it's possible.

Speedy Gonzales

Happy politically incorrect Cinco de Mayo...

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

"KR" writes...

"When I saw you did a post about Katie Couric I was hoping to see her cheerleading photo again. Please tell me you were kidding yesterday when you said you weren't going to show it anymore."

Sorry "KR", but I was feeling a bit guilty/sexist, so I did make a deal with myself to stop showing it. I was demeaning her news credibility, so I'm not going to show it anymore. I did find a few other cheerleading pictures you might enjoy, however. The credibility of the following people wouldn't be damaged, so I post them without guilt.

This is Eva Longoria from her cheerleading days.

That's Madonna from her cheerleading days.

This cheerleader was elected President in 2000 and 2004.

Alan Sheppard

50 years ago today Alan Sheppard became the first American in space...

Bob Sirott's Theory

On Fox-32 last night, anchorman Bob Sirott offered his theory for the Cubs long drought. It was his closing commentary, "One More Thing."

Darwin Barney

With all this talk about Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro, their rookie second baseman Darwin Barney has flown under the radar.

How good has he been? He was just named Rookie of the Month for April.

He's got a good glove, good speed, is a fearless clutch hitter, and he never stops hustling. I think the Cubs have a keeper here.*


*Note to SI. Please don't put him on the cover. Castro has been slumping ever since you put him on the cover.

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.