Opening Day at Wrigley

Monday April 13, will mark the 73rd Opening Day baseball game at Wrigley Field as the Cubs will play host to the Colorado Rockies.

While I will not be able to be there, being as I live in Sarasota Florida . . . . I thought I would share a photo and recap of the very first Opening Day.

The Cubs won 4 -2 against the Cincinnati Reds. I find it interesting to see that the box score has the visiting team listed below the home team and that rbi's were not part of the box score, instead they highlighted the defensive moments of putouts and assists.
The article also says the Cubs "celebrated in grand fashion with a 4 - 2 thrashing" and that 33,000 were in attendance and the time of the game was 1:37. A fast paced game though the final score surely does not indicate a "thrashing".

The Cubs would end the season in fourth place with a 82-72 record, seven games behind the World Champion St Louis Cardinals.

I hope that Opening Day 2009 results are the same - with a Cubs win !

1970 Topps: card # 1

In the first official card post for my project of exposing the entire 1970 Topps basic set (all 720 cards I hope) is card numbered 1: World Champions.

I know, in a previous post I put this as one of my least favorite cards but that was strictly personal - it is the #1 card in this set so I must. Interesting to note that in 1970, 71 and 72 Topps decided to put the Team card of the World Series winner as the first card. (they also did this in 1967). I like that tradition rather than a random card placed first - though I dont like having the Mets as the World Champions for 1969 it is a nice honor to have for the team.

The back of the card is interesting as well, listing all the "all-time" Met leaders in several categories (their first year as a franchise was in 1962, just a mere 8 years of history). Tom Seaver litters the pitching record list, go figure. Also on the back gives a year by year record of the team since 1962; tenth, tenth, tenth, tenth, ninth, tenth, ninth and . . . . first.

One down . . . 719 to go . . .

101st post

This is my "official" 101st post since I started my new life as a blogger. I could have "celebrated" my 100th but as a former Chicagoan and always a Cubs fan . . . this is the 101st year since 1908 and . . . well the number "101" is something to celebrate (this year).

I want to first start off by saying THANK YOU to so many of you who have guided me, traded with me, commented on my blog, and continue to help me learn more about a hobby I left long ago. All of your blogs are prominently featured on the right in two places. I have certainly learned so much from all of you - my collection has grown (as my wife says I have reluctantly and finally entered the "modern" era). I still remember and relish the simpleness of the hobby when I was a kid (born in 1960) and am constantly amazed in awe of the hobby of today.

Blogging has taken on a new life for me . . . just a short three months ago my life was "normal". Now with new friends (bloggers), a re-newed passion (some newer cards) and a growing desire to learn more (looking at cards differently); the blogosphere is the first thing I check in the morning and the last ting I do at night (many times I check it during the day as well).

So this being my 101st post in "honor" of the Chicago Cubs. Looking back at some of my entries I see I have had some winners (good seasons like the Cubs of 1945, 1969, 1984) and some not so good (like the early sixties and late seventies). That is what happens over the course of a 101 span of anything.

Maybe the Cubs will repeat as:

Once again I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who read, share, trade, comment, teach, educate, guide, laugh, have fun with and enjoy this hobby and blogging as much as I have grown to after 101 posts.

Maybe this is the year we can escapes all curses and scream:

. . . for me it has been 101 posts . . . for the Cubs 101 years . . . with a bit o' luck the "Cubs will shine in 2009" . . . if not its "wait-til-next-year" . . .

I give a "Hoot"

. . . Burt Hooton that is.

A Rookie Star in 1972 (correctly predicted by Topps) actually made his major league debut in 1971 appearing in just 3 games, going 2 - 0 and striking out 22 in 21 1/3 innings. He started 1972 like a "rookie star" should, pitching a no-hitter in his first start of the year on April 16, 1972 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. While that would be his Cubs highlight, Hooton went on to a 34-44 record and an ERA that rose every year would eventually be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May of 1975.


Hooton would have a solid career with the Dodgers, including going 18-7 in 1975 and 19-10 in 1978; earning him a second place in the Cy Young balloting that year.
His signature pitch was that nasty knuckle curve and 1981 Hooton earned his hardware; an All-Star selection, the NLCS MVP and a World Championship ring. Nicknamed "happy" by Tommy Lasorda, Hooton also could hit the ball; four career homeruns to go along with 49 RBI's. Hooton finished his career as a Texas Ranger going 5 - 8 in 1985.

While Burt Hooton will be most remembered for his knuckle curve, his playoff wins and world series ring as a Dodger . . . for me I give him four "hoots" for pitching a no-hitter in only his fourth game in the majors. A "rookie star" he was . . . as a Cubbie.

They really know how to make me cry

. . . well, I did not actually cry but the MLB Network had a long (way too long in my opinion) segment on the 1969 Mets. The "Miracle Mets" as they have been called.

First they played almost flawless baseball and overtook the Chicago Cubs down the stretch in September, then go on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. And then to make their year complete, they faced the highly favored Baltimore Orioles and rose once again and beat them 4 games to 1 for their first World Championship.

The pitching staff that included Seaver, Koosman, and Ryan shut down all opponents when they needed to. Jones and Agee provided the defensive highlights and clutch hitting by Weis and Kranepool was all they needed.

These are three of my least favorite cards in my collection. No, I wont ever burn them or destroy them . . . they just make me think of the day when the Cubs will "celebrate" and become World Champions. I just dont like being reminded of the "collapse" and heartbreak from 1969.

I guess after forty years one should "get over it" and be able to watch highlights but . . . my boyhood memories are as strong as ever. Thanks MLB Network for reminding me . . . and almost making a grown man cry, almost.