Chauncey and Chumley's Dad

My brother, along with his wife and son, at the "Cubs Pub" in London. You can see them early in the video at the foot of the media stage followed by a shot of my brother taking a sip from his pint of Guinness. The Chicago Cubs, along with their nation of fans, are in London this weekend for a two game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

On this date, September 14, in 2008, Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hotter against the Houston Astros. My super Cubs fan buddy Steve and his son Joe were there to see the game. Steve was still amped up after returning home from the game, so he documented the experience to share with family and friends. If you are into numerology, it is pertinent to note that the no hitter was 14 years ago on September 14 when Joe was 14-years old and it was Zambrano’s 14th win of the season. It also created a great trivia question that you can pull out with your baseball fan friends; Cubs vs Astros, played in what Major League stadium? Here is Steve’s story:

September 14, 2008 - Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Cubs 5, Astros 0

My son, Joe, and I went to the Cubs game last night and we witnessed a no-hitter by Carlos Zambrano.  Since this was the single greatest Cubs moment in our lives (so far), Joe and I wanted to document the events and share them with all Cubs fans we know. To put things into perspective, the last Cubs no-hitter was in 1972 (36 years ago).  There are 4,860 baseball games each year and typically only 1-2 no-hitters per year. In the history of baseball (132 years), there have only been 256 no-hitters before tonight.  The Cubs had only 16 no-hitters before tonight, and they have existed for all 132 years.  By any way you look at it, this was a special night that very few fans have the privilege to watch in person. Here are the events as they unfolded:

The game was originally scheduled in Houston, but was rescheduled to Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin because of Hurricane Ike. Steve got tickets at the last minute (what a surprise).  Steve decided to go with the expensive tickets and got 9th row seats right at first base. These tickets are nearly impossible to get at Wrigley Field.

Just before leaving, Steve was rushing to put chemicals in the pool and spilled bleach on his Cubs shirt. He did not realize it until he was on the road.  Steve looked like a loser all game and he was very embarrassed. Not a good start.

Steve and Joe got there 1 hour early (this could be a first) and watched batting practice. Joe clocked 56 mph on the pitching machine.

In the first inning, Ryan Theriot of the Cubs hit a foul ball and Joe was amazingly close to getting it.  The ball hit Joe in the hands on a fly. It bounced out and a 50-year-old guy wrestled it away from Joe.  He wasn't even with any kids or anything and just put the ball in his pocket. Steve was eating a soft pretzel at the time.

Joe was dying for honey-roasted cashews that he had 2 years ago at a trip to Miller Park. They found them and Joe was very happy. Steve had 2 brats.

There was a Sox fan sitting in front of Steve and Joe with a Joe Crede jersey on and he was rooting for the Astros.  He only got to cheer when the Astros ran onto the field. Steve doesn't look like the biggest loser anymore.

Steve and Joe started to talk about the no hitter in the fourth inning as Carlos was looking really sharp. He was throwing 98/99 mph in the first inning. In the eighth inning, Steve told Joe that if Carlos can get past Lance Berkman, then he should have it. Carlos struck out Lance Berkman.

The crowd was entirely Cubs fans (except for the loser Sox fan). Instead of chanting the typical "Let's go Cubs", they started chanting "Let's go Z".

At the moment of the last out, Joe snapped a couple of pictures with his cell phone and the celebration began. Carlos got interviewed right in front of Steve and Joe.

Joe has been teased for years by his brothers (Matthew and Michael) as a Cubs jinx.  Joe will frequently go to 5-6 games per year and the Cubs will lose 4-5 of them. Joe has permanently broken the jinx now.

Steve and Joe called Matthew at LSSU and Michael at IU so they could "feel the moment". On the way out, Steve and Joe ran into a guy that was interviewed on an HBO documentary called "Wait 'til Next Year".  The documentary was about the Cubs and their 100-year futility. Joe and Steve had just watched this show 2 days earlier.  Steve stopped the guy and said, "Are you the guy.".

Steve and Joe shook his hand and told him he was a celebrity now because they picked him out of a crowd. What a thrill!!

Steve and Joe shared a moment that will live forever. When Steve is old and just before his last breath he can say "Joe, remember that no-hitter we went to".

Steve and Joe celebrated with a Fresco Melt at Steak and Shake on the way home. They documented all the memorable events and made plans to frame the ticket as they ate. They got home at 1:00 a.m. and Sandy was not even mad (until she realized it was 1:00 a.m.).  Do you think this email will cover us for an excused absence tomorrow at school?

Well, it is past 2:00 am now and I better go. I am sure I will not get much sleep tonight (and those honey-roasted cashews are not sitting real well with me right now). The only thing that could top this night is if the Cubs win the World Series, but I do not think Joe and I could ever get tickets to that.

Thanks for letting me share this with you

Steve

An important note: As it turns out, the Zambrano no hitter was not the greatest Cubs game in the Steve’s life. It fell to second place when he and his son Matthew were present at Progressive Field in Cleveland in 2016 to see the Cubs win the 7th game of the World Series, the team’s first World Series win in 108 years.

The state of the Cubs today: I go to a game with the temperature in the 50′s and a relentless 20 mph wind off the lake, see them get destroyed by the Dodgers, and I get a David Ross bobblehead that is a leftover from 2020. It’s going to be a long season.

Da North Side

I love the way John Cusack runs circles around this guy’s failed logic. Cusack grew up in Chicago and even made a movie about the Whites Sox. Clearly, “Barstool Dave” did not know what he was up against. John Cusack epitomizes myself and most Chicagoans that I know; he is a fan of all Chicago sports including the White Sox and the Cubs. The Sox/Cubs fan rivalry is true to an extent, but the press and social media make it out to be bigger than it really is, and biased fans like “BS Dave” tend to be much more vocal about their make- believe rules of fandom.

BS Dave said that John Cusack is now #1 on his “banned list.” Well BS Dave, you are now #1 on my douchebag list.

It is sad to hear of the passing of Charles Grodin. I mostly remember him for his appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and his films. I have only seen a few of his films, but my favorite is Taking Care of Business (1990) with Jim Belushi. In the film, Belushi plays a prisoner doing time for auto theft. When his beloved Chicago Cubs make it to the World Series, Belushi’s character breaks out of prison so that he can go to a Cubs World Series game. Grodin plays a workaholic business man. Grodin loses his Filofax which Belushi finds. Belushi uses the credit cards and other personally identifying information to assume Grodin’s life while Grodin is left to fend for himself as his life unravels over the next few days. It is a silly comedy, but the chemistry between the two works well. For me it is one of those films that always makes me feel good. If I find myself spending the day on the couch nursing a cold, this is a movie that will help me feel better and get through the day. Of course, being a Chicago baseball fan is a big attraction too. When the film came out in 1990, I had been waiting my entire life for the Cubs to make it to the World Series. (It would be another 26 years of waiting before that finally happened in 2016.) Cubs first basemen Mark Grace had a cameo in the film.

There was an excellent TV spot to promote the film. Belushi is at a Cubs game in Wrigley Field. Mark Grace is up to bat. Belushi leaves the stand and runs on the field. He grabs a bat and runs after Mark Grace. Grace bolts and Belushi chases him all the way outside of the ballpark where he catches up with Grace and tackles him. With references to 1989 and 1984 when the Cubs made the post season but did not advance to the World Series, Belushi threatens Grace with the bat. The ensuing verbal exchange goes something like this:

Belushi: “Apologize!’

Grace: “For what?”

Belushi: “For 1989!”

Grace: “OK, I apologize.”

Belushi: “Apologize again!”

Grace: “For what?”

Belushi: “For 1984!”

Grace: “ I wasn’t on that team!”

Belushi: “Apologize anyway!”

Grace: “OK, I apologize!”

Belushi: “What are you going to do to make up for it?”

Grace: “I’m going to hit a home run in your new movie!”

I searched the internet but had no luck finding the video of that promo. Anyway, Taking Care of Business is just a fun film and for me, a good memory of the late Charles Grodin.

Well, our post-season Chicago baseball euphoria was short-lived. As we like to say in Chicago, “Wait’ll next year!” Here’s hoping for pennants for both the White Sox and Cubs in 2021 along with a full season schedule and ballparks filled with happy baseball fans.

Chicago Major League Baseball 2020

This shortened Major League Baseball season has been a lot of fun for Chicago fans. During the regular season, there were only two no-hitters, one each from the White Sox - Lucas Giolito, and the Cubs - Alec Mills. It is the first time in the history of MLB that the Sox and Cubs have had a no hitter in the same season. (In MLB history, Sox are second all-time with 19 no hitters and the Cubs are tied for fifth with 16.)

It is also just the third time both teams are in the post-season at the same time. The last time was 2008 when the Sox lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Divisional Series and the Cubs lost to the LA Dodgers in the NL Divisional Series. Prior to that, you have to go all the way back to 1906 for Chicago’s one and only subway World Series. The Cubs had a 116 wins and 36 losses that season, an MLB record .763 that still stands today. The light hitting White Sox had a record of 93-58. The Cubs were expected to dominate in the World Series, but the Sox turned the tables on them, winning the series 4 games to 2 and outscoring the Cubs 22-18.

Here’s hoping White Sox and Cubs meet again in the 2020 World Series!

It was a banner day for sports in Chicago. The Bears won their season opener in a 4th quarter come-from-behind victory over the Detroit Lions 27-23, Alec Mills throws a no-hitter for the first place Cubs as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 12-0, and the first place White Sox completed their sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 5-2 win.

Not joining the parade of wins and accolades, my golf game was nothing to boast about, but it sure was a pleasure to walk 18 holes on a gorgeous late-summer day.

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Tom Seaver. He was one of the all-time great pitchers and human beings in Major League Baseball. He was truly a pitcher as opposed to a thrower. He used his legs to generate power in his delivery. That also helped him preserve his arm and continue as a starting pitcher into his early 40’s. He was a student of the game and he was always focused when he was on the mound. He led by example and I do not think anyone ever had a bad thing to say about him.  

My first exposure to Tom Seaver was May 4, 1969. My buddy Chris and I went to a Sunday double header at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had a great team that year and appeared destined to go to the World Series. On the other hand, their opponents, the New York Mets, were the perennial bottom feeders of the National League. Surely, we would see the Cubs sweep the two-game set! The Mets, however, turned the tables on the Cubs and won both games by identical 3-2 scores. Tom Seaver was the starting pitcher in Game 1 and went the distance for the win. Tug McGraw matched Seaver’s performance in Game 2. I remember being stunned. How could the mighty Cubs drop two games to the lowly Mets? It was a portend of things to come. After holding onto first place most of the season, the Cubs would infamously collapse in September and the Mets would go on to win 100 games and the World Series. Tom Seaver posted an incredible 25-7 record with a 2.21 ERA.

Seaver’s career with the Mets was from 1967-1977. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the ’77 season. He pitched his only no-hitter in a Reds uniform. He stayed with the Reds until the end of the 1982 season when he was traded back to the Mets. Having posted 9 wins for the Mets that year and just 5 wins for the Reds the previous season, it seemed that his star was fading. At age 39, the Mets left him off their protected list, assuming nobody would want an old pitcher with a high salary. However, the Chicago White Sox claimed Seaver in a free-agent compensation draft. Seaver, no doubt, wanted to finish his career with the Mets. My recollection is that he was fit to be tied over the fact that the Mets left him unprotected and he threatened to retire. Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf convinced him otherwise and he joined the team. (Coincidentally, the pitcher he replaced in the Sox starting rotation was his old ’69 Mets teammate, Jerry Koosman. Seaver and Koosman were the one-two punch in the Mets starting rotation and led the team to their ’69 championship.) Seaver would go on to have a couple of fine seasons with the White Sox; 15-11, 3.95 ERA in ’84 (age 39) and 16-11, 3.17 ERA in ’85 (age 40). Remarkable! By today’s standards, he could have been the ace on just about any starting rotation in MLB. During the 1986 season, the White Sox traded him to the Boston Red Sox and he retired at the end of that season. It was wonderful being able to see Seaver pitch for the White Sox. I went to a lot of White Sox games in the 80’s and got to see him on several occasions. He won his 300th career game in a White Sox uniform, and finished his Hall of Fame career with 311-206, 2.86 ERA. He was clearly one of the greatest pitchers to play the game and I am glad I was around to follow his career.

It is great to have sports back and it was a banner weekend for Chicago’s pro teams. The White Sox swept Kansas City (3-2, 11-5, 9-2), the Cubs swept Pittsburgh (6-3, 4-3, 2-1) and the Blackhawks won their opening game against Edmonton (6-4).

PLAY BALL! We finally have a 2020 baseball season albeit late July. I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a couple of good Chicago baseball teams in the White Sox and Cubs. The pandemic cancelled our annual baseball trip this year, which was to be St. Louis, a trip that would have included a Rolling Stones concert. However, it occurred to me that I never posted any photos from our 2019 trip to PNC Park in Pittsburgh. We attended two games; Pirates vs Cubs at a late afternoon game on July 4th (Cubs won 11-3) and Pirates vs Brewers at a night game on July 5 (Brewers won 7-6 in 10 innings.) We are missing going to ballparks, but under the circumstances, it is awesome to have baseball back again!