Monday, December 10, 2012
In a new e-book that will captivate Cubs fans, a Morton Grove sportswriter riffs on 10 key decisions in Cubs history, and how they could have turned out differently. Read this excerpt, which has Ray Kroc buying the team in 1973 and making it a winner.
Patch contributor George Castle, a 23-year Morton Grove resident, just authored his 11th sports book, which presents 10 “what if’s” in Cubs history. Alou Makes the Catch: An Alternative History of the Chicago Cubs plays off real persons and events to show how the star-crossed team’s championship drought might have been broken on several occasions since 1908. In this excerpt, Castle sketches what might have happened had McDonalds founder Ray Kroc—who in the real timeline tried but failed to buy the Cubs in the early 1970s—actually succeeded in the off-season of 1973-74 as a disconsolate Philip K. Wrigley opted to finally sell. EXCERPT FROM GEORGE CASTLE'S ALOU MAKES THE CATCH As the postseason-1973 housecleaning of veterans proceeded, the …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
In this multi part series, we look at a day in the life of baseball player George Kontos, a local kid from Lincolnwood who is now playing for the San Francisco Giants. Kontos played the Cubs over the weekend.
George Kontos played in the parks of Lincolnwood and Skokie growing up. He was a three-star athlete at Niles West High School and went on to play baseball for three years at Northwestern University in Evanston. Kontos made the major leagues when the New York Yankees drafted him. Now a member of the San Francisco Giants, Kontos achieved another career highlight when he played his first game at Wrigley Field on Friday. Patch was along for the ride as Kontos achieved the fantasy that so many Chicago area young men have. Pregame The Giants arrived in Chicago around 3 a.m. They played a game in Houston the night before, and flew over the remnants of Hurricane Isaac to take on the Cubs less than 24 hours later. Most of the team did not arrive …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Patch user Gary Zambo was one of two participants to guess that Milwaukee and Chicago would combine for 32 runs, three fewer than the actual total of 35.
It shouldn’t be surprising that most entrants in Patch’s Pro Baseball Pick ‘Em Contest did not give the batters enough credit in making their selections. Milwaukee outscored Chicago 18-17 in the three-game series over the weekend, and few participants counted on 35 total runs from the teams battling for last place in the division. Two people made a selection of 32 total runs to come closest to the exact number, and in a random drawing, Gary Zambo was chosen to win the $100 gift card good for pro baseball apparel. Thanks to everyone who participated. Enjoy the rest of the baseball season!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Enter your prediction in the Comments section, and don't be afraid to back it up!
Milwaukee’s professional baseball team changed leagues in 1998, creating an immediate rivalry with Chicago’s “northsiders” and their passionate yet frustrated fan base. Each year Chicago fans pour into Milwaukee’s stadium for games between the teams, while Milwaukee fans despise the "flatlanders" but also covet a trip to that ivy-covered ballpark on Addison Street. Patch is giving baseball fans in both regions the opportunity to turn that passion into a prize with our Pro Baseball Pick ‘Em Contest, in advance of the teams’ three-game series in Milwaukee May 11-13. The winner receives a $100 gift card for pro baseball apparel. Here’s how to play: You many enter only once, but are welcome to explain your guess and engage in spirited but …
Joshua Orlan
1:29 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Great article about a great local kid but about that last paragraph. I think it is unfair to blame Steve Bartman for the Cubs loss. He was an excited fan in the stands. One team won, the other lost, don't blame somebody who may have been over-excited. It wasn't his fault. more ›