USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ THE CANTEEN SALUTES THE CHICAGO CUBS ~ APRIL 24 2003

FRiends Of The Canteen | Kathy In Alaska (Ma), MoJo2001 (The Kid)

[MoJo2001]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

---

WELCOME TO THE CANTEEN SPORTS CORNER

THE CANTEEN PROUDLY SALUTES THE CHICAGO CUBS!

(Click On All Graphics)

CHICAGO CUBS HISTORY TIMELINE

1800s

In 1876, the Chicago White Stockings become one of eight charter members of the National League led by their president William A. Hulbert, who was also the owner of the Chicago club. A.G. Spalding is the manager when the team plays its first game in the history of the Chicago National League Ball Club that takes place on April 25.

1900s What a decade for Cubs baseball, which is exactly what it was. In 1902, noting the youth movement lead by new manger Frank Selee, a local newspaper penned the nickname Cubs for the first time. The moniker prevailed over time and was officially adopted by the club in 1907. It is currently one of the longest running-and most beloved-alias' in all of sports.

1910s

The team began this decade much like they concluded the previous one-by winning. The Cubs win their fourth National League pennant in five seasons. Despite wining 104 games and capturing the flag by 13 games, they lose the 1910 World Series to the Philadelphia A's, four games to one.

1920s In 1920, Weeghman Park becomes known as Cubs Park, after chewing gum magnet William Wrigley buys out the remainder of Charles Weeghman's share of the club. The park would undergo yet another name change in 1926 when it becomes Wrigley Field.

1930s In 1930, outfielder Hack Wilson puts together one of the greatest hitting seasons in baseball history, pounding 56 homers and driving in 191 runs-a mark has never been bettered in Major League Baseball. On June 27, the largest crowd ever to see a game at Wrigley Field — 51,556 — is on hand as the Cubs play the Brooklyn Dodgers. But paid attendance is only 19,748, due to the Ladies Day promotion.

1940s

Instead of becoming one of the first teams to install lights, the Cubs went on to become one of the last when, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, P.K. Wrigley donates the lighting equipment that he had recently purchased to the War Department in 1941.

1950s With the country in the middle of the Cold War, the Cubs as a team are in the middle of a frigid decade. After experiencing success for the majority of their existence, the Cubs finish the 50s without a postseason appearance, the first decade of a drought that would last until 1984.

1960s Sport imitated life in the 60s. A period mostly remembered for rebelling against the norm and untimely deaths of promising young leaders could describe the nation's or the organization's history during this time. In 1960 owner P.K. Wrigley experimented with manager position, implementing a "College of Coaches."

1970s During the 1970s, the Cubs saw many of their greats ride off into the sunset. Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks retires from the game in 1971 with 512 home runs. Three years later he and his familiar greeting of, "Let's play two!" are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Billy Williams, who in 1971 becomes the first player in NL history to play in 1,000 consecutive games, is traded to Oakland on October 23, 1974.

1980s Ch-ch-changes are in store for the Cubs in the 1980s in regards to ownership, postseason play and the park. In 1981 the Wrigley family ends their 65-year ownership of the team when William Wrigley sells the team to the Tribune Company for $20.5 million. In 1982 Fergie Jenkins -having been picked up as a free agent the previous November-becomes the seventh player in baseball history to hurl a record 3,000 strikeouts. That season Ernie Banks becomes the first Cub to have his number retire. The fabled No. 14 now flies from the left-field foul pole at Wrigley Field while Billy Williams' No. 26-retired in 1987-flies from the right-field pole.

1990s Home runs, strikeouts and the passing of two legendary voices of the Cubs are the items of note from this decade. In 1990, Ryne Sandberg leads the NL with 40 home runs, the third-highest total ever for a second baseman. Sandberg also established a major-league record by playing errorless ball for 123 straight games. Cub pitcher Greg Maddux wins the NL Cy Young award in 1992, after posting a 20-and-11 record. The next season, Randy Myers sets an NL record with 53 saves. Setting the stage for greater things to come, in 1993 Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in Cubs history to post a "30/30" season, finishing the year with 33 homers and 36 steals.

2000s However one looks at it-whether 2000 begins the new millennium or ends the old one-the Cubs began it with a rather ominous result. While Sammy Sosa continues his swatting ways en-route to becoming just the third player in major-league history to reach the 50-homer mark in three straight seasons, the team struggles, winding up with a 65-97 record.

The Chicago Cub's Wrigley Field

DID YOU KNOW??

Wrigley Field, which was built in 1914, is playing host to Major League Baseball for the 90th season in 2003.

The Friendly Confines is the second-oldest ballpark in the majors behind Boston's Fenway Park (1912).

Wrigley Field has been the site of such historic moments as:

• Babe Ruth's "called shot," when Ruth allegedly pointed to a bleacher location during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series ... Ruth then hit Charlie Root's next pitch for a homer.

• Gabby Hartnett's famous "Homer in the Gloamin' " September 28, 1938, vs. Pittsburgh's Mace Brown.

• the great May 2, 1917, pitching duel between Jim "Hippo" Vaughn and the Reds' Fred Toney ... both Vaughn and Toney threw no-hitters for 9.0 innings before Cincinnati's Jim Thorpe (of Olympic fame) drove in the only run in the 10th inning ... Toney finished with a no-hitter.

• Ernie Banks' 500th career home run May 12, 1970, vs. Atlanta's Pat Jarvis.

• Pete Rose's 4,191st career hit, which tied him with Ty Cobb for the most hits in baseball history ... Rose singled off Reggie Patterson September 8, 1985.

Originally known as Weeghman Park, Wrigley Field was built on the grounds once occupied by a seminary.

• Weeghman Park was the home of Chicago's entry in the Federal League and was the property of Charles H. Weeghman ... the club was known as both the Federals and the Whales.

• the cost of building Weeghman Park, which had a seating capacity of 14,000, was estimated at $250,000 ... the infield and outfield consisted of more than 4,000 yards of soil and four acres of bluegrass.

• the first major league game at the ballpark took place April 23, 1914, with the Federals defeating Kansas City 9-1 ... the first homer in ballpark history was hit by Federals catcher Art Wilson - a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning off Kansas City's Chief Johnson.

• when the Federal League folded for financial reasons after the 1915 campaign, Weeghman purchased the Cubs from the Taft family of Cincinnati and moved the club to the two-year-old ballpark at the corner of Clark and Addison streets.

• the first National League game at the ballpark was played April 20, 1916, when the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings ... a bear cub was in attendance at the game.

• the park became known as Cubs Park in 1920 after the Wrigley family purchased the team from Weeghman ... it was named Wrigley Field in 1926 in honor of William Wrigley Jr., the club's owner.

The Wrigley Field bleachers and scoreboard were constructed in 1937 when the outfield area was renovated to provide improved and expanded seating ... the original scoreboard remains intact.

• the score-by-innings and the pitchers' numbers are changed by hand ... the numbers signaling batter, ball, strike and out, along with "H" and "E" to signify hit and error, are eyelets.

• no batted ball has ever hit the centerfield scoreboard ... two baseballs barely missed - a homer hit onto Sheffield Avenue (right-center) by Bill Nicholson in 1948, and one hit by Roberto Clemente onto Waveland Avenue (left-center) in 1959.

• one of the traditions of Wrigley Field is the flying of a flag bearing a "W" or an "L" atop the scoreboard after a game ... a white flag with a blue "W" indicates a victory; a blue flag with a white "L" denotes a loss.

The original vines were purchased and planted by Bill Veeck in September 1937 ... Veeck strung bittersweet from the top of the wall to the bottom, then planted the ivy at the base of the wall.

• the bleacher wall is 11.5 feet high ... the basket attached to the wall was constructed in 1970.

• Ernie Banks' uniform number (14) is imprinted on the flag which flies from the leftfield foul pole ... Billy Williams' No. 26 flies from the rightfield foul pole.

Wrigley Field added lights in 1988.

• the first night game took place August 8 against Philadelphia, but was rained out after 31/2 innings.

• the first official night game occurred August 9 vs. New York, when the Cubs defeated the Mets 6-4.

Wrigley Field has also been the site of numerous construction projects since Tribune Company purchased the Cubs in 1981.

• new office space was created and old offices refurbished in the administrative area behind home plate in 1981-1982, while the ticket office was built directly behind home plate in 1983.

• during the winter of 1984, a new home clubhouse was completed under the third base stands ... the visitors' clubhouse was renovated in 1990.

• in 1989, private boxes were constructed on the mezzanine level, formerly occupied by the press box and broadcasting booths ... a press box and broadcasting booths were constructed in the upper deck directly behind home plate ... other improvements included a food court in the upper deck.

• following renovations in 1994 and 1995, there are now 63 private boxes.

• an elevator was added to the third base concourse in 1996.

CHICAGO CUBS CORNER

Current Standings
The National League Central Standings

CENTRAL	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	EAST	CENT	WEST	AL	L10	STRK
Chicago	13	7	.650	-	8-3	5-4	4-2	8-5	1-0	0-0	8-2	W1
Houston	10	9	.526	2.5	5-4	5-5	1-0	6-6	3-3	0-0	3-7	W1
Pittsburgh	10	9	.526	2.5	4-6	6-3	3-3	6-6	1-0	0-0	4-6	W2
St. Louis	9	9	.500	3.0	4-4	5-5	0-1	7-4	2-4	0-0	5-5	L3
Milwaukee	8	12	.400	5.0	4-6	4-6	0-1	6-7	2-4	0-0	5-5	L1
Cincinnati	6	14	.300	7.0	3-7	3-7	2-4	4-9	0-1	0-0	2-8	L1

A LEGEND

(Click To Hear "Take Me Out To The BallGame")

(Harry Christopher Carabina)
Age: 83

legendary radio/TV broadcaster best remembered for his oversized, black-rimmed glasses and outgoing personality that earned him the title "Mayor of Rush Street" – a nightclub district in Chicago; spent 53 years broadcasting baseball games for St. Louis, Oakland, and most memorably the Chicago White Sox and Cubs; during his 27 years in Chicago (11 with the Sox, 16 with the Cubs) Caray made the seventh-inning stretch almost as interesting as the game, crooning "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in his own off-key strain with the rest of the fans; a stroke in 1987 caused him to miss his first game and he sat out the first six weeks of the season; in 1989 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; his son Skip broadcasts Braves games and grandson Chip is a studio host for Fox Sports; of cardiac arrest

Died: Rancho Mirage, Calif., Feb. 18, 1998.

(Click To Hear Some Of Harry Caray's famous soundbites)

Please post any and all Chicago Cubs players, stats, graphics that you may have!
Sit back, relax, and take in a Cubbies Virtual Tour!

[tomkow6]

[tomkow6]

A professor was giving a lecture on company slogans in a
college advertising and marketing class.

"Joe," he asked, "which company has the slogan, 'Come fly
the friendly skies'?"

"United." Joe answered.

"Brenda, can you tell me which company has the slogan,
"Don't leave home without it?"

Brenda answered the correct credit card company with no
difficulty.

"Now John, Tell me which company uses the slogan, 'Just
do it'?"

And John answered, "Mom."

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The 69 Cubs broke my heart. I haven't been the same ever since ;-).

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are,God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

.

Bless This House

Bless this house O Lord we pray;
Make it safe by night and day;
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove
ever open to joy and love.


Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there,
with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within,
keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we
May dwell O Lord with thee.

[tomkow6]

A wicked Chicago man died and went to the place all wicked people go. The Devil decided to shove him in a room and cranked the heat and humidity up.

The man smiled. When the Evil One asked why the man was smiling he said: "Just like Chicago in Spring"

So the Most Evil One cranked up the heat and humidity more. The man removed his coat, smiled, and said:

"Just like Chicago in Summer"

This time the Destroyer of Beauty cranked the heat and humidity to maximum.

The man removed his shirt and tie and said

"Just like Chicago in August"

The Devil then got an idea. He shut off the heat and turned on the air conditioning. The room froze in seconds. Ice was everywhere. Polar bears hid in dens because it was so cold. Satan, confident he had finally won, peaked in the man's room only to find the man cheering and partying frantically....

"The Cubs won the World Series...The Cubs won the World Series..."

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning Troops, families, veterans, Canadian, Israeli, Great Britain, Australian, Poland, New Zealand, and Taiwanese allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 6:09am
Sunset 9:46pm

Hi 56F
Lo 36F

Mostly sunny; mild

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 55F
Lo 34F

State Hi 68F Skagway
State Lo -0-F Anaktuvuk Pass

[Chi-townChief]

As Harry Caray once said:

"Anyone can have a bad century."

HO-LY COW!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Kiddo! It's the Cubbies Day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Tom! Good morning, Patriotic Pattie!

[MoJo2001]

"Anyone can have a bad century."

What a great day for the game of baseball if the Cubs and BoSox made it to the World Series.

[tomkow6]

Twenty major events that have occurred since the Chicago Cubs last laid claim to a World Series championship:

1. Radio was invented; Cubs fans got to hear their team lose.

2. TV was invented; Cubs fans got to see their team lose.

3. Baseball added 14 teams; Cubs fans get to see and hear their team lose to more clubs.

4. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays.

5. Haley's comet passed Earth twice.

6. Harry Caray was born....and died. Incredible, but true.

7. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and Chicago teams won championships in each league.

8. Man landed on the moon, as have several home runs given up by Cubs pitchers.

9. Sixteen U.S. presidents were elected.

10. There were 11 amendments added to the Constitution.

11. Prohibition was created and repealed.

12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, was discovered and became the subject of major motion pictures, the latest giving Cubs fans hope that something that finishes on the bottom can come out on top.

13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the National League.

14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the team's future World Series pennants. Those flag poles have since rusted and been taken down.

15. A combination of 40 Summer and Winter Olympics have been held.

16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown; several thanked Cubs pitchers.

17. Bell-bottoms came in style, went out of style and came back in.

18. The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins have all won the World Series.

19. The Cubs played 14,153 regular-season games; they lost the majority of them.

20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma and New Mexico were added to the Union.

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Ma! *HUGS* Thank you! You have a wonderful day too!! Oh!! You've got homework!! LOL!

[MoJo2001]

Well, I didn't wanna point anything like that out. WE ARE SALUTING THE CUBS not trying to make them feel bad. LOL!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"The Devil then got an idea. He shut off the heat and turned on the air conditioning. The room froze in seconds."

ROFLMAO!!!!!

[MoJo2001]

Speaking of clean socks, are you gonna get around to telling that to BURKA MAN?? No one wants to dance with stinky Burka's. LOL!

[tomkow6]

I DON'T LIKE THE SOX!

[tomkow6]

A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Sox fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they were Sox fans too. Not really knowing what a Sox fan was but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks.

There is, however, one exception. One girl has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Sox fan."

Then, asks the teacher, what are you?

"Why I'm proud to be a Chicago Cubs fan," boasts the little girl.

The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks the girl why she is a Cubs fan.

"Well, My Dad and Mom are Cubs fans, and I'm a Cubs fan too."

The teacher is now angry. "That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your Mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?"

A pause, and a smile. "Then," says the girl, "I'd be a Sox fan."

[beachn4fun]

OMG.....ROTHFLMAO........