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!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hungry bears go on rampage at Katmai Lodge, destroy 53 doors
Winter caretaker afraid to take on sleep-deprived bruins in the dark

By DAN JOLING
The Associated Press

(Published: April 24, 2003)

If there's a shortage of doors in Anchorage, blame the brown bears of Bristol Bay.

At least five marauding bears destroyed 53 doors this winter at Katmai Lodge, a luxury fishing resort on the Alagnak River. Lodge employees this week were buying up replacement doors as fast as they could find them in Alaska's largest city.

"We bought every one Lowe's had and every one at Home Depot," lodge owner Tony Sarp said. "We had to go clear to Willow to a door factory for the rest of them."

Sarp blames the rampage on Alaska's unusual weather. The bears probably were confused by temperatures that allowed flowers to bloom well after snow was supposed to be on the ground.

"There was no winter," he said. "They didn't know it was November and December. They thought it was still September, I'm sure."

Katmai Lodge can accommodate 60 guests, who pay $5,000 per week to catch salmon, grayling and rainbow trout.

The lodge has 22 buildings spread along a bluff overlooking the river. Guests have cabins with private bathrooms, a luxury considering that the place is 300 miles off the road system. Assisting customers are 60 lodge employees -- managers, cooks, housekeepers, store operators and, mostly, fishing guides.

The dining room is at one end of the camp. The bears' first target was a pantry filled with dry goods. The animals destroyed flour, salt, sugar, spices, cake mix and canned goods, the surplus from last season.

The bears continued their binge in the kitchen even though it had no food.

"They just literally ate the floor," Sarp said. "It must have had some grease on it, I guess."

The bears had success pushing in one door, Sarp figures, so they tried more. They moved from building to building, entering 18 in all.

They destroyed incinerators, deck railings, four windows and a popcorn machine. They tore apart four freezers. As for the lodge's smokehouse, "It's gone," Sarp said.

"Most of these buildings have a steel door on them," he said. "They went right through them."

He estimated total damage at $50,000.

A winter caretaker's cabin is at the other end of the line of buildings, perhaps 300 yards from the dining building. The caretaker identified the perpetrators: a sow with two older cubs, probably 21/2 years old, and a pair of boars.

The bears were smart -- they did their breaking and entering at night, and the caretaker wanted nothing to do with encountering multiple bears alone in the dark.

"He was scared to go out at night," Sarp said.

The Department of Fish and Game recommended killing one bear and said the rest would then leave, Sarp said.

"We elected not to do that," he said. "I just don't want to go around killing bears."

He's not sure how many visits the bears made but suspects they left after three or four nights.

"We didn't realize how serious it was until it was all over," he said.

The lodge opens June 8. That should be plenty of time to repair the damage, Sarp said. The first load of material will be flown in Friday, and a labor crew will arrive next week.

Normal winter temperatures should keep the bears away next fall, Sarp said. As a precaution, the lodge will keep an electric fence powered around the dining room and incinerators. Batteries on the device should keep it electrified for six weeks after buildings are boarded up.

Other than that, Sarp's planning no other preventive measures.

"Once in 25 years is not too bad," he said.

[tomkow6]

[blackie]

Canteen ... Bump!

Molon Labe!

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Constellation

The first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Constellation, for the "new constellation of stars" on the American flag, was launched in Baltimore on September 7, 1797. Joshua Humphreys designed the first frigate to be commissioned in the U.S. Navy.

Rating 38 guns, displacing 1,278 tons, with 164-ft. length and 40 ft., 6 in. beam, Constellation combined the firepower of a standard frigate with celerity of a Baltimore Clipper. Capable of cruising at 14 knots, she earned the nickname, "Yankee Racehorse."

In the first test against a foreign foe in the undeclared "Quasi War" with France, Constellation, with Captain Thomas Truxtun commanding, won the first ship vs. ship victory of the U.S. Navy.

On February 5, 1799, Constellation captured the French 36-gun frigate Insurgente off the Island of Nevis in the West Indies. After failing to damage Constellation's rigging, Insurgente closed to grapple. Using superior speed to advantage, Truxton maneuvered ahead and crossed the Frenchman's bow, raking her deck with a murderous broadside. After a half-hour Insurgente struck her colors in surrender. American casualties: two dead, and two wounded. French casualties: 29 dead, 71 wounded.

Off the French base at Guadeloupe Island, Constellation engaged the Vengeance, 52-guns, on February 2, 1800. In a five-hour nighttime slugging match, Constellation suffered 14 dead and 25 wounded. Vengeance, a total wreck in danger of sinking with over twice as many casualties, escaped capture in the darkness.

The frigate Constellation then participated in the campaigns against the Barbary states and Caribbean pirates. During the War of 1812, while blockaded in the Elizabeth River, she participated in the battle of Craney Island, helping to defend Norfolk, Virginia from capture by the British in 1813.

After several overhauls and repairs, time took its toll. In 1853 it was deemed that further renovation was not economically effective, and the frigate Constellation was decommissioned and broken up at the Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia.

[Radix]

1957 Chicago Cub pitchers walk National League record 9 Reds in 5th inning

 

 

 

The Chicago Cubs

 

World Series Champions

 

1918

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Radix]

1888 Eastman Kodak forms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Radix]

 

Air Force Maj. Mike Millen, right, and Capt. Brian Crismore, left, part of a survey team from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, stop to write a message on a painting of Saddam Hussein while assessing a captured Iraqi Air Force Base in Kirkuk.

 

 

 

Air Force Maj. Mike Millen, right, with the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, looks at a 30mm shell shown to him by Army Spc. James Madden, of Ogden, Utah.

 

 

 

An Air Force member directs a C-130 in northern Iraq.

 

 

 

 

The USS Newport News, right, secures itself next to its sister Los Angeles-class submarine USS Boise, left, after returning to Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. on Wednesday.

 

 

 

An Air Force team surveys a former Iraqi Air Force Base in Kirkuk.

 

 

 

Air Force Lt. Shane Wehunt, right, of Minot, N.D., with the 5th Bomb Wing, learns how to speak Arabic from an English-speaking Iraqi, Raefat Raed, 16, at a captured Iraqi Air Base in Kirkuk.

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, BJ, for the wonderful rendition of "God Bless America".

God Bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Taking point

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Pararescuemen from the 301st Rescue Squadron talk with a member of the 101st Airborne Division April 6 at a forward-deployed location in Iraq. Air Force pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only Department of Defense specialty specifically trained and equipped to conduct conventional or unconventional rescue operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

No more watch

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Three F-16CJ Fighting Falcons from the 55th Fighter Squadron taxi here for the last time April 7. The fighters are returning home to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., after supporting Operation Northern Watch. Aircraft flew the last ONW mission March 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Thompson)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Spirit of Missouri

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The B-2 named "Spirit of Missouri" returns here after a bombing mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pilots are flying 30-plus hour sorties to accomplish missions launched from here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Francis Dupuis)

Right turn, please

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Staff Sgt. Hector Nieves, an aircraft maintainer from the 86th Expeditionary Contingency Response Group, marshals the first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to land at this air base in northern Iraq during daylight operations April 6. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rich Puckett)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Rescue hero

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- A pararescueman from the 301st Rescue Squadron checks in from a forward-deployed location in Iraq during an Operation Iraqi Freedom mission. During Iraqi Freedom the Air Force has flown more than 200 combat search and rescue sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo) ">

It's a wash

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Staff Sgt. Michael Mariner washes down an F-15E Strike Eagle to reduce the dust and dirt on the aircraft. Mariner is a crew chief with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Terry L. Blevins)

[JustPiper]

Yeah MoJo but we're losing right now to SD. My kids are at the game, bit chilly today ;)

In Progress 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Padres 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

Cubs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[Kathy in Alaska]

Tanks for the ride

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Ground crews load a 66 ton Abrams tank onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here. The aircraft, from the 17th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., delivered the Army's main battle tank to an Operation Iraqi Freedom air base in northern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed)

Gas 'n go

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- A special operations HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter and an HC-130 from the 301st Rescue Squadron conduct an aerial refueling April 6 over southern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

[JustPiper]

Okay it is now 2-1 top 9th, wish us luck ;)

[Radix]

Those are really great Yatch.

Thanks!

[JustPiper]

BTW, awesome, completely awesome page today MoJo!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[JustPiper]

Off topic, for a sec if I may...Tariq Aziz is now ours!!!
He's surrendered , true!

[Radix]

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