Kiss My (Bleeping) Ass Right Downtown And Print It!
Twenty-five years ago next Tuesday, April 29, 1983, the Cubs lost to the Dodgers 4-3 at Wrigley Field. To give you a little historic context, the start the Cubs had that year was a mirror image of 2008. They lost their first six and after this loss -- in which Lee Smith wild-pitched in the winning run in the top of the 8th -- they were 5-14, already seven games out of first place only three weeks into the season.
In those days the Cubs' clubhouse was in the left field corner; they'd cross the field from the dugout and enter through the little door that's now used by the ground crew and other team employees (the current clubhouse, behind the dugout, was constructed in 1984). And on April 29, 1983, as a weary team trudged across the field, a number of them, in particular shortstop Larry Bowa (who, ironically, had had a good day that day, singling, walking and scoring a run), were subjected to booing and (by some reports) had things thrown at them.
I wasn't one of those people -- in those days, I sat in the right field bleachers -- but I was at that game. Here's my scorecard from April 29, 1983 -- note that, among other things, Ryne Sandberg led off that day and future Cubs manager Dusty Baker batted third for the Dodgers and went 0-for-4.
This led to one of the most infamous tirades in baseball history from manager Lee Elia. Thanks to WLS radio reporter Les Grobstein, we have Elia's words immortalized for all time. In yesterday's Tribune, Teddy Greenstein recounts the crazy scene in the clubhouse.
BCB reader kaseyi has the complete audio version of the tirade on this page. WARNING! NOT SAFE FOR WORK! Also on that page is a letter he received from GM Dallas Green apologizing for what had happened.
Among the things Elia said in the tirade were the words that serve as the title of this post, and also that (expletives deleted) "85% of the world is working, the other 15% come here to boo my players." Those of us who both had jobs and went to the ballpark decided that we needed to tell everyone -- thus, the following buttons were created:
Anyway, Elia is now 70 years old and he wants to make amends. As a result, he has created "Lee Unplugged", a website on which he says:
The only thing that bothers me is that I would never want to destroy the love and what the fans of Chicago are to the Chicago Cubs. I mean, God knows. If there's one pure thing in baseball, it is the fans of Chicago.
And for $89.95, you can order an autographed baseball with a special positive message from Elia to Cubs fans. This isn't just a money-making enterprise, either -- some of the proceeds will go to the Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities. Elia will be in town Monday morning to hold a press conference, so expect to hear and see about this and the tirade next week. Just thought I'd give you all a heads-up on this.
And print it!
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57 comments
Comments
The Cubs version of Marty Brennaman.
n/t
"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"
by HIGGY on Apr 25, 2008 8:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Except that this guy was an actual coach
and not a hobo with a microphone.
"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk
by NittanyCub on Apr 25, 2008 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember...
my dad (Sox fan) laughing about the Elia rant. Hey, he snapped and used some bad judgement. I could only imagine what he said to the players…
You ARE freaking out MAN!
by crw89 on Apr 25, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not that I want my eight year old to hear it
And it hurts that he’s talking about Cubs fans, but this is WAY funny. I think you’d hear the same thing today about Yankee fans if Hank Steinbrenner were given his own reality show.
by AlabamaCubFan on Apr 25, 2008 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
off topic, but..
Al, how about changing the “games back” on the right column to “games ahead” ?
The journey is the reward!
by wicubfan on Apr 25, 2008 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's a good point.
I have no control over that—it comes from the data provider. However, I will submit a request for this. Thanks.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
$$$$$$
I forgot what it is but Lee is going to be banking some cash off this 25 year crap. What an idiot. Now he is part of the 85% not working.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Apr 25, 2008 9:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank God, It's Not 1983 Any More
I can understand Elia’s frustration back then. The Cubs weren’t just bad. They were horrible in the early 1980’s. That’s why I was so surprised the Cubs won the NL East in 1984. Elia didn’t know he was being recorded, but that bleeping language was hilarious. I know Jay Johnstone got a big kick out of it. For those of you who work during the day and don’t work at night, the Cubs have about 30 home games at night these days. Let’s all be glad that the early 1980’s era of Cubs baseball is over.
by memphiscub on Apr 25, 2008 9:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Interestingly enough...
... after beating the Expos on July 3, 1983, the Cubs were only two games out of first place in a mediocre NL East.
They got swept in a DH the next day and it was downhill from there. Elia was fired before the season ended.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Elia was fired before the season ended"
and hes bitching about people without jobs. bwawawwawa
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Apr 25, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He got fired
Because a young player on the Pirates (I believe) pinch-hit late in a game and beat the Cubs with a timely hit. Asked after the game about the player, Elia told a reporter, “I never even heard of him.” Elia was fired within a day or two, with Dallas Green saying Elia “embarrassed” the team by admitting the player hadn’t been scouted.
Does this go with your recollections, Al? And who was the player?
"Hey hey, kiss it goodbye! That one's in Milwaukee! Man oh man did he hit it. Isn't that something?" - Lou Boudreau, May 17, 1979
by danimal15 on Apr 25, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't recall this...
... but I looked it up. Elia was fired after the game on August 21, with the Cubs 54-69. They hadn’t played the Pirates since June, and no games in the week or so before August 21 match the description (being beaten by a timely pinch hit late in the game).
Anyone else know?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd heard..
That the player was actually Gerald Perry..perhaps he was fired right after they played the Braves?
The journey is the reward!
by wicubfan on Apr 25, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
I read that somewhere quite recently. Ah here it is. The first time Fred Mitchell wrote about this in 2008, back in Feb.
"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome
by JohnM on Apr 25, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's the game in question.
August 19, 1983. Perry had two hits including a HR, the first of his career. It was his fifth major league game.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, everyone
Imagine, just 16,000 at Wrigley for a Friday game in August. Those were the days (or maybe they weren’t – it wasn’t like there was much fun to be had watching that team).
"Hey hey, kiss it goodbye! That one's in Milwaukee! Man oh man did he hit it. Isn't that something?" - Lou Boudreau, May 17, 1979
by danimal15 on Apr 25, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
16,000?
Al’s scorecard says only 9,937 in attendance. Was the 16,000 the paid attendance including no-shows?
Either way, can you imagine today getting they Wrigley experience AND elbow room too?
What were admission and concession prices like back then?
Go Green! Go White! GO STATE! (#13031 on the Cubs season ticket waiting list...)
by Zeke on Apr 25, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 9,937 was for the 4/29/83 game.
The 16,701 was for the August 19 game. Sorry for the confusion.
In 1983 bleacher tickets cost $2. Up to 1981 the Cubs printed concession prices on the scorecards, but the 1983 card doesn’t list any.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And to think
1983 was a huge step forward from the 1980-1 teams, which were the worst Cub teams in my lifetime. Probably the worst Cubs teams in history—the 1980 team lost 98 games and the 1981 team was saved 100 losses only by the strike.
Yeah, the 1962 team has the record for losses, but there was great talent on that team-the starting outfield was Billy Williams, Lou Brock and George Altman. Santo and Banks were in the infield. Bob Buhl and Dick Ellsworth were good pitchers. That was just a young team getting screwed up by the College of Coaches fiasco. I don’t understand 1966 either other than a bad reaction to Durocher. Durocher was right-they weren’t an eighth place team—or a tenth place team for that matter. It was another season where just everything went wrong. They won 87 games the next season.
But in 1980 and 1981, even if everything went right, those teams were terrible. There was no hope on the horizon, because the Wrigleys had neglected the farm system for so long. One day I’m going to write an essay “The Descent of the Cubs and the fall of the House of Wrigley, 1975-1981.” The kids today don’t know how awful it was back when the Tribune bought the team.
Right Al?
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh77 on Apr 25, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely.
The 1962 and 1966 teams, which both lost 103 games, had Hall of Famers on them—and the ‘66 team should have four eventually (Banks, Santo, Williams, Jenkins).
The teams of the late 70’s briefly contended in 1977, 1978 and 1979 but weren’t really that good. It all fell apart in 1980 when they lost 98 games, and after the trade of Bruce Sutter following the ‘80 season, the ‘81 Cubs were horrid. If not for the strike they’d most likely have set a club record for losses - they were 15-37 when the strike hit (and had to win 5 of their last 6 before the strike to even get that good - they were 10-36).
Ugh. I feel dirty just typing all of that.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
'82 and '83 Cubs Won 5th Place
Those ‘82 and ‘83 Cubs won that fight for fifth place against the Mets both years. They only lost 180 combined games. They were better than the ‘80 and ‘81 teams. Dear God, please don’t ever have the Cubs have another 4-year period like 1980-83, in which they never do any better than 1982’s 73-89.
by memphiscub on Apr 25, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I recall
Royko writing a column about the Cubs great victory in 1982 finishing in fifth place when everyone picked us for sixth, and how that’s the life of a Cub fan.
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh77 on Apr 25, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is classic...
And some people thought Lou’s famous outburst last year was bad, “What the hell do you think isn’t working?! You saw the damn game!”
''As long as he doesn't talk World Series, I'm happy.'' Lou Piniella on Ronny Cedeno.
by CubsBullsBears on Apr 25, 2008 9:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Talking about tirades, I'd have to say that
this is my favorite one, followed by this one
Practice and Playoffs? Get outta here
"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk
by NittanyCub on Apr 25, 2008 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
youre not talking about practice are you?
Not the game? Practice?
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Apr 25, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone should sample that and turn it into a dance song.
Nanika Ga Okoru!
by dat cubfan daver on Apr 25, 2008 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the mora/iverson conversation is pretty great, too
by dr stabbingworth on Apr 25, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh man, completely forgot about this
Who were the Bears to Dennis Green(most notably Hester and the Bears Tenacious D)?
THE BEARS ARE WHO HE THOUGHT THEY WERE
IF YOU WANNA CROWN THEM, THEN CROWN THEIR ASS.
"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk
by NittanyCub on Apr 25, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Earl Weaver...
...never had a press conference tirade like Elia’s. But Earl was the king of creative profanity…”Thank god we’ve got Tim Stoddard sticking the bat right up their asses!”
by LaddieRenfroe on Apr 25, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Northwestern pitching coach
and former 1984 Cub Tim Stoddard!
Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager
by northsider on Apr 25, 2008 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Playoffs?
LOL…I never get tired of that…
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"
by Bump Bailey on Apr 25, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tommy Lasorda...
...on Dave Kingman’s performance has always been my favorite.
I’ve heard the unedited version, and I just don’t find it nearly as funny as hearing his long string of >beep< >beep<.
I tracked down a copy…listen here.
by Shawon O Meter on Apr 25, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was Tommy
pissed he got kicked out of an all-u-can-eat? Kinda like Homer Simpson did.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Apr 25, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, but he'd...
...be quick to tell you to make sure you go to Carmine’s or Connie’s Pizza. Cracks me up how he drops the names of those places every time he’s on Chicago radio >8)
by Shawon O Meter on Apr 25, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sad....
...that 25 years later he wants to apologize AND cash in on the whole thing. I’m just embarrassed FOR him.
Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic. ---Crash Davis
by carmen_fanzone on Apr 25, 2008 11:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He's not just cashing in...
... he’s also trying to raise money for a good cause, Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
pffft.........
....who’s really going to buy this thing? And why would the CBCC even ACCEPT such a donation, considering the situation surrounding it?
Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic. ---Crash Davis
by carmen_fanzone on Apr 25, 2008 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why wouldn't they?
I mean, seriously… this is something trying to make amends, for a good cause, and you’re slamming it? That’s sad, IMO.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know Al has a morning job...
but you sure don’t look like a “Working Cub Fan”....
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 25, 2008 12:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well...
... I wasn’t working when that picture was taken. But I assure you, I DO have a job.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you look pretty busy to me...
filling out the scorecard? Reading the Trib? Brainstorming questions for the “Ask Paul Mailbag”.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 25, 2008 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LMAO
Reading the paper, I think. What day was this?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't really know...
I “borrowed” it off of a flickr search.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 25, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Upon further review...
the flicker page says it was Sunday, August 20, 2006.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 25, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably reading the paper, then.
n/t
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 25, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You were probably reading...
...the Tempo section in search of more fulfilling modes of entertainment. According to baseball-reference.com, the Cubs were 53-69 going into that game, which they lost 5-3 to the…wait for it…St. Louis Cardinals.
Nanika Ga Okoru!
by dat cubfan daver on Apr 25, 2008 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh....!!!
....we’re stuck on 10,000 !!!!! (Just kidding!!!!)
by James031 on Apr 25, 2008 12:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So long as we're posting YouTube videos of managers...
...using salty language, here’s Earl Weaver. Not safe for work, school, or possibly home.
by cwyers on Apr 25, 2008 12:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Terry Crowley's lucky...
...he’s even in f’ng baseball…lmao…
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"
by Bump Bailey on Apr 25, 2008 12:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I much prefer the comments about team speed.
The whole thing is hillarious, though. Weaver started showing up to his pregame interviews just so amazingly drunk. And, well, that’s what would happen.
I’d still rather have a drunk Earl Weaver filling out lineup cards than just about any other manager I’ve looked into.
by cwyers on Apr 25, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hilarious...
that’s an FCC sanction or two, or a few hundred.
by bap on Apr 25, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ironically
I don’t think there is player in baseball or possibly any other sport that uses
the F bomb more than Greg Maddux. ( of course I would find away to bring him
up here folks). When he is out on the mound he spends much of the time simply
muttering F & MF to himself in low tones when he is not pleased with one of his pitches It is pretty funny to watch. I heard he just once let it slip in an interview but his public image is of soft speaking, self controlled somewhat dull interview. I remember after Dusty got fined for swearing within the hearing of fans in the front row someone on the Braves blog imagined Maddux could lose millions if they ever miked him up.
Now the difference between Maddux’s F Bombs and Elia’s is that Maddux is basically
mad at himself and uses it as some way to I guess let off steam but I find it pretty funny
to watch.
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 25, 2008 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Even though
it would be much shorter than some of these interviews DeRosa’s little rant after he was called on strikes the other night had to have at least 5 or more F Bombs and one MF.
by sue369 on Apr 25, 2008 1:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey, I'm changing my signature line!
To include Elia’s new comment….I like it!
"Eighty-five percent of the world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here." - Lee Elia, 1983
by CaughtInTheVines on Apr 25, 2008 3:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There we go - and cheers, Lee
"Eighty-five percent of the world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here." - Lee Elia, 1983
"The only thing that bothers me is that I would never want to destroy the love and what the fans of Chicago are to the Chicago Cubs. I mean, God knows. If there's one pure thing in baseball, it is the fans of Chicago." - Lee Elia, 2008
by CaughtInTheVines on Apr 25, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Elia on Fox's First Team radio program Monday morning
Scott Lynn tells me that Lee Elia will be on soon after 7am ET. I requested that he ask Lee (a) did Lee ever try sitting in the bleachers and (b) what he thought of Marty Brennaman’s tirade.
by infoshaman on Apr 26, 2008 8:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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