Cubs Historic Photos: Third In A Series

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2009 8:00 AM CST in History

At first glance you might think you wouldn't have a clue as to when this photo was taken. There are enough clues, actually, to figure it out -- but I'll help you out by telling you it was taken in 1970. See if you can sleuth it out, then check after the jump for the answer.

Clue #1: no ivy on the walls and people in the bleachers in coats -- so it had to be early in the season, likely April. The Cubs played the Expos -- it can't be any other team, with that jersey -- two games at Wrigley in April 1970, on the 17th and 18th. That was a Friday and Saturday; a Sunday game was rained out.

The crowd on Friday, April 17 was 6,855, too small to have that many people in the bleachers. So it must be the Saturday, April 18 game, which had an attendance of 21,890. The further clue that clinches the Saturday date is the presence of lefty Kenny Holtzman on the mound; Holtzman pitched a complete game and the Cubs won 8-1.

But when in the game was this photo taken? The Expo leading off second base is Ron Fairly (#6). Holtzman gave up four hits and five walks in the game -- but only one extra-base hit, a triple. Fairly drew three walks and stole second once. He was on second base after stealing second in the second inning, and again after a groundout in the top of the seventh.

And there, the trail goes cold -- so to speak; it was 48 degrees that day. It could have been either inning, though I'd lean toward the second, with the bleachers full; on a cold day they'd have likely started to empty out in the seventh inning of a game the Cubs were leading 6-1.

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Nice to see Kenny on the mound

He is my example why not to trade young effective pitchers

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 15, 2009 8:11 AM CST reply actions

However...

… the Cubs got great value from that deal.

They acquired Rick Monday for Holtzman; Monday gave the Cubs five good seasons and then was traded for Bill Buckner and Ivan DeJesus.

Buckner played well for seven years and then was traded for Dennis Eckersley, who helped the Cubs to the 1984 NL East title.

DeJesus played reasonably well for four years (and badly for one, 1981) and then was included in a deal that netted the Cubs Larry Bowa and some kid from the Philly farm system named Sandberg.

That deal worked out pretty well. The Cubs got more than 30 years’ worth of quality players out of developing Kenny Holtzman.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2009 8:40 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

So it was the Cubs' fault.

Buckner, if you recall, committed the most heinous error of the 20th century at first base in Game Six of the 1986 World Series, allowing an easy game and Series ending out to roll between his legs into right field. The Mets won that game, and Game Seven, forcing Boston fans to wait another generation (2004) before their team won another Pennant.

Yankees suck.

by Steaming Pile on Dec 16, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

In fact...

… there’s a photo around — can’t locate it right now — of Buckner in that game, either just before or just after he made that error. He was wearing a Cubs wristband.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2009 5:25 AM CST up reply actions

Other clues

all three players pictured have too clean uniforms for the 7th inning, especially with Fairly running the bases and Holtzman looks fresh, Kessinger looks clean, on the mound it isn’t chewed up as it would by the 7th inning and not much trash in the basket.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 15, 2009 8:13 AM CST reply actions

There was no basket on April 18, 1970.

It wasn’t installed till early May.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2009 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

and then Banks started hitting all those HR's that landed there!.... ;)

….sorry, couldnt resist. Thanks Joe….

by JB 23 on Dec 15, 2009 11:59 AM CST up reply actions

you are correct, so that marks another clue

by the top of the 7th inning there would be a trash heap against the wall until the 7th inning stretch when the ground crew came out to clean up much of the mess

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Dec 15, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

I don't seem to see the

HR basket in the bleachers, which (I thought for certain) I remembered debuting in 1970. Although, maybe (it is hard to see for sure) that is the triangle on top of the old wall – without the basket that extends out? Or, if that is just the top of the old wall perhaps the photo date is pre-1970?

"The Cubs are due in sixty-two." - #14

by BatCubFan on Dec 15, 2009 8:36 AM CST reply actions

See above.

The basket wasn’t installed until early May 1970.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2009 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

Cool and chilly
Baseball a game for warm days
Refrigerator?

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Dec 15, 2009 8:47 AM CST reply actions

Compared to today
It looks warm in those bleachers
Wish spring would hurry

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Dec 15, 2009 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

Al, are those police officers in the bleachers?

With the shoulder and breast badges, they don’t look like Andy Frain ushers. It was the time, you’ll recall, when everybody was afraid of the next riot. Plus, wasn’t there a shooting in or around Wrigley Field during or after a game early that year?

Joe, you coulda made us proud!

by copingwiththecubs on Dec 15, 2009 9:36 AM CST reply actions

I don't recall anything about a shooting.

But yes, I think those are Andy Frains.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2009 10:10 AM CST up reply actions

Munich freezing now
In April Biergarten days
And baseball season

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Dec 15, 2009 9:40 AM CST reply actions

Reply failure here
Too dumb to click correctly
For katie casey

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Dec 15, 2009 9:43 AM CST up reply actions

The temp is 13
Real feel is 4 in
Woodstock, Illinois

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Dec 15, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions

Using centigrade
Sounds like April spring temperature
Not in Fahrenheit

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Dec 15, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions

Starting tomorrow,
We will have teens every day.
Time to stay warm now.

It will last all week.
Right up until Saturday.
We’ll have snow here, too.

Bound for New York City: January 6-9! Can't wait!

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Dec 15, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions

Thursday to Egypt,
Fortnight of light and warm temps,
Air conditioner

Europe is not far,
Flights are cheap and hotels too,
Many culture shocks

Good travel time,
Falafel, Boats on the Nile,
Happy Holidays

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Dec 15, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

Another reason to think it's the second inning:

While it’s obviously overcast, the small amount of shadow Holtzman is casting tells us the sun is not as far over to the west or lower enough in the sky for the longer shadow we’d see later in the game.

by MN exile on Dec 15, 2009 10:07 AM CST reply actions

The crowd on Friday, April 17 was 6,855

Imagine a Friday game attendance that low the year after a pennant run!

by Carolina Cubbie on Dec 15, 2009 11:00 AM CST reply actions

On a cold day....

… against the Expos, a team no one really cared about, the year after fans’ hopes were crushed, in an era when season tickets likely totaled less than 3000 and when they counted only turnstile count in announced attendance, rather than tickets sold?

Not surprising, It was a different era.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

... during the pennant run (69)

the Cubs drew a paltry ten thousand fans for the Friday (9/5/69) game – when we were still in first place by 5 games. When the Cubs finally returned from the early Sept 69 road trip, the first game back at home since falling out of first only 6000 fans showed. The next day, 5000.

That said, the1969 Cubs drew more than ever – 1.6 million. The big difference between back then and what we might expect now is the comparatively low number of tickets that were pre-sold, and the relataive lower price of a ticket. Easy to decide not to go if its cold or the fortunes have turned.

"The Cubs are due in sixty-two." - #14

by BatCubFan on Dec 15, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

My 'investigation':

1970.
Cubs vs Expos.
Early season, ivy is bare.
Holtzman pitching.
Expos at Wrigley on 4/25 & 26, next on July 6th.
Holtzman pitched April 26, 1970.
(#6 at second is Ron Fairly)

I like easy puzzles ; )

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

By the way, 22 thousand for a Saturday isn’t all that strong either, even for April. But that’s back when the club insisted on holding 15,000 grandstand seats available for walk-ups – every game. (Or maybe that was the company line to explain that they couldn’t sell that many season tickets)

1984 really brought in a new era for the club, tickets have been pretty scarce ever since. Jordan did it for the Bulls, they still are close to the top in attendance even after all those lousy teams lately. And the newest Wirtz appears to be pulling it off for the Blackhawks.

Chicago may be hell for loyal fans, but it’s a hell of a sports town.

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Dec 15, 2009 12:13 PM CST reply actions