CBM and "Fans"
Congratulate Dawson
The Chicago Baseball Museum and the fans of Andre Dawson gave their congratulations to the newest member of Baseball's Hall of Fame on Wednesday, July 28 at Alexian Field in Schaumburg at the Schaumburg Flyers "Andre Dawson & Friends" Celebrity Softball Game event.
In pre-game ceremonies, Connie Kowal, Chicago Baseball Museum Executive Director, addressed the crowd and presented Andre a "Congrats Card" signed by hundreds of Dawson's fans as a keepsake for Dawson and his induction into the Hall of Fame. Joining Kowal in the pre-game ceremonies were CBM legal counsel Paul Duffy along with CBM contest winners Chris Kearney of Buffalo Grove and his 10-year old son, Ryan, who presented the Congrats Card to Dawson on fhe field. "The fans of Chicago have meant so much to Andre, so we thought it was important to have the fans of Andre Dawson thank him with a special congratulations card, presented to him by a father and his son, and something that Andre can take home, share with his family and keep forever", said Kowal.
Dedication Ceremonies for 100th Anniversary of Comiskey Park
The Chicago Baseball Museum was proud to attend the special pre-game ceremonies hosted by the Chicago White Sox prior to their game against the Angels at US Cellular Field on Monday, July 5th, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Comiskey Park. Several generations of the Comiskey Family were in attendance for a dedication ceremony of a special Comiskey Park plaque, located in the centerfield concourse next to a sculpture of Charles Comiskey. It was on July 1, 1910 that the first game was played at old Comiskey Park.
CBM's Founder & President Dr. David Fletcher, Executive Director Connie Kowal, and Legal Counsel Paul Duffy were part of a VIP delegation of attendees that also included Billy Pierce, Moose Skowron, Ron Kittle and Minnie Minoso of the White Sox. Sox PA Announcer Gene Honda presided over the ceremony that included remarks by Billy Pierce, White Sox historian Rich Lindberg, and the Comiskey family.
The Chicago Baseball Museum appreciates the invitation to this event by Bill Kellens (great-great-grandson of Charles Comiskey) and Illinois State Representative Patti Rigney Bellock (great- granddaughter of Charles Comiskey), and Patti's sister Mary Sharon Rigney Kellens and the valuable friendship with all members of the Comiskey Family.
A special ballpark... with special memories... and a special dedication in keeping the history of old Comiskey Park alive.
View video of Comiskey children speech at the ball park July 5, 2010...
"Never on a Friday"
The Baseball Palace of the World Turns 100 Years Old...
David J. Fletcher, MD, Chicago Baseball Museum
"Make no little plans;
they have no magic to stir men's blood..."
Daniel Burnham, Chicago Architect and Visionary
Comiskey Park Turns 100... still alive in our hearts
click image to view larger version...
It didn't make it to its 100th birthday party, but nonetheless the "Baseball Palace of the World" turns 100 years old on Thursday, July 1, 2010 and is still alive in the hearts of Chicago baseball fans.
It never saw its home team win a World Championship on its field in its 80 year-year history (that is if you don't count the Chicago Cardinals 1947 NFL Championship thrilling 28-21 come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Eagles on December 28, 1947).
It did, however, witness some incredible history and is one of the most hallowed grounds in our nation's history.
Cubs vs. White Sox (part 2)
History repeats itself...
The White Sox took 2 of 3 from the Cubs during part 1 of the Crosstown Classic, June 11-13, at Wrigley Field. This past weekend, June 25-27, the White Sox took 2 of 3 from the Cubs at US Cellular Field in part 2 of the Crosstown Series, and in doing so, captured the 1st BP Crosstown Cup.
The White Sox now lead the interleague series 43-38. And in what might matter most, White Sox fans have bragging rights for another year.
At Friday's game, the White Sox beat the Cubs 6-0, keyed by the Sox Carlos Quentin's first-inning 3-run homer. Yet, the big story of the day (and the series) was the temper-tantrum of Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, his removal from the game and his suspension from the team by GM Jim Hendry. And the news of Zambrano's dinner with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on Friday night, was also a hot topic all weekend.
On Saturday, the White Sox defeated the Cubs again, 3-2. Paul Konerko of the White Sox hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the game for the White Sox and clinch the Crosstown Classic as the White Sox won the 4th and deciding game in the 6-game series. And the white-hot White Sox won their 11th game in a row.
While the Sunday game had no impact on the Crosstown Cup, the Cubs vs. the White Sox always has importance. The Cubs avoided a sweep with an 8-6 victory over the White Sox, hanging on as the Sox rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Cubs closer Carlos Marmol struck out Alex Rios with the tying runs on base to end the game and get the Cubs the victory.
Another Chicago Crosstown Series is in the history books, with the best two crosstown teams, with the best two crosstown fans, and the best of the Major League Baseball interleague series.
Can't wait for next year.
Cubs vs. White Sox (part 1)
The 3-game series at Wrigley Field this past weekend had plenty of memorable and historical moments. The White Sox took 2 of 3... now lead the interleague series 39-36.
At Friday's game, the White Sox beat the Cubs 10-5, but the news of the day were off the field with Cubs manager Lou Piniella's pre-game "thoughts" about comments made earlier in the week by Comcast SportsNet broadcaster Steve Stone (who by the way played for both the Cubs and the White Sox).
Saturday, the White Sox defeated the Cubs again, 2-1. A pitcher's duel between Mark Buehlre of the Sox and Carlos Silva of the Cubs. Silva's attempt to become the first Cubs pitcher to start a season 9-0 since Kenny Holtzman in 1967 goes south as the White Sox win their 5th in a row against the Cubs.
CBM Founder David Fletcher and Son Jeffrey Fletcher enjoy Saturday's Cross-town Classic at Wrigley Field
On Sunday, one team, the Blackhawks, brought a unity of Cubs and White Sox fans in pre-game ceremonies. The Stanley Cup champions, and the Cup, paraded around the Wrigley Field and all three teams posed in a photo on the pitcher’s mound. Two out of these three teams have ended championship droughts, with the Cubs still hoping (1908) and the Hawks (1961) and White Sox (1917) having ended theirs...this year (Hawks) and in 2005 (White Sox).
Also on Sunday before a nationally televised game on ESPN, baseball history was in the making as both the Cubs Ted Lilly and the White Sox Gavin Floyd were working no-hit games through six innings. Floyd lost his bid in the seventh, and Lilly lost his no-hitter in the top of the ninth on a single by Juan PIerre (former Cub). The Cubs hang on to win 1-0. And oh yeah, the last time opposing pitchers had no-hitters of such length at a game in Chicago was in 1917, at Wrigley Field, when the Cubs Hippo Vaughn and the Cincinnati Reds Fred Toney had no-hitters through nine innings (Vaughn lost his in the 10th, Toney kept his). Chicago baseball history...
And Part 2 of the Cubs-White Sox crosstown series continues on June 25 at US Cellular Field. See you there!
CBM Night with the Cubs...
"An Historic Night"
The Chicago Baseball Museum had the first-ever Chicago Baseball Museum "Night with the Cubs" on Wednesday, May 26 at Wrigley Field. A large group of CBM fans had a good time at the ol' ballpark, and it was a beautiful night for baseball, even though the Cubs lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-5.
The Chicago Baseball Museum wants to extend a big “thank you” to those who supported the CBM in this special night... and "an historic night".
Along with over 35,000 other fans, the CBM attendees at Wrigley Field were a "part of history". The game was delayed for 18 minutes as the lights went out at Wrigley Field causing darkness on the field of play and darkness in the stands. Reportedly an electric problem in the Wrigleyville neighborhood was the cause. During the "darkness delay", cameras and cell phone cameras flashed throughout Wrigley Field to capture this moment in Chicago baseball history.
So the question, "Where were you when the lights went out at Wrigley"? For those who attended as part of the CBM Night with the Cubs, they'll never forget... they were there, as a part of Chicago baseball history.
Brickhouse Statue
Re-dedication Ceremony
Conrad "Connie" Kowal, Executive Director of the Chicago Baseball Museum, was one of the featured speakers at the Jack Brickhouse statue "Re-Dedication Ceremony" on Thursday April 8th on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Brickhouse's wife, Pat Brickhouse, introduced Kowal as the first guest speaker, and other guest speakers included Bill Zwecker, columnist of the Chicago Sun-Times, Bruce DuMont, President of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, Illinois State Senator (Pontiac, R-53rd) Dan Rutherford, Chicago Cubs Chairman and Owner Tom Ricketts, and Caroline O'Boyle, City of Chicago Deputy Commissioner representing Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Through the efforts of Kowal and Dr. David Fletcher, President and Founder of The Chicago Baseball Museum & Jerome Holtzman Library, and donations from fans, the Chicago Baseball Museum provided promotional support and financial assistance to Pat Brickhouse in her efforts to fund repair costs and promote the "re-dedication ceremony" for the Jack Brickhouse statue located on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
"For millions of people like me, who grew up in Chicago and watched Jack on WGN-TV, we learned our ABCs in school, but we learned our ABCs of baseball and our love of the game of baseball from Jack Brickhouse", Kowal said at the ceremony. "Jack Brickhouse was a big part of Chicago and Chicago baseball history. Helping Pat Brickhouse in her efforts to get Jack's statue repaired and back on Michigan Avenue was something that fits the mission and vision of the Chicago Baseball Museum and keeps legends of Chicago baseball history, like Jack Brickhouse, fresh in the minds of fans forever."
Pat Brickhouse and Connie Kowal
with Jack Brickhouse statue on Michigan Avenue
View Connie Kowal's speech from the Re-dedication Ceremony
