Agony & Ivy

Greatest Moments, No. 4: The Sandberg Game

The Cubs' season was at a crossroads when the St. Louis Cardinals visited Wrigley Field for a three-game series, June 22-24, 1984.

Greatest Moments: No. 5, Mr. Cub's 500th Homer

(Editor's Note: Twenty-sixth in a series recalling the 30 greatest moments in Cubs history.)

Radio talk show host Dennis Prager often tells his listeners that "happy people make the world better" so therefore "we have a moral obligation to act as happy as possible."

Ernie Banks - who turned 80 on Jan. 31 - played on some awful Cubs teams for much of his career, endured some nagging injuries, at least one death threat, and many of the difficulties that no doubt were presented to him as one of a group of pioneering black major league players. But throughout his career and since his retirement, Mr. Cub has continued to smile.

Greatest Moments: No. 9, Scratching a 39-Year Itch

(Editor's Note: Twenty-second in a series recalling the 30 greatest moments in Cubs history.)

When a Jody Davis sacrifice fly in the ninth inning finished off a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on Aug. 1, 1984, the Cubs moved into first place to stay. But even by the time the North Siders had fattened their NL East lead to seven games over the second-place New York Mets in early September, I still was waiting for bad things to happen.

Greatest Moments: No. 30 Rick Monday, American Hero

(Editor's Note: First in a series recalling the 30 greatest moments in Cubs history.)

Rick Monday had a solid 19-year major league career, including five terrific seasons with the Cubs, but he will always be remembered for his courageous and patriotic feat during the Cubs' game against Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 1976.

A Salute to Phil Cavarretta

I would guess that I am not the only Chicago boy who, while attending a game at Wrigley Field, has imagined what it would be like to play for the Cubs.

Phil Cavarretta, who grew up not far from the Friendly Confines and attended Lane Tech High School, was fortunate enough to live that dream.

Cavarretta, who put together a terrific 20-year career with the Cubs from 1934-53, died Saturday in Lilburn, Ga. at age 94.

13 Moments to Forget

You don't put together a 103-year championship drought without a few infamous and embarrassing moments. Cubs history is full of head-scratching and gut-wrenching moments. I believe these are the 13 worst:

1932: Babe Ruth's Called Shot

Babe Ruth's "Called Shot" is one of the great legends in the history of baseball and Wrigley Field - but I'm sorry to report that it never happened. It's a case in which sportswriters refused to let the facts get in the way of a great story and as the years have passed, fiction has evolved into fact.

1984: A Memorable Night in Pittsburgh

When a Jody Davis sacrifice fly in the ninth inning finished off a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on Aug. 1, 1984, the Cubs moved into first place to stay. But even by the time the North Siders had fattened their NL East lead to seven games over the second-place New York Mets in early September, I still was waiting for bad things to happen.

A Fitting Tribute to Billy Williams

Whenever announcers or writers refer to a star athlete as "a natural," I believe that they are discounting all the hard work that it takes for that player to make it to the top of his profession.

Much has been said and written about the wonderful, "sweet" swing of Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams, and it is often said that the Hall of Famer was blessed with that swing. It is true that Williams brought a great deal of natural ability with him when he became the Cubs everyday left fielder in 1961, but I wonder how many people realize how hard the man worked to become one of the finest hitters of his era.