One point I read repeatedly by several former Cubs was that playing all those day games really wears you out.

Former Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger said "I'd lose 10 to 12 pounds playing in Wrigley Field in the summer, and I didn't have that much to lose." (He went from 175 to 155 in the summer of 1969.)

"When I played for other clubs and played more night games, I really noticed the difference. I had something left; it wasn't all taken out of me."

Kessinger compared day baseball to playing tennis in the afternoon for three hours every day in the summer is going to wear out faster than someone who plays three hours of tennis every night.

What I'd like to see is the Cubs make better use of the night games they do have by scheduling those precious night games ONLY in the hot summer months. Wrigley night games should not be wasted in April, May and September. I'd also like to see earlier game time starts when playing against the West coast teams, but that's another issue of mine... :)

More highlights from this book:

Cal Neeman (Cubs catcher, 1957-1960) spoke of a Cubs/Giants game with the Cubs leading by a run, Elston pitching for the Cubs and Willie Mays on first base, two outs in the 9th.

"Elston threw 11 straight pick-off throws to first base. On the 12th, he picked him off. Game over. Cubs win.

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Rich Nye, a Cubs pitcher from 1966-1970, became a veterinarian after retiring from baseball.

We spoke on many interesting issues, but the one I'll mention is about Cubs alumni.

"There's another aspect to tradition. The Cubs do absolutely nothing for their alumni. I've been involved in one Old-Timers Game and that was in 1977 when they were doing something to honor Ernie Banks. But other than that, nothing. A lot of us stay in touch and see each other from time to time but it's nothing organized by the Cubs.

Look at what they do in New York. They honor their former ballplayers. They even televise their Old Timers Games. But the Cubs don't do it and there's a certain sadness to that. Because after all, we were a part of it."

(I too, would like to see some old-timers games televised.)

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Archie Reynolds, Cubs pitcher from 1968-70, spoke about Joe Niekro's time with the Cubs.

"When pitchers toss a ball back and forth before a game, a lot of times they'll fool around with a new pitch. We used to stand in the outfield and throw knuckleballs to each other. Mine didn't do anything. It was like most people's. It just floated straight with nothing on it. Now Joe Niekro -- he could really throw one. But in those days Cubs management didn't want any young pitchers throwing knuckleballs. They were absolutely against it. So Niekro didn't throw it until he got traded. And I hear he made a pretty good living throwing it from time to time for about 20 years.

Regarding the uniform number 48, Archie says "That uniform got to be kind of a joke because it always seemed to go to the guy who was going to be sent down next....If you wore 48, you knew you weren't going to last long."

(I'm glad Rick Reuschal put an end to that tradition!)

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The book shares a lot of historical statistics - managers with most wins since 1945, and home wins versus road wins 1946-1988 (before lights in Wrigley Field.

He points out that "Between 1946 and 1988, the Chicago Cubs were second only to the Houston Astros in home field advantage - the difference between the number of games they won at home and the number of games they won on the road every year.

In the seven year span from 1989-1995, the Cubs home field advantage shrunk so that the final totals show them as fifth best in home field advantage.

The span of 1989 to 1995 is the first 7 years the Cubs played night games at Wrigley Field.

Statistically, when the Cubs started playing night games at home, they lost the dominant home field advantage they had over most teams."

Anyway, go find a copy of this book and read it during the off-season. I can't guarantee it'll fend off post-season depression, but it is an interesting read.

Diana

PS: Be sure to check out what other books John C. Skipper has written.

Photos from Ryne Sandberg Day at Wrigley Field

Meet Ronnie the Collie