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The Chicago Cubs and the White Sox rivalry

One of the most important games in the Major League Baseball is the played between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, not only for being the confrontation between the principal baseball teams in Chicago but also in their history. This classic game is also known as “The Windy City Showdown”, “The Chicago Showdown”, “The North-South Showdown”, among other names, and dates back to the creation of the American League in 1900. Since that date, the rivalry between these two squads has been one of the most important and traditional ones in the baseball history.

Before we talk about this rivalry, it is important to know in a few words some significant facts about each team.

The Chicago Cubs

Founded in 1876 as the White Stocking and renamed years later as the Chicago Cubs, this team is without a doubt one of the most important ones in the MLB history. They are part of the National League since its foundation, and since that date, this team has played eleven World Series, which it has won in three times. In addition, the Cubs has also won 17 National League titles, 4 Central Division championships, and 2 East Division cups. Since 1916, they have played in the Wrigley Field, and they are also known as the Cubbies, the North Siders, the Blue Bears or the Baby Bears.

In the Chicago Cubs history, there have been wonderful players, which have been part not only from the Cubs history but also in baseball history. One of the most important figures of all time was Ernie Banks, who is considered one of the greatest players in the MLB history, being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, due to his amazing career and performance. Another imperative player was Ron Santo, who played almost his entire career with the Cubs and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.

The Chicago Cubs are the current World Series champions, which they did not win since 1908. This title was disputed against the Cleveland Indians, being won by the North Siders 4 games to 3.

Image courtesy of Shutter Runner at Flickr.com

The Chicago White Sox

Also known as the Sox, the South Siders or the Pale House, this team was founded in 1900, being considered one of the most traditional teams in the American League. Since its creation, the Sox has played in the South Side Park, the Comiskey Park and the Guaranteed Rate Field, which is their current stadium.

The South Siders has won 3 World Series titles, 6 American League cups, 2 Central Division championships and 2 West Division titles. In addition, the Sox has had in its history 4 Most Valuable Players, 6 Rookie of the year awards, and 5 Manager of the year trophies.

Like the Chicago Cubs, the White Sox have had very important players through its history; Frank Thomas is considered by many as the best player in the Sox history, due to his batting power and his records. Thomas was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, and for the time he retired, his batting average was .301 and scored 521 home runs. Another amazing player was Nellie Fox, who played for 13 seasons with the Sox and being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, for being one of the best second basemen in baseball history.

Image courtesy of Keith Allison at Flickr.com

The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox rivalry

As we mentioned, the rivalry between these two teams started in 1900, when the American League was founded, but it was not until 1997, when the interleague play was initiated, where these two squads met in an official game. Through history, they have had 108 meetings, where the White Sox have won 57 and the Cubs 51, in addition, the Sox has the largest victory record, which was 12-2 in 2005 season. Moreover, the White Sox have scored 506 runs in a regular season, while the Cubs have scored 495.

The 1906 World Series

In the 1906 season, the World Series was disputed by the two Chicago principal teams: The Cubs and the Sox. This game is one of the most historical ones in the MLB history, leaving as a winner the White Sox. The first game was disputed in October, where the Sox won 2 to 1, the 2nd game was won by the Cubs 7 to 1, the 3rd by the Sox 3 to 0, the 4th 1 to 0 for the Cubs and the last two games were won by the Sox, giving to them the World Series title against its classic rival.

After this title, the Cubs and the Sox have played on multiple occasions, and for this rivalry, other classic games between them were founded. One of the most important ones is the annual Windy City Classic, which is a charity game played since 1985.

Related: Two principal figures in the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series by Yosef Meystel

#The Chicago Cubs #the White Sox #the Major League Baseball #baseball #the MLB #Ernie Banks #Ron Santo #Rookie #Frank Thomas #Baseball Hall of Fame

6 Of The Greatest Chicago Players Of All Time

Today here in Yosef Meystel blog, we want to mix things up a bit by talking about some of the greatest players of some of our favorite Chicago teams. If you have read some of our previous posts, you’ll know I am talking about the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox in the world of baseball and the Blackhawks as the team that represents our city in hockey.

Chicagoans love for sports is only rivaled by their predilection for deep-dish pizza and the immense pride they hold for their city. The Blackhawks are one of the NHL’s most important franchises for being one of the original six teams that funded the league and also one of the most consistent winners of the Stanley Cup. When it comes to America’s pastime, the city of Chicago has not one, but two major league baseball teams with a some of the longest history and tradition of the sport.

Today we want to take a look at 6 giants of the history of sports in Chicago and why they became the most celebrated players of their respective team.

The Chicago White Sox

The newer of both of Chicago’s baseball franchises, the White Sox have been around since 1900. The White Sox two World Series titles before their controversial participation in the 1919 World Series in which some players were accused of throwing the championship on purpose in exchange for money. In 2005 the team ended their drought and went again to gain the highest title of the league. The home of the White Sox is the beautiful U.S. Cellular Field.

Frank Thomas

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the franchise was quite successful with 12 winning seasons in that time period. Frank Thomas became the face of the White Sox, a man who ended his career becoming the first man in baseball history to accomplish seven straight seasons of 20 plus home runs, 100 runs batted in, 100 walks and a .300 average. Not even Babe Ruth was able to put our numbers like that.

Shoeless Joe Jackson

Joe Jefferson Jackson was an outfielder who was involved in the 1919 scandal and thus halting his amazing career at its prime. Many still debate his guilt and during the last 30 years of this life, he always maintained that he was innocent. Jackson played left field and still holds the third-highest career batting average in major league history.

The Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are one of the charter members of the National League and were the first to win the National League Pennant, the highest honor in baseball at the time. The Cubs won the World Series in 1907 and 1908 back-to-back and then waited for 108 years to do it again. This is so far the longest drought in major sports’ history and also one of the most mystified happenings in the world of baseball. The “curse” has been attributed to a number of things (including a goat) but the Cubs finally lifted it last year with an amazing victory.

Ernie Banks

Nicknamed “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine, Ernie Banks is remembered by both his great positive attitude and his amazing feats in the field. He was the first African-American to debut for the Cubs and finished second on the NL Rookie of the Year and 16th in the MVP voting. He was however awarded the MVP in 1958 and 1959. Ernie Banks was considered one of the best baseball players of all times and in 2013 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to sports.

Image courtesy of Baseball Collection at Flickr.com

Ryne Sandberg

Ryne Sandberg will always be known for being a player that gave it all in the field and while he was quiet and kept his head down, he let his amazing ability do the talking. When he retired in 1997 he held the all-time record of 123 consecutive errorless games and he also had more hits and home runs than any second baseman in history.

The Chicago Blackhawks

One of the most successful franchises in the NHL, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times within 6 seasons from 2010 to 2015. The team is one of the original six that made up the NHL and have won the Stanley Cup 6 times in their history.

Stan Mikita

Right from the moment Stan Mikita joined the Blackhawks after playing for the St. Catharines Teepees, the Hawks won the Stanley Cup for the third time and he became famous for being one of the most feared midfielders in the decade of the 60s. Along with his teammate Bobby Hull, Mikita was notorious for using a curved stick, something that gave them a great advantage against goalkeepers.

Bobby Hull

Nicknamed “The Golden Jet”, Bobby Hull is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all times. His slapshot was once clocked at 118.3 mph and he could skate 29.7 mph. His effectiveness with the curved stick was such that the rules had to be changed to living the curvature of the stick because they trajectory of the puck was so erratic that it became a real danger to goalies.

Image courtesy of Feline Groovy at Flickr.com

#Chicago #Chicago Players #Chicago Cubs #White Sox #Blackhawks #hockey #baseball #the Stanley Cup #Frank Thomas #Joe Jefferson Jackson #Ernie Banks #Ryne Sandberg #Stan Mikita #Bobby Hull

The most important teams in Chicago

Through history, Chicago has been one of the most important cities in the United States, not only for its economic influence but also for other contributions that put this town as one of the more significant in America. Besides this, Chicago has a great cultural offer, excellent social initiatives and amazing commercial opportunities and agreements with other nations. Moreover, the Windy City has one of the largest Jewish community in the United States, which makes it an imperative place for Jews and their interests.

Besides those mentioned things, Chicago does a great contribution to the sports field in the United States. Currently, it has some of the most important teams in each of the principal American Leagues, like the Major League Baseball, with the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs, the National Football League, with the Chicago Bears and in the National Basketball League, with the Chicago Bulls. In this post, we will see a brief description of these teams and the some of the main aspects that make them so noteworthy for the American sports field.

The Chicago Cubs

Also known as the Cubbies, the North Siders, or the Blue Bears, the Chicago Cubs are the current champions of the World Series in the Major League Baseball. Founded in 1876 under the name of the White Stocking, the Cubs has 3 World Series titles, 17 National League championships, 4 Central Division trophies, and 2 East Division titles.

The Chicago Cubs has played in 7 different stadiums, like the 23rd Street Grounds in 1876, or the West Side Park in 1885, among other ballparks, but since 1916 to present, the Cubs play in the Wrigley Field, which is located on the North Side of Chicago.

Besides being one of the most historical teams in the MLB, the North Siders are also recognized for having some of the best players in the baseball’s history. One of its greatest figure without a doubt was Ernie Banks, also known as “Mr. Cub”, and considered one of the best players of all time, being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. Another important player was Ryne Sandberg, who is also a member of the Hall of Fame since 2005, or Greg Maddux, an extraordinary pitcher who played for the Cubs for almost 10 seasons.

Image courtesy of Yael Beeri at Flickr.com

The Chicago White Sox

Founded in 1894, the White Sox are the other major baseball team from Chicago, being a member of the American League. Since its creation, the White Sox has won 3 World Series titles, 6 American League trophies, 3 Central Division cups, and 2 West Division titles. Since 1991, the team plays in the Guaranteed Rate Field, but it has also played in the South Side Park, and the Comiskey Park.

The Chicago White Sox are not only one of the most traditional teams in the MLB, but also has had some of the most important players in the baseball history. One of its greatest figures was Nellie Fox who played for the White Sox for almost 13 seasons, being part of the All-Star Game in 15 seasons and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. Another amazing player was Frank Thomas, who played for 15 seasons with this team and batted 1.704 home runs as a professional baseball player, or Carlton Fisk, who is considered one of the best catchers in the White Sox history.

The Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are without a doubt one of the best-known teams in the entire NBA, not only for its exceptional history and achievements but also for have had the best basketball player in history in its alignment; Michael Jordan. This squad was founded in 1966, and in its 51 years of history, the team has won 6 NBA Championships, 6 Conference titles, and 9 Division titles.

As we mentioned, the Bulls had the best basketball player of all time; Michael Jordan, who played almost his entire career with them, beating countless records. But this squad, had also other significant figures in its history, like Scottie Pippen, who was a teammate of Michael Jordan, and is considered one of the best players in the NBA history, or Bob Love, who played for almost 10 seasons with the Bulls, and scored 13.895 points during his professional career.

Image courtesy of Tony at Flickr.com

The Chicago Bears

This is the unique NFL team in Chicago, and one of the most traditional squads in this league. It was founded in 1919, and since its foundation, it has won 1 Super Bowl, 8 NFL Championships, 4 Conference Championships, and 18 Division titles. Currently, the Bears play in the Soldier Field, but they have played in the Wrigley Field, the Staley Field, and the Memorial Stadium.

Some of its most important players have been Walter Payton, who played for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, being part of the Super Bowl title in 1985 and part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Another recognized figures were Mike Ditka or Bronko Nagurski.

Related: Two principal figures in the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series by Yosef Meystel

#Chicago #the Windy City #Chicago White Sox #Chicago Cubs #Chicago Bears #Chicago Bulls #Cubbies #NBA #MLB #NFL

Why the Chicago Cubs Are Cursed According To Fans

Fans are what make teams great. They are the reason for every player to shine and do its best at the field. The Chicago Cubs know this for a fact since they are the oldest professional sports team in the United States and have one of the most loyal fans in the world. Yosef Meystel knows that this can be affirmed because the team had one of the longest and most memorable droughts in baseball history and its fans remained true to the team and bled blue every time it lost a game.

Throughout history, the Chicago Cubs fans have tried to explain in several ways why the team spent 108 years without winning a world series and 71 years without even making it to the championship. These theories include a black cat, a fan named Steve Bartman and even a goat. Despite the numerous theories, the Chicago Cubs were finally able to make it to the World Series last year and win the title, breaking all the curses that are about to be listed:

The Billy Goat

Image Courtesy of John at flickr.com

1945 was an important year for most Americans. The World War II had finally come to an end and the Chicago Cubs were leading the World Series and were expecting to take a commanding 3-1 lead during the game hosted by Chicago in October. Fans were frenetic and the Game 4 of the series was supposed to be a big deal. It all went right when something special happened.

Most fans recall the event as the one that changed the Chicago Cubs fortune forever. The legend says that a Chicago resident named Billy Sianis (owner of the Billy Goat Tavern), tried to enter the baseball stadium with his goat (for which he had also bought tickets), the stadium’s staff told Sianis that they couldn’t allow his pet goat in. This situation upset Sianis, who supposedly set a curse upon the Cubs by saying that they wouldn’t win anymore.

That year, the Cubs lost the World Series to the Tigers in seven games and Sianis' words remained true during the next 71 years.

Related: Cubs' long history of 'curses'

The Black Cat

In June 1969, The Chicago Cubs had an 8 ½ game lead over the New York Mets. They had a bright future ahead and an enviable team full of players that would later make it to the hall of fame. It was all set for the Cubs to succeed until back luck came to the field.

Fans have told this story many times, stating that Ron Santo (a future hall of fame player) was at the Shea Stadium standing in the on-deck circle when a black cat walked between him and the team’s dugout. Black cats are known by the superstitious as a symbol of bad luck and since that day, that black cat that Ron Santo saw would also become a symbol of the Cubs lost to the Mets. The Chicago Cubs that year lost 10 games in a row and the cat became the perfect symbol fans used to explain this catastrophic event.

The Gatorade Glove

Once again in 1984, the Cubs were playing their way up to the World Series. Fans were expecting an outstanding outcome and even tempted fate by bringing a Billy Goat to the field at the beginning of the season. During the opening day, the Cubs ended with a historical score with a 96-65 record (the best in the NL). This gave the North Siders an advantage over the San Diego Padres.

During the entire season, the Cubs finally had a chance to make it to the World Series for the first time in 39 years. The game was tight but the odds were favorable until one thing happened. Legend says that the Cubs had a cooler filled with Gatorade, the same that was spilled in the Cubs dugout before the defining Game 5. The spilled Gatorade-soaked Durham's first baseman's glove and apparently caused the baseman trouble in his plays.

Fans still point the baseman’s glove to be responsible for the Cubs lost.

The Steve Bartman Incident

In 2003, the Cubs had good chances to win the Game 6 of the NLCS, but the shortstop Alex Gonzalez made a mistake that permitted five unearned runs to score. However, a few fans keep this event as the one that caused the Cubs to lose that year. Actually, most fans blame Steve Bartman on the failure of the Chicago Cubs to the Marlins 8-3 during that year.

On the 14th of October, the Chicago Cubs were up 3-2 in the series and were winning in the top of the eighth inning. It was then when Luis Castillo from the Marlins lifted a foul ball down the left-field and Moises Alou (the Cubs’ outfielder) reached up to catch the ball when several fans also tried to reach it. It was Bartman the one who deflected the ball away from Alou’s hand and unchained a series of events that would allow Castillo to draw a walk and leave the Cubs out of the World Series once again.

Image Courtesy of Jessie Lynn McMains at flickr.com

#Chicago Cubs #baseball #World Series #Steve Bartman #The Billy Goat #Billy Sianis #Ron Santo #The Gatorade Glove

Two principal figures in the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series

The 2016 world series, was without a doubt one of the most important titles in the Chicago Cubs history, not only for winning the World Series (4 games to 3 against the Cleveland Indians) 108 after their last championship but also for ending the Billy Goat curse. In addition, this title was won in extra innings (the 7th game was won by the Cubs 8 to 7 in the 10th inning), which has happened only five times in the history of the MLB. Moreover, this championship was special, because it is the sixth time where a team comes back after being losing 3 games to 1, which only has been achieved by the Pittsburgh Pirates on two occasions, the New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers, and the Kansas City Royals.

For reaching the World Series, the Cubs had to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League and the Cleveland Indians the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League. Knowing these facts and the main details of this title, then we can talk about some of the best players in the Chicago Cubs for winning this championship, but first it is interesting to know in a few words what the Billy Goat curse is, which we mentioned above.

The Billy Goat Curse

This curse was placed by William Sianis in the World Series of 1945, after being asked to leave the Wrigley Field (The Chicago Cubs stadium) due to the odor of his goat. After this, Sianis declared that this team will win no more a National League championship or a World Series. After this curse, the Cubs never won a title again until 2016.

Through history, the fans have tried to expel the Billy Goat curse, but it was not possible until 2016. In 1970, Sam Sianis (Billy’s nephew) went in multiple times to Wrigley Field with a goat to break the curse, but it did not work. In 2003, some Chicago Cubs fans went to Houston, where the Cubs were going to play again the Astros, their division rivals, with a new goat for breaking the curse, but it did not function either. Another attempt was in 2008, where a Greek Orthodox priest sprayed holy water in the Cubs dugout with no effect over this misfortune. Besides these efforts for breaking this spell, there have been other actions, but nothing worked until 2016.

Knowing what this curse is, then we can talk about some of the most important players for winning the 2016 World Series, ending the Billy Goat curse.

Kris Bryant

Image courtesy of Minda Haas Kuhlmann at Flickr.com

Born in 1992 in Las Vegas, he was a vital key for the 2016 Cubs title due to his amazing performance as a third baseman. Since he is a professional player, has been with Chicago, being considered one of the most versatile and recursive players in the MLB, thanks to play not only as a third baseman, but also as a first base, left field, right field, center field, and shortstop. Before playing the World Series, Bryant was already the favorite candidate for being the Most Valuable Player in that season.

During his two seasons as a professional player, Kris has participated for those seasons in the All-Star Game (2015, 2016). He also was the National League Rookie of the year in 2015, won the National League Aaron Award in 2016 and was the Most Valuable Player for that season. Before being a professional player, Bryant won the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy. Currently, Kris has .284 of batting average, 65 home runs, 21 stolen bases and 201 RBI.

Related: Some retired numbers of important Chicago Cubs players by Yosef Meystel

Javier Baez

Image courtesy of Minda Haas Kuhlmann at Flickr.com

Born in Puerto Rico in 1992, Javier has been part of the Chicago Cubs since 2014. During these seasons with the Cubs, Baez has .247 of batting average, 24 home runs, 83 of RBI and 18 stolen bases. In 2016 season, Baez was one of the most important batters for Chicago, hitting vital home runs in crucial games, like the grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds in the 15th inning, or the solo home run against the Washington Nationals in the 13th inning. For these essential plays and other important contributions, Javier was the National League Most Valuable Player.

During the first game between the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers of the NL Championship for the 2016 season, Baez stole the home, being the first player since Jimmy Slagle in 1907 doing this amazing play. Thanks to this movement, Javier is the only one in baseball history that stole the home in a playoff game.

In this post, we have seen two of the most important figures of the Chicago Cubs for the 2016 title, not only for being considered the Most Valuable Players but also for their performance in the seven games of the World Series. But there are other significant players that contributed to this championship, like Jon Lester, Anthony Rizzo or Willison Contreras.

#Chicago Cubs #World Series #Billy Goat #William Sianis #Wrigley Field #Kris Bryant #Golden Spikes Award #Javier Baez #the National League #baseball

Everything You Need To Know About Our Beloved Chicago Mascots

The mascot is definitely an important part of the show. There have been studies and reports that even rate mascots and list them in rankings that separate some of the best out there, but I think we can all agree that this is very subjective and it goes along with the team you pretty much root for. What makes a mascot great has a lot to do with the audience and what they as a symbol represent to the franchise. Some mascots are very easy to spot and known by almost everyone while others are less popular and charismatic.

Chicago mascots are diverse, funny and of course loved by all fans out there. They have funny personalities and are great ambassadors of what their teams represent while always being present and helping the crowns get in the spirit of the game. Some rivalry between mascots is also common, something that gives these great characters, even more, personality and helps them create a narrative to their own particular roles within the franchise.

Today in Yosef Meystel Tumblr, we want to talk about the story of three of our most beloved mascots in Chicago and some information about them that maybe you didn't even know.

Clark the Bear Cub - The Cubs

Clark is the official mascot of the Chicago Cubs, he is a “young, friendly cub” wearing the team’s jersey and a backward baseball cap who greets the fans entering Wrigley Field. The stadium is located at the corner of Clark and Addison Street. The name of the mascot comes from this iconic street and its importance to the stadium. Clark was announced in January of 2014 as the first official mascot in the modern history of the Chicago Cubs, something that is quite amazing considering that the team is one of the oldest sports franchises in the country. Before Clark, there were some unofficial mascots that were never employed by the team like the “bearman” who was just some guy in a polar bear suit and also a couple of bear cubs who would stand outside and take pictures with fans. One of those bear cubs became quite famous and worked outside of the stadium for around six years, his name was Billy the Cub but he was never officially employed by the team. The creation of Clark was due to fans pleads to make the team more kid friendly and to add an element to entertain the whole family. The Cubs became the 27th team in MLB to have a mascot.

Southpaw - The White Sox

Featured Image courtesy of Joseph Mietus at Flickr.com

The official mascot of the Chicago White Sox has been called an alligator, a frog, and even a dirty sock according to an interview of the mascot found on the team’s official website, but Southpaw describes himself simply as a “green dude who loves the White Sox”. The name comes from the nickname given to left-handed pitchers and the South-side of Chicago where the White Sox play. Southpaw was on a float during the parade of President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009.

The White Sox have a longer history with mascots than the Cubs, as they literally had a clown for a mascot for 30 years since 1961 until 1991 called “Andy the Clown”. Andy became the mascot after being invited to a game and deciding to wear his clown costume to cheer other fans in his section. People loved him and after he received free season tickets he decided to wear the costume to all games. When the team changed ownership in the early 80’s, they tried to introduce two new mascots called “Ribbie and Roobarb” but the fans were having none of it. In the early 90’s Waldo, The White Sox Wolf was introduced but the cartoon wolf didn't stick around for long. Southpaw was officially presented in 2004.

Tommy Hawk - The Blackhawks

Featured Image courtesy of City Year at Flickr.com

Tommy is the official mascot of the Chicago Blackhawks and he is a hawk wearing feathers on his head, the team’s jersey and pants. The name of the team and the creation of Tommy have everything to do with the 19th-century Sauk Indian warrior, Black Hawk. Recently there was some controversy due to a skit performed by Tommy and Nordy, the mascot of the Minnesota Wild, a current division rival of the Blackhawks. During the skit that started with the celebration of Nordy’s birthday, the Wild Animal from Minnesota (nobody knows what type of animal Nordy is) beat Tommy senseless with a baseball bat and the hawk had to be dragged out of the ice while fans watched silently. The good news is that this was all planned and the mascots weren’t hurt obviously, but people were upset because of the children and what the mascots represent to the younger fans that visit the games with their families looking to enjoy the matches.

#Clark the Bear Cub #The Cubs #Chicago Mascots #Southpaw #The White Sox #Waldo #Tommy Hawk #The Blackhawks

Some retired uniform numbers on the Chicago White Sox

Image courtesy of Keith Allison at Flickr.com

One of the greatest honors for a baseball player is to have his uniform number retired by the team he played. With this, the honored player will be always remembered by his number. The first team making this distinction was the New York Yankees in 1929, and three years later, this was established by other baseball squads. Currently, more than 100 uniform numbers have been retired by all the Major League Baseball teams, giving to the players that wore those number a great gift for immortalizing them.

There is some player that have been honored retiring their numbers not only from the teams where they competed but by all the other clubs in the MLB. One of the most important players in baseball history rewarded with this honor was Jackie Robinson, who played almost his entire life with the Brooklyn Dodgers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Another important figure honored retiring its number was Rusty Staub who played more than 20 years in seven different teams or Andre Dawson, also known as “Awesome Dawson”, one of the best players in the MLB history with more than 420 home runs.

In the White Sox history, there have been also important figures honored with their uniform numbers retired. In this article, we will see some of these players and important facts about their performance.

Luis Aparicio – Number 11

Also known as "Little Louie", is a Venezuelan figure remembered for being the first Venezuelan player member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1984. Luis played for almost 20 years in the MLB and was considered one of the best shortstops in that time. With the Chicago White Sox, he played from 1956 to 1962 and returned in from 1968 to 1970. Besides being one of the best shortstops as an active player, “Little Louie” was well known for his abilities stealing bases.

Playing for the White Sox, Aparicio led the stolen bases ranking for two consecutive seasons (1957 and 1958), and a year later, he was a key part for disputing the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was won by the latter team. Besides the Chicago squad, Luis played in the Baltimore Orioles and with the Boston Red Sox.

During his career, “Little Louie” had a batting average of .262, scored 2.677 hits and 83 home runs. Moreover, he had 791 of RBI and stole 506 bases. He was also part of the All-Star Game for 13 seasons and awarded 9 Gold Gloves. In 1966, playing for the Baltimore Orioles, he won the World Series and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of this team.

Image courtesy of James G at Flickr.com

Jacob Nelson "Nellie" Fox – Number 2

Born in 1927 and died in 1975, “Nellie” is considered one of the best second basemen in the MLB history. He played for almost 20 seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Houston Astros. With the Chicago White Sox, Jacob disputed 13 seasons, being the first second baseman to win a Gold Glove (1957). In addition, “Nellie” had the MLB record for being the second baseman with more consecutive games in that position (798).

During his career, Fox had a batting average of .288 and scored 2.663 hits and 35 home runs. As an active player, he was one of the most difficult players to strike out. He also appeared in 15 All-Star Game and in 1959, and due to his great performance, was elected as the American League MVP. In 1997, he was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. After his retirement, Fox coached the Houston Astros and the Washington Senators for 4 seasons.

Frank Edward Thomas, Jr. – Number 35

Born in 1968, Frank was well-known for his batting power. During his 18 years as an active player, Thomas was considered one of the best hitters of his time, being the unique player in the MLB history having a .300 of batting average for seven consecutive seasons. He played almost his entire career with the White Sox and his last three years, he competed with the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays and backed with the Oakland Athletics.

As a professional player, Thomas participated for 5 consecutive seasons in the All-Star Games, won 4 Silver Slugger Award and was elected in 1993 and 1994 as the American League MVP. Moreover, he won the American League Batting Championship in 1997. In addition, at his retirement, Thomas had .301 of batting average, scored 2.468 hits and 521 home runs. In 2014, he was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Frank is considered one of the greatest idols in the Chicago White Sox history. Besides being honored with the retirement of his uniform number by this team, Thomas was also commemorated in 2011 with a bronze statue on the outfield hall at U.S. Cellular Field.

Related: Some retired numbers of important Chicago Cubs players by Yosef Meystel

#Chicago White Sox #baseball #Major League Baseball #Jackie Robinson #Baseball Hall of Fame #Rusty Staub #Andre Dawson #Luis Aparicio #“Little Louie”#World Series #Jacob Nelson #Gold Glove #Frank Edward Thomas Jr #All-Star Games

Some historical captains for the Blackhawks

Image courtesy of Richard Roche at Flickr.com

Founded in 1926, the Chicago Blackhawks have been one of the most important teams in the American National Hockey League. Since its birth, this squad has won six Stanley Cups, four conference championships, two president's trophies and 15 division championships. Besides being one of the most significant teams in the NHL, the Blackhawks are part of the Original Six, which is a selected group of the six hockey teams in the NHL (the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs) that have been part of this league since the NHL expansion in 1967.

One of the vital pieces for any sport team is the captain, which must be the leader and pilot for its teammates. Since the Chicago Blackhawks foundation, they have had multiple figures and great players, which have taken this team to important competition levels, but the captain role has been crucial for all these achievements and successful accomplishments. In this post, we will see some of the most important captains in the Hawks history, and their contribution to this squad, but first, it is important to understand some elements about it.

The hockey captain

As we mentioned, the captain is who is distinguished for its leadership skills and abilities. In hockey, he is in the team member selected to speak with the game officials when there is a doubtful play. In other words, the captain is in charge to intermediate between his team and the referees when there is a play that must be revised under the game rules. Outside the ice field, the captain is also the one who represents the team in different public events, like press conferences, social functions, ceremonies, presentations, among other responsibilities and activities.

Dick Irvin

Born in Canada, in 1892, Irvin was the first captain in the history of the Blackhawks, when the team was founded in 1926. With them, Irvin played for two seasons, being considered one of the most important players in the NHL history. For his first season with Chicago, Dick finished in the second place at the scoring rank, helping the Blackhawks to be the most scoring team for that season in the entire NHL. In 1928, Dick fractured his skull during a game, forcing him to retire in that season.

After his retirement, Irvin was hired as the Chicago Blackhawks coach for the 1929-1931 seasons, taking this squad to the 5th place in the NHL. For the 1930-1931 season, Irvin led the Hawks to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost with the Montreal Canadiens. In 1931, Dick left the team and coached other hockey clubs like the Toronto Maple Leafs for almost 10 seasons and the Montreal Canadiens for almost 15 seasons. In 1956, he returned to the Hawks for one season.

During his career, Irvin was considered one of the best players for his time in the NHL, and for the Blackhawks, he was a great leader, being inducted in the Hockey hall of Fame in 1958.

Image courtesy of Nicole Yeary at Flickr.com

Keith Magnuson

Born in Canada in 1947, Magnuson was the captain for the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played his entire career, during four seasons (1976-1980). With Chicago, he competed for ten seasons, playing 589 games, scoring 14 goals and assisting 125 for 139 points. Due to his strength and game power, Magnuson was named the captain, moreover, he is considered one of the best defenders in the Hawks history. After his retirement in 1980, Keith was the coach for the Hawks for two seasons.

During his career, Magnuson played for two consecutive seasons in the NHL All-Star Game. In addition, he was honored with the All-WCHA First Team for two times, the AHCA West All-American in two seasons and the All-NCAA All-Tournament First Team in 1968 and 1969.

Darryl Sutter

Sutter was born in Alberta, Canada in 1958, and was the leader of the Hawks for five seasons (1982-1987). During his professional career, Darryl played for 13 seasons (1974-1987) for the New Brunswick Hawks and for Chicago. As the Blackhawks captain, Sutter won two Division Championships, and during his eight years with the Hawks, he competed in 406 games, scoring 279 points, 161 goals, 118 assists.

After his retirement, Sutter coached different NHL teams. In 1992, he was the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks for three seasons, with 216 games, winning 110 and losing 80. Two years later, he was hired by the San Jose Sharks, where he coached for six seasons, playing 434 games, winning 193 and losing 167. The next three seasons, Sutter coached the Calgary Flames and three years later, he was employed by the Los Angeles Kings, disputing with this squad five seasons, winning the Stanley Cup two times (2011 and 2013). As a coach, Sutter conducted 1203 games, with 596 wins and 432 losses.

Related: Some of the best moments the Blackhawks had last year by Yosef Meystel

#Blackhawks #Chicago Blackhawks #American National Hockey League #hockey #Dick Irvin #Keith Magnuson #Darryl Sutter

What can we expect about the White Sox during 2017?

Image courtesy of Keith Allison at Flickr.com

A new year has already begun, and with it, good baseball will come. Although 2016 was not the best year for this wonderful team, all the fans have high hopes that 2017 will be a year of great changes and victories. However, only G-d knows what the future will bring. The wonderful thing about baseball and sports, in general, is that neither the statistics, nor the training, nor the alignments, nor the rest of the thousands of variables guarantee the victory. Chance, fortunately for some and misfortunately for others, is usually a determining factor in sports results. In this post, I will talk about some significant changes that are brewing inside the team, which will surely affect the results of this year (hopefully for good.)

The first thing to note is that Rick Renteria will be behind the wheel of the Chicago White Sox during 2017. Rick Renteria received a second chance to lead the WS, hoping he could bring promising results for the team. Renteria will take over a team that has played only once in the playoffs since the World Series in 2005, and will have a second chance after the Cubs let him go abruptly after a 73 - 89 in 2014, in order to be able to hire Joe Maddon.

Renteria is the only Hispanic manager in the major leagues, and general manager Rick Hahn added that his ability to communicate with players in English and Spanish is actually a great advantage.

The second positive point is that the team has given Cabrera a second chance for his career. Everth Cabrera managed to rehabilitate in Cuba, to shine again in the Professional League with the Boer Indians and, in this way, he made it possible for the Chicago White Sox to give him an opportunity to participate in the spring training and fight for a position in the big team. A new opportunity in the big leagues is a wonderful start for a likely future star.

Read also: The best games of the White Sox that will make you fall in love with this team, by Yosef Meystel

"The good news is that I'm already part of the Chicago White Sox organization," said the Nicaraguan player. "This team gave me the opportunity to go to spring training. The idea is that I can compete for a position as a utility. "According to Cabrera, some White Sox scouts came to his country to watch the performance of Angel Cabrera, the Cuban reliever who was playing with the Indians. However, his performance from both the batting box and the defensive zone impressed the envoys of Chicago.

Image courtesy of Topher. at Flickr.com

Nevertheless, some come in and others come out. Jose Quintana, the great Colombian player, could leave the team. "There is a lot of talk about changes this year, but that is not under my control," said Quintana. "I'm happy to be here, and I have new teammates this year, we have very good talent people for this year and here I am, I'm totally focused on the White Sox." The New York Yankees are continuing their push for consolidating their roster of starting players for the 2017 Major League Baseball season, so, the Bronx Bombers do not give up their intentions to get the services of the Colombian pitcher Jose Quintana. Brian Cashman, the Yankees general manager, is still negotiating with the Chicago White Sox to bring the left-handed pitcher to the New York team.

These small big changes in the team may represent true turning points in future results. But we all have to face it: this kind of adjustments are always traumatic, especially when a player like Quintana has shown what he is made of and has earned the affection of the fans.

One of the open positions on the payroll is the catcher. Zack Collins, who was the club's first draft team during 2016, is still a year or two away from reaching the big team while he polishes his game in the minors. The Venezuelan catcher Omar Narvaez earned a special spot on the roster with what he did at the end of the last season, but probably he will not be considered as the holder of the position. A free agent could take that place until Collins arrives, as well as serving as his mentor. The White Sox could also get a face mask via a change.

The White Sox's long-term goal is to become a team that advances the playoffs consistently and they can, if things go well, win the World Series several times (G-d willing.) In order to reach that goal, they will try new paths this year. The team began their rebuilding, something that many fans think that should have started earlier. Let’s see what happens.

This year will surely be surprising!

Recommended: 2016 Chicago White Sox Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics

#White Sox #baseball #Rick Renteria #Chicago White Sox #World Series #Angel Cabrera #Jose Quintana #Zack Collins #Omar Narvaez

Some of the best moments the Blackhawks had last year

At the end of the year or at the beginning of every new one we tend to look back and analyze what was not done well and what was done right. It is a time where everybody everywhere thinks about the past and the future to come and analyses everything around it.

In sports it is a time to think about how a team played, what was done well and could be repeated; what was done wrong and definitely is going to change. When you look back at these events you can find many ways of understanding what you, your team or even your company is doing.

So that is exactly what Yosef Meystel did with the Blackhawks’ year. Yosef took the time to do a little research on those amazing moments that are worth remembering from the year 2016 in the Blackhawks team.

Artemi Panarin

And nobody gave a dime for this guy and thought his contract was very expensive and had many bonuses that were costing too much money for the team. But when in Panarin had the chance to collect his bonuses, oh did he did so. In the final regular-season game of 2015-16 in Columbus and in overtime with a big probability of losing, Panarin scored two goals and an assist to win the game and place himself in the top 10 players in scoring, which gave him the bonuses that were so criticized. It cost the team a little bit more but in the end, it was him that saved the day. After all this fuss, Panarin went to earn the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year and promised to deliver even more scores and collect more bonuses.

Patrick Kane

We have already talked about this guy and his talent in many other posts. In 2016 he scored more than 100 points breaking some records in the NHL and in the team itself. Kane scored an incredible 106 points which gave him the privilege of being the first U.S.-born player to go over the 100 points barrier since Doug Weight who scored 104 points in 1995-1996 season with the Edmonton Oilers; and the first Blackhawks player to go over this barrier since Jeremy Roenick in the 1993-1994 season where he scored 107 points. Kane took some trophies of his own like the Art Ross Trophy due to his points and the Hart Trophy for league MVP. There is a big fan discussion about Kane and Panarin, on who helps who, but in the end, the important thing is that they are scoring and that the Blackhawks are getting very solid.

Joel Quenneville

The coach, the boss, the leader. Joel is a coach that likes to coach victories. He has been around the NHL for quite some time and his career hit a very high point in January 2016 when he broke a record that only Al Arbour had and became the second coach to have the most winnings in the NHL history. That very remembered victory against the Montreal Canadiens was part of one of the best streaks of the team. People now want Joel to reach Scotty Bowman’s record of 1,244 victories but Joel says that for the time being he is safe, that is one record that would be very hard to break.

The Blues eliminate the Blackhawks.

Ok, this is not a very good one. The good one about this one is that it was one of the most exciting series in the NHL last year. All the fans were waiting for Brent Seabrook to come through with one or two of his amazing goals but that did not happen. Instead, the ex-Blackhawks forward Troy scored the winning goal and sent the Blackhawks home in game 7.

Marian Hossa scores his 500th career goal.

Well, it could be a personal goal but it was moving for the team to see its star reach such a number. He had been trying to get that goal since last season but it was just not possible. He was cheered and mobbed by all the team and the stadium almost went down when this happened. In the ceremony, Hossa’s daughter was with him and it was every emotional for everybody. For Hossa, this was a weight off and it happened before a bad injury that left him for a long period of time without playing.

Image courtesy of Sarah A. at Flickr.com

Andrew Shaw goes away

Shaw was special for the team but he has to follow his own career path, he signed a six-year, $23.4 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens. He could have been great for the Blackhawks as he was 100% committed and had a net presence that not so many players have. He was replaced by Ryan Hartman.

Image courtesy of Sarah A. at Flickr.com

Be sure to also read this post about 2 under 25 players that will play for the Blackhawks this season

#Artemi Panarin #Blackhawks #Patrick Kane #Joel Quenneville #Marian Hossa #Andrew Shaw #hockey #chicago blackhawks

Some retired numbers of important Chicago Cubs players

Since its foundation in 1876, the Chicago Cubs have been one of the most significant and traditional teams in the Major League Baseball history. This club has had different names, like the Chicago White Stockings, the Chicago Colts, and the Chicago Orphans, and has been known as the Cubbies, the North Siders, the Little Bears, the Blue Bears or the Baby Bears and the play currently in the Wrigley Field park.

The Chicago Cubs are not only one of the most known teams in the Major League, but also one of the most winners in the National League, achieving 17 titles. Besides these triumphs, the club has 4 Central Division Titles and 2 East Division Titles. Moreover, they are the current champions of the World Series, which they have won in other three times.

Knowing these important things about the team, and having this introduction, then we can go deeper in some of its most significant players, which for their great achievements, have been honored by retiring their playing numbers. In this article, we will talk about some of these important figures and their success with the North Siders.

Ron Santo

Image courtesy of Antonio Delgado at Flickr.com

Playing for more than 12 years with the Chicago Cubs, almost his entire career, Ron Santo is one of the greatest idols in the Cubs history. With 2.254 hits, .277 of batting average, 342 home runs and 1.331 of RBI, Santo is considered one of the best players in the baseball history, playing for the third base position. Besides his statistics as a player, Ron participated in 9 All-Stars games, won 5 Golden Glove award and was inducted in 2012 into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ron competed with the number 10 on his back, and in September of 2003, the Blue Bears honored him retiring his playing number. Through this action, Ron received one of the most beautiful commemorations that a baseball player can have.

After his retirement, Santo worked as a commentator for the WGN radio and for the Pat and Ron Show. He also worked in the broadcasting industry with figures like Harry Caray, Tom Brennaman, and Bob Brenley.

Ernie Banks

Image courtesy of libsciterp at Flickr.com

Also known as “Ernie”, “Mr. Cub” or “Mr. Sunshine”, Ernie Banks is considered for most Chicago Cubs fans as the best player in the team’s history. He played for almost 20 years with the North Siders (his entire career), getting a batting average of .274, 2.583 hits, 5212 home runs and 1.636 of RBI. Moreover, “Mr. Cub” participated in 14 All-Stars games, was in 1958 and 1959 the National League Most Valuable Player and is part of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Besides his playing statistics, Ernie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. In addition, his number (14) was retired in august of 1982, being the first player in the Chicago Cubs history to have his number retired, commemorating his accomplishments and success competing with the Little Bears.

After his retirement, Ernie was remembered as one of the best players in the Baseball history, being for two consecutive seasons (1958 and 1959) the home run leader in the National League.

Greg Maddux

This amazing pitcher, played for 8 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, spread over two periods; the first one from 1986 to 1992 and the second one from 2004 to 2006. During his participation with the Cubs, Maddux showed his amazing skills as a pitcher, winning more than 5 golden gloves and other important achievements.

During his career, Maddux also played for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres. In his more than 20 years as an active baseball player, Greg participated in 8 All-Stars games, won 18 National League Golden Gloves and one World Series Championship. Besides these triumphs, Maddux earned a 355-227 win-loss record and 3.371 strikeouts. Moreover, he is the only pitcher in the Major League Baseball history that won more than 15 games in 17 seasons.

In 2014, Maddux was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 2009, his number (31) was retired not only in the Chicago Cubs but also in the Atlanta Braves, to commemorate his success as a remarkable pitcher. Currently, he is considered one of the best pitchers in the baseball history, being nominated to be part of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

In this article, we showed three of the most important players of the North Siders who were commemorated retiring their playing numbers, but there are other significant figures who also were honored with their number retirement like Billy Williams, who played for 15 seasons with the Cubs and his number was retired in 1987. Or Ferguson Jenkins, playing as a pitcher for 8 years with the Little Bears, being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, and being honored with his number retirement in 2009.

Related: 10 Reasons To Love The Chicago Cubs by Yosef Meystel

#Chicago Cubs #Major League Baseball #Chicago White Stockings #Chicago Colts #Chicago Orphans #Cubbies #the Little Bears #Wrigley Field park #Ron Santo #Ernie Banks #Greg Maddux

The best games of the White Sox that will make you fall in love of this team

Image courtesy of Boston Public Library at Flickr.com

There are many reasons to love this major league baseball team. They are always full of energy and despite the bad spins that any team has, they have always managed to get ahead. They are also from the oldest teams in the major leagues of baseball, which makes them more endearing and known. In addition, they also have behind them a past full of plays that went down in history. Here, four of them:

Their first world series won

Against all odds, the White Sox won against the Chicago Cubs in this championship that ran from October 9 to June 14, 1906. Although the opposing team had already won in other occasions, the White Sox struck out and triumphed winning 4 games against two.

Besides that, this moment was loaded with other data that made it unique in history. The championship was by itself a singular event because it was played for the first time without leaving Chicago and as both teams were of this city, every day they changed stadium. The odd games were played on the West Side Grounds of the Cubs, while the pairs were played in South Side Park, now called Comiskey Park.

Another curious fact is that throughout the World Series there were no home runs, however, it was very common to see the play called "Spitball or Spitter" in which White Sox player Ed Walsh was an expert. It consisted of putting saliva to the ball to create an effect and make the batter more difficult to hit. It could also reach a higher speed that could even badly hurt a person. Although this type of launches is currently prohibited, by then it was allowed and even was a great advantage for the team that had a member able to make this release.

Other players who were for this match were the left-handed Nick Altrock and Georgetown "Doc" White. There was also Frank Owen, Jiggs Donahue, George Rohe, Georg Davis, Lee Tannchill.

Second World Series won and Second American League Championship

For this moment, the White Sox had assured the win thanks to a great team. Under Pants Rowland's instructions, they went out victorious of the American League champions with a 100-54 record and return to the World Series to face and win the New York Giants 4 games against two. It was played since October 6 to 15 of that month in 1917. From the first game, which was held at Comiskey Park, they won 2-1.

Image courtesy of David Wilson at Flickr.com

Their team was extraordinary because among its members there were several with years of experience. Among the pitchers were two great celebrities: Ed Cicotte and Red Faber. The first had won 28 games and had a record of 28-12, 1.53 while the second was 16-13, 1.92. Between both pitched 50 innings in the game. Among other great players was Eddie Collins, who has been recognized as one of the best players in second base, Jackson and the catcher Ray Schalk, who since he was 18 made baseball his life. For him, White Sox paid up to $ 10,000, because by then he had a great reputation for being the best catcher.

Fourth American League Championship

Despite difficult times in the past, the White Sox returned to the American League championship when they faced the Dodgers winning 4 games against 2. The places in which the championship was disputed was in the Comiskey Park of White Sox and Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.

That day the record of tickets sold in a game of the World Series was of more than 92 thousand. This championship was done from the first of October until the 8 of that month in 1959. By then, the equipment went by a quarter triumphs after winning the third in 1919. Although they failed to reach the World Series, it was a moment of great expectation where the team managed to prove that it was still strong.

For this championship they also had all the hopes in the equipment, even they were nicknamed them "Go-Go Sox". His team was made up of great characters. They were directed by Al Lopez who was two times All Star. They also had Luis Paricio, Jacob "Nelly", Ted Kluszewski, among others.

Triumph in American League Championship

This is a great date for the White Sox team because for the first time in 77 years they managed to make four consecutive games in the playoffs. This was possible thanks to Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Mark Buehrle, and Jose Contreras who rotated to make four-pitch. This championship was given from October 11 to 16 of that month in 2005.

Between these four players, Mark Buehrle played for the team from 2004 to 2008 with a break in 2005. This character is 5 times All Star, and for that year, began season with a record of 10-3. Garland was also a major member of White Sox, for 2004 he was 12-11 with a 4.89 ERA and for 2005 he rose to 18-10 with a 3.50 ERA.

#White Sox #major league #baseball team #world series #South Side Park #Comiskey Park #Nick Altrock #Frank Owen #American League champions #Chicago White Sox

5 traditions every fan will cherish

Image courtesy of Lei Han at Flickr.com

Sports have the power to make people move all over the emotional spectrum at the drop of a dime. One play can change a whole game, even a whole season. For all of the feelings a fan goes through during the game there will always be something that connects fans: traditions. Traditions in sports can become things of legends. Chicago is one of those cities where traditions are time honored and respected. It’s another reason why the Windy City is one of the greatest sports cities. Sports fans make pilgrimages to different cities to witness some sports traditions. As a proud Chicago sports fan, Yosef Meystel is here to share the best traditions Chicago has to offer local and travelling fans.

1. The seventh inning stretch at a Cubs game

A Cubs game is full of traditions, and none may be greater than what goes down during the bottom of the seventh inning, or as it’s known, the seventh inning stretch. Harry Caray, the Cubs legendary announcer made “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” a tradition. Caray’s passing in 1998 did not stop the tradition from gaining momentum. Throughout the years, many celebrities have partaken in the tradition, cementing its legacy. Bill Murray’s version as Daffy Duck took the moment to a whole new level. Singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is definitely one of the most traditional things in all of sports.

2. Getting loud at a Chicago Blackhawks game

Hockey is huge in the Windy City. Chicagoans love their Blackhawks and they love to show it, no matter where they play. Blackhawk fans are known to be some of the best travelling fans and will go anywhere to support their team. You are sure to see a sea of red at any hockey game where the Hawks are playing. Experiencing them when they are away is a spectacle all in itself, but what happens at home in the United Center is completely out of this world. Cheering during the National Anthem? That sounds crazy and for some it’s even a lack a respect, but not for Blackhawks fans. They cheer as loud as they can and the moment is downright inspiring to the home players and intimidating for the visiting team. You would think that that’s as loud as they get, think again. Blackhawks fans will pound the glass as hard as they can whenever a visiting team gets even remotely close to it. Make sure you bring earplugs if you’re planning to see a Blackhawks game, you’ll definitely need it.

3. Throw it back at a Cubs game

No home team loves it when another team scores, the sport doesn’t matter. But what happens when the visiting team hits a homerun on the Cubs is a tradition that few can mimic. The bleacher seats at Cubs games are some of the most honored seats in all the game. Comfort comes second to enjoying the moment. As soon as the visiting team hits one out of the park it’s the home team’s duty and obligation to throw it back. The longer you take to do so, the louder it gets until you finally throw it back.

Image courtesy of Peter Miller at Flickr.com

4. You haven’t been to a Bears game until you’ve tailgated at a Bears game.

Tailgating and football go hand-in-hand, but doing it at a Bears game is magical. Chicago fans support their teams through thick and thin, and lately it’s been thin for the Bears and their fans. However, that doesn’t stop them from throwing some of the best tailgating parties in all the country. And doing so in constantly freezing just makes the experience that much more exciting.

5. Don’t stop believing

Journey’s hit song exemplifies the spirit of Chicago sports. Chicago fans, whether they root for the Bears, Cubs, or White Sox, always think that their team has a chance to make a comeback. Chicago franchises have been part of some of the longest drought of championships throughout sports and that fact has not made their passion for their teams dwindle. On the contrary, it has made them more passionate. Chicago fans will always cheer for their team and they will always believe great things are on the verge of happening. That is perhaps the greatest Chicago sports tradition that can be passed on to future generations.

Chicago definitely has to be on the bucket list of any sports fan. Experiencing the traditions that have made the city a legendary sports town will definitely bring joy to any fan’s heart. Most cities only offer traditions for one sports team, but Chicago has something for everyone. You will definitely not regret coming to see a game in Chicago. You will take with you memories that you will cherish for years to come and something that you can tell your grandkids you had the privilege of experiencing.

#the Windy City #Chicago #sports #Cubs #Hockey #Chicago Blackhawks #Bears #football #Chicago fans

10 Reasons To Love The Chicago Cubs

Image courtesy of WhosThisValGirl at Flickr.com

The Chicago Cubs are without a doubt one of the most iconic teams in the history of sports in the United States. After 71 years without playing a World Series, the Cubs finally made in 2016 and not just that, but they took the ring home after a 108-year drought, both of those lengths of times are records in the books.

Being a Cubs fan is definitely not for everyone. However, there are many reasons to love the Cubs with all of our hearts, no matter if you like baseball or even if you are from Chicago, the Cubs have something to capture you: The uniforms, the mascot, the beautiful park or perhaps even the satisfaction of watching the underdog come out on top are just a few things that come on to mind when celebrating the history of the “lovable losers”

Wrigley Field

Designed by architect Zachary Taylor Davis, Wrigley Field is one of the most beautiful and traditional sports venues in the United States that still contains all the tradition and history of one of the greatest teams of the league. The ballpark showcases adjacent rooftop seating, beautiful red brick walls, the hand-operated scoreboard and the iconic ivy-covered outfield fence; this last feature is something unique to Wrigley Field today and is notorious how the color of the leaves change during different seasons.

Image courtesy of Joe Penniston at Flickr.com

Celebrity Fans

When it comes to celebrities, I think we can all agree that you can’t really do any better than Bill Murray, and when it comes to being a fan, it is also safe to say that has most of them beaten as well. But Mr. Murray is not the only one who is on our list as other worthy mentions are Nick Offerman the actor from Parks and Recreation, comedian Stephen Colbert, Bob Newhart, John Cusack and Pearl Jam’s frontman Eddie Vedder.

108 Years

The Chicago Cubs won back-to-back the World Series Championship in 1907 and 1908 (they failed to win 1906 against the White Sox) and then they had to wait 108 years for their next victory, a number that marks the longest championship drought in North American professional sports, something that means that being a Cubs fan is a real labour of love.

The Rich History

The Chicago Cubs are a team of history and tradition. They have been known by multiple names: the White Stockings, Orphans, Colts, Panamas, Rainmakers, Spuds, Trojans, Microbes, and Zephyrs; but since they became a charter member of the National League in 1870 they have been the only team to play constantly in the same city since their formation. More than 140 years of baseball and giving their fans unforgettable moments.

The Uniform

The Cub’s uniform combines features that have made other uniforms in the league notorious like the pinstripes of the Yankees, the clean white look of the Dodgers and the beautiful on-jersey logo of the Cardinals. The red, white and blue look good in all different presentations whether you are looking at the home or visitors uniform. Its classic design is reminiscent of the earlier days of the league and it still keeps some of those touches to this day.

Starting Time

Ask any Cubs’ fan and they will tell you that 1:20 pm is a special time. This is the exact hour when home games are supposed to start. This time is not set in stone as it changes sometimes, but for the most part is very consistent and it is something that is a fact recorded in every single fan’s mind.

The Curse of The Billy Goat

This is probably one of the most famous sports-related-curses in history. In 1945, Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis was asked to leave the stadium with his goat because the smell was bothering fans. It is said that as he left he said: "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more" and from there the rest is history. The Cubs lost the World Series and did not win again until last year. Can you say a story like this about any other team? We think not.

Go Cubs Go

The song written by Steve Goodman in 1984 is another bonding element amongst Cub fans everywhere. The catchy tune is played every time the Cubs score a victory and it peaked at number 3 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart after their victory of the 2016 World Series.

The World’s Most Loyal Fans

After 107 years wouldn’t you agree that it takes loyalty to stick by your team? Well, they didn't disappoint last year and many believe that the streak will continue after the Cub supposedly “broke” their curse. Let’s hope we can continue to raise the W flag many more times to come.

Clark

Clark The Bear is the first official mascot in the modern history of the Cubs. His name comes from Clark Street, one of the streets of the intersection where entry to Wrigley Field is located at and where Clark greets fan entering the stadium. Clark was the response to fans wanting to give the park a more kid-friendly feel just like most of other franchises have done with their respective mascots.

For more great articles about Chicago teams, check out our blog at Yosef Meystel Tumblr.

#Chicago Cubs #baseball #World Series #Wrigley Field #Clark

3 reasons to have high hopes for a Blackhawks championship

Image courtesy of Sarah A. at Flickr.com

The National Hockey League has practically reached the midway point and the Chicago Blackhawks are still in first place. They don’t only lead their division, but they also lead the Western Conference. If the playoffs were to start today, the Blackhawks would be the number one seed. It seems that the team is on track to another successful season and they seem to be serious contenders come the postseason. Blackhawks fans, like Yosef Meystel, have plenty to cheer for and a whole lot to be excited about after the first half of the season. Let’s take a look at what the Blackhawks have done to get them to where they are today in the 2016-2017 season.

1. A sound, grounded defense can win the championship

Chicago currently ranks 15th in goals scored per game. They have not been the offensive minded team they were in previous seasons. They are, however, ranked 7th in the league in goals scored against per game with 2.40. What this means is that the Hawks’ defense is definitely playing to the best of its abilities. They are holding the fort and helping the team close out tight games. With each close game, the team wins, the amount of composure they have in pressure situations grows. In other words, they learning how to win close games and avoid choking; they’ve been doing it all season and come playoffs, that experience is definitely going to pay off. One more thing to note, the Blackhawks have the second fewest penalty minutes in all the league with 272 (as of January 8th). Great, a clean defense is a championship ingredient. Here’s one last tidbit to prove just how great Chicago’s defense is: the Blackhawks hardly ever lose their cool, they average 0.10 fights per game and have the league’s highest average time between fights.

Image courtesy of Sarah A. at Flickr.com

2. Selfishness is definitely not in the Blackhawks vocabulary

One of the most consistent traits of Joel Quenneville’s Blackhawks teams has been theIr ability to share the wealth and think of the team before the individual. Taking a look at individual stats for the league, you’ll see that the Hawks have:

3 players (Artem Anisimov, Artemi Panarin, and Marian Hossa) in the top twenty goal scorers.

3 players (Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Artemi Panarin) in the top fifteen assists.

Both goalies in the top fifteen of goals against average.

What does this all amount to? Good question. The Hawks can score from anywhere on the ice, they are always looking for the open man and they have two goalies who can definitely step up and protect the net. Look up the definition of a team in a dictionary and you are sure to find the Chicago Blackhawks team photo. Each player understands that the team cannot function if one player wants to stand out. Every game that passes cements the Blackhawks’ team-first mentality and increases their chances to be the favorites to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup.

3. The players are focused

Talk to any Chicago Blackhawk up and down the roster and you will surely notice one thing: being in first is not enough. The team is hungry, they know last season ended unexpectedly and that they were far away from reaching their goal. They are completely concentrated on the task at hand and they want the Cup; this team will not settle for less. They give maximum effort every single game and they never give up. This is a team that will be hard to defeat easily, teams will have a hard time come the playoffs if the Blackhawks maintain their current focus.

The Chicago Blackhawks are arguably the best team in hockey right now. They may not be in first in every category, but they are definitely the most complete. The team skates hard and smart to find the best scoring chance and they have the players that can score from just about anywhere. Additionally, they are the most disciplined team defensively and getting them into the penalty box and shorthanded is not an easy thing. The coaching staff has definitely done a great job at making sure the team plays fundamental hockey. Even though they are still trying to perfect each line in terms of which players fit best together, they seem to be getting close to that goal with each game. Finally, the team has something to prove and they are hungry for the title. At the moment, they are in first place, but they are not satisfied. They have not let success get to the top of their head and they are determined to stay the course.

The second half of the season proves to be quite promising for the Hawks. The players who joined the team at the beginning of the season seem to have fit into the season and that should start to show the rewards. The Blackhawks seem prime for another championship run and the league is on notice.

#The National Hockey League #Blackhawks #Chicago Blackhawks #Joel Quenneville #hockey

3 things the Cubs need to do to keep winning

Image courtesy of Ron Cogswell at Flickr.com

The Chicago Cubs finished 2016 as the greatest story in the sports world. They were finally able to lift the championship trophy off their backs after defeating the Cleveland Indians in perhaps the best game seven baseball has ever seen. Millions of fans, such as Yosef Meystel, witnessed what many generations of Cubs fans could never witness. A hundred-plus years of loyalty, of being an occasional punchline finally paid off. The Cubbies are the reigning World Series Champs and a new era has begun. This new era brings forth many challenges and questions that need to be addressed. Let’s see what some of them are.

1. Was it a one-time thing or has the culture definitely changed?

This is the biggest question of all. The Cubs finally put an end to all the talk that they could not raise the Commissioner’s Trophy. No longer can people claim the Cubs can’t go all the way. Now it’s time for Chicago to demonstrate that what happened the past season wasn’t a fluke. It is now their duty to show baseball that the Cubs have a solid franchise put in place that can compete for years to come. They must step up to the plate and prove that they will be perennial contenders to win the championship year in and year out.

The answer to the first question is that the Cubs championship was not a fluke. It was the result of a process that began when the Cubs brought in Theo Epstein in 2011. Three years later, Joe Maddon would join the team and the Cubs had two of the most important pieces to building a championship franchise: a brilliant executive and manager. Together they would field a contender for the 2015 season and everything gelled in 2016. The culture has definitely changed in Chicago, winning has taken top priority over “just make it to the playoffs”.

Image courtesy of Brandon Schatsiek at Flickr.com

2. Will the disease of more hit the franchise?

Pat Riley once coined the phrase, “disease of more”, to describe how success can get in the way of further success. What Riley means is that when an individual wins a championship, they can get to high on themselves and think that without them the team can’t succeed. This leads them to make demands or behaving differently during the season. One individual who believes they are worth more than the teammates can spread throughout the rest of the team. The disease of more can be quite easy to catch if a team does not have the right type of personality and character in their players. Winning a championship will end up showing who is really committed to the team as a whole and who really believes there is an “I” in “team”.

So, are the Cubs susceptible to catching the disease? Absolutely not. They have Epstein and Maddon to thank for this. If anything has characterized the teams they helped build is that the players on the team think of the team first and themselves second. There shouldn’t really be any danger of the players using their focus and becoming selfish while Theo and Joe are at the front of the helm.

3. Will the key components leave or stay?

A franchise can only build long-term success as long as their core remains steady. There are many cases of teams that won championships only to be gutted in the following years and not really making any moves that would help maintain the culture, effectively ending any chance of establishing continued greatness. The Cubs have a shot at dominating the Central division and the National League for years to come. Can Epstein leave the club? Of course, but he will not do so unless he is sure the team is in good hands. Maddon will like stay as long as he feels the team stays motivated and the players feel the hunger and passion that he does. As for the roster, it is full of players who are just stepping into their prime and who could play for championships for years to come. Players will leave, there’s no doubt about that. They’ll do so for a number of reasons; it’s the nature of the business. It’s up to management to draft the right players and make sure the farm system has the prospects who can eventually step into the lineup and the team won’t miss a beat.

The Chicago Cubs have everything in place to have sustained success for years to come. Theo Epstein will continue to field a championship roster that will compete year in and year out. For his part, Joe Maddon will keep getting the most out of his players by letting them be themselves and holding them accountable for their performance on and off the field. Finally, there’s a new culture in Chicago. The Cubs know how to win and they know they can do it. The Cubs will be on the radar for years to come. Go Cubbies.

#Chicago Cubs #Cubs fans #World Series #Pat Riley #Cubbies #Theo Epstein #Joe Maddon

2 under 25 players for the Blackhawks this season

Image courtesy of jpowers65 at Flickr.com

For people who play sports or are athletes coming to a certain age is a bit frustrating. They don’t move as they used to, and their game gets affected by the age. Now, there are other players. like the one mentioned before but many years before, who are just starting to get in the spotlight and contributing to their teams, they are just starting off the road of being the best in the hockey world. They are the under 25 players who have a bright future in the league.

As for the Blackhawks, they have quite a roster full of under 25 players that are everybody is going to talk about in this 2016-2017 season.

Let’s take a look at 2 names that will surely make you stick to the TV and watch all the Chicago Blackhawks games. Enjoy.

Artemi Panarin

The Blackhawks winger just turned 25 years old and it is a surprise for many that he is such a good player. But they were proven wrong. He was born on October 30, 1991, in Russia, the position where he plays best is as a left winger and as a surprise for many he is an undrafted free agent.

The cloud of uncertainty was over him when he arrived to the Blackhawks because he hadn’t seen so many games in the league and everybody was sceptical that the transition from the KHL to the NHL would be a good one. But in the preseason he proved everybody wrong scoring 77 points and taking the Calder Trophy and making a name for himself among the top scorers in the league and right next to his partner Patrick Kane. On top of that, his ability to elude other players is amazing as he is not so big as others, he can easily shrug off bigger, stronger defenders when he is playing offensively. For example, in one game against the Blues in the playoffs last year, Panarin had to fight for the puck against Paul Stastny who is known for his ability and size. Well, he intentionally lost the faceoff, let Stastny go to the corner and get the puck but took it from him in an amazing move and made a scoring pass. This only proves how he sees the game and his intelligence to play it.

The only little problem is that Panarin is a Restricted Free Agent and that could mean trouble for the Blackhawks. Even though his contract is not as big as other superstars he is motivated to beat as many players as possible that come in his way. But, the word RFA for the Blackhawks fans is not a good sign as they still remember what happened with Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw that left the team with a similar contract style. It doesn’t look like the coach is letting Panarin go, but since he is a free agent he can do as he pleases.

Gustav Forsling

He was born on June 12, 1996, in Sweden and is considered one of the best defense in the Blackhawks history. He came directly from Vancouver at the beginning of 2015 and he started to win the fans hearts with his amazing commitment to the game and defense strategies. He is still in his probation period and he could go back to Sweden for a season if he doesn’t prove himself worthy of the team. But this 20-year-old player will be a big name in the Hawks sooner or later.

He has the perfect skills of a defenseman with a great vision of the game, the intelligence to understand the rival plays and an amazing passing ability. He has to improve his strength and physical condition big time if he wants to make it big in the NHL. At the moment, he still has some trouble winning pucks at the boards due to this weakness but it is something that he will work on and will impress all the fans in the near future.

He is also a good option for that backbone that is the defense area. The Blackhawks already have Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook that are the best in the league, but they surely need another player that can provide the same confidence and power in the rear.

Forsling still has to prove himself in the training camp in Chicago or he could go back to Sweden and lose the chance of a very good contract with the Blackhawks. And although the General Manager for the Hawks said that he could make the team, the competition is fierce and he has to go against other 7 players that are eager to keep the position.

Did you like this post? Be sure to also read this post about the year the Blackhawks had in 2016

#Artemi Panarin #Blackhawks #hockey #NHL #Gustav Forsling

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