What Baseball Artifact Brings You Back in Time in the Deepest Way?

Kawika · #1 05-24-2025, 03:38 PM

Quote:

I think there's a profound thread here, how tangible materials are portals back in time to places we can reach in our minds; spaces we inhabit with mixtures of personal, ancestral, and collective memories. Much of this recall in my experience is a fusion between storytelling, myth, and how history is passed down and shifts and changes through time aurally and in how we process time through time.)

The future, these days coming on like a tidal wave, unnerves me. The older I get the more I reach into the past. You are much more articulate and analytical about the anthropological matters of collective memories, story telling, myth-making and the like. I couldn't have written what you wrote but I appreciate your insights.

Quote:

David - have you ever thought about putting any of this to paper in essay or book form?

Never had any aspirations to be a writer. There are certain things I would like to get down on paper for the benefit of my nieces and nephews related to our family's story, and I want to write up some biographical info about my wife who has lived a tough, interesting and honorable life. She has fifty-one - count 'em - first cousins and someday there will be a gazillion young Vander Kooys whom I want to remember her.

Quote:

From what little I have seen and heard from David so far on the forum I remain convinced he could write the baseball book to define all baseball books... I would love to see what would or could come of it. Such lyrical and poetic writing there and the references are just fantastic!)

Have been posting on this board for over twenty years. Most of what I have written is more terse and less whimsical than the post we're discussing. I get a kick out of the English language. You can paint with words and express things in all sorts of ways. It pleases me to come up with a well-turned phrase. The next step is a paragraph and beyond that are pages, articles, books. Anything beyond a paragraph takes disciplined and dedicated effort. I'm too hyper for that. I wish to un-convince you of the possibility of me writing the ultimate baseball book. Wouldn't even know where to start. All the same, thanks for the complimentary words.

Quote:

Could have mistaken the Seals manager in that picture you shared for T.S. Eliot...

When i acquired the glass slide about fifteen years back I attempted to ID each of the players. Probably named two-thirds of them and put the project aside and there it has sat. I thought the man in the sweater was manager Nick Williams but was corrected by Dave Eskenazi that TS Eliot was the trainer and Williams is to his right.

whitehse · #2 05-24-2025, 09:50 PM

This is something I wrote a few months ago and I hope fits exactly what the OP is asking for.

The summer of 1969 provided many memorable moments in history. We saw the first moon landing, A little music festival in Woodstock, New York, the Vietnam war was still raging and the Bums in Wrigley�s bleachers were signing Hey Hey, Holy Mackeral because the Chicago Cubs were making a legitimate run for the National League pennant. All over Chicagoland the lowly north siders began to steal the hearts of baseball fans with their winning ways and Cub Power was sweeping the land. Little did those fans know at the time that Cub Power would be timeless, but their team was not as the Cubs once again failed to appear in the post-season and would not do so for several more seasons.

It was during this summer that my Aunt Bertha, who lived just beyond the Chicago city limits and who was well aware of my 6 year old fanaticism for all things baseball gave me a gift that I would never take off until it literally fell off of my back. It was on one of her semi-monthly trips to �the country� when she casually handed me a bag that contained a t-shirt, but not just any t-shirt, but one in which had the logo emblazoned on the front that I began to see all over television. With the words �Cub Power� printed in the traditional blue and red of the north side baseball team, I stood in awe as I hurriedly stripped the shirt I had on and replaced it with my gift from my now favorite Aunt. I wore that t-shirt until it became a dingy gray color and the logo slowly peeled off from too many times in the wash cycle but whenever I see that logo I am immediately transported back to a time in which summer meant baseball and watching the Cubs on WGN was must see TV.

A few years ago, my cousin came upon this picture of myself, my sister and brother appearing to do some sort of yard work for my grandmother who appeared in the background. As I stared at this picture I was transported back to simpler time, a time where the realities of life had not reared its ugly head and changed our lives forever. Just four years after this picture was taken, my sister would have a diving accident that would land her in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life. The accident changed our family in so many ways but the fascination with the north side Cubbies remained in all of us. Cub Power may have died out when the 1969 season ended in failure, but the love for the team and more importantly, for the game of baseball itself continued and even provided a welcome distraction when life tried to steal our joy. Cub power continues in our hearts and in our minds and still brings me that excitement that it did when that t-shirt was first slipped over my six year old head so many decades ago.

Now, does anyone know where I can get a size 5X Tall Cub Power t-shirt?

480927065_10236624764189249_3896093987554010145_n.jpg

whitehse · #3 05-24-2025, 09:52 PM

I forgot to add the update:

Not long ago a package arrived at our new address from a dear friend who read about my memories of this shirt. Little did I know, this awesome friend took up the challenge and somehow made this memory a reality. I was immediately taken back to being a nine year old (the biggest nine year old one has ever seen I am sure) as I slipped this 5XL bundle of awesomeness over my head and marveled at the fact that someone would send me a gift I never thought I would see. I immediately looked at that 50 year old picture and thought how incredibly cool it would be if I could only recreate is as grown ups with my brother, sister and grandmother now that I have the shirt once again. Sadly, that picture can never be recreated but that doesn't stop the memories of that summer where Cubs Power was a reality and I can now relive it all over again. I just hope I don't get orange popsicle stains on this one!!

cubs.jpg

dbussell12 · #4 05-24-2025, 10:04 PM

Man... Andrew this is just phenomenal. Thank you so much for sharing this. The memory and the period flavor is just so visceral. You have a gift and talent for writing without a doubt! Such a strong sense of Sandlot Americana in what you just shared; I'm so glad that you got your shirt. It's crazy how just an object like that, a t shirt, can bring you back everything that defines a period. The photo as well, how it gave you insight and memory deep into the time as well.

Cheers; hoping you are having a great evening.
David

PS- You guys have some phenomenal teams in your history. With my deadball era research focus, the 1906-1910 teams are some of my favorites. But you can't go wrong with those 30s Cubbies either. That 1932 World Series with the Ruth called shot is one of the most mythic moments in the sport!!

dbussell12 · #5 05-24-2025, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawika

The future, these days coming on like a tidal wave, unnerves me. The older I get the more I reach into the past. You are much more articulate and analytical about the anthropological matters of collective memories, story telling, myth-making and the like. I couldn't have written what you wrote but I appreciate your insights.

Never had any aspirations to be a writer. There are certain things I would like to get down on paper for the benefit of my nieces and nephews related to our family's story, and I want to write up some biographical info about my wife who has lived a tough, interesting and honorable life. She has fifty-one - count 'em - first cousins and someday there will be a gazillion young Vander Kooys whom I want to remember her.

Have been posting on this board for over twenty years. Most of what I have written is more terse and less whimsical than the post we're discussing. I get a kick out of the English language. You can paint with words and express things in all sorts of ways. It pleases me to come up with a well-turned phrase. The next step is a paragraph and beyond that are pages, articles, books. Anything beyond a paragraph takes disciplined and dedicated effort. I'm too hyper for that. I wish to un-convince you of the possibility of me writing the ultimate baseball book. Wouldn't even know where to start. All the same, thanks for the complimentary words.

When i acquired the glass slide about fifteen years back I attempted to ID each of the players. Probably named two-thirds of them and put the project aside and there it has sat. I thought the man in the sweater was manager Nick Williams but was corrected by Dave Eskenazi that TS Eliot was the trainer and Williams is to his right.

You have a wonderful perspective David, I want to let you know it gives me great joy to read your posts! There is always something illuminating and profound stored in them. I would love to chat further sometime and pick your brain about those old NYG teams.

Many kind regards,
David

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