1947

This year I hit 70, and that's not homers!

Looking back, sports has been a major part of my being. No doubt, it was due to my Dad's love of baseball, that he past on to me. It started when I was 8 years old...

I came back from summer camp in 1945, and to celebrate the ending of WWll... he bought me my first 2 wheel Schwinn bike and a J.C. Higgin's mitt (Sears Brand), and gave me a crash course in baseball 101 and Cubs History. Then he took me to my first game at beautiful Wrigley Field. A short time later, when the Cubs clinched the N.L. flag, I asked him to take me to the World Series. He said that "I was too young" but he made me a "PROMISE"... he would take me the next time!

In '46, I spent many summer days, cleaning the Wrigley Field grandstands, after a game and earned "Free-Passes" to the next game. I recall, late in that summer... when one of my friends, while looking up at the '45 Pennant flying from the left field flag pole and declaring 'WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR!"... that was the first time I ever heard that expression.

My best moments seemed to last for the whole year...1947.

I was 10 years old a 2 year vet as a Cubs fan. My Dad took my brother and me and a couple of neighborhood kids to the Opener. We had box seats between home and 3rd base, and only a few rows from the field. Very nearby, part owner of the Pirates "Bing" Crosby and Cowboy Star Gene Autry. (I remember asking my dad " what was a cowboy doing at a ball game?") It was a cold gray, damp day... there was no batting practice. Playing in his first N.L. game for the Pirates was Hank Greenberg, and at the time he was the highest paid player in baseball, Making $100,000. a year. It took him 13 years, 4 World Series, a couple of MVP seasons, several HR and RBI titles and almost 4 years in the Army before he "earned" that kind of pay check.

As a 10 year old Jewish Kid, I had mixed emotions, when his 2 out double in the 6th inning to drive in the games only run to beat my Cubbies 1-0. About a month later, My brother Allen and I took a couple of streetcars to the friendly confines, but had to get off several blocks before the ball park, because there was such a big crowd going to the game.

The reason 47,000 fans were there... Jackie Robinson was making his Chicago debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

I can't tell you what he did...and I do not recall any boo's, in fact he got the same kind of cheer that Stan Musial received whenever the Cards were in town... but the thing I remember most, and something I can not recall happening since at a baseball game... Most of the fans, both black and white, brought binoculars to get a closer look at the future member of the Hall of fame!

I did not realize the history in the making that was happening... and the change of our National Pastime to include"all"!

Later that year, a bunch of my friends and I went to see the dedication of the River Park outdoor swimming pool. It was built on the site of a WWll Victory Garden. And the Great Indian Athlete, Jim Thorpe was there.

I had goose bumps when I was able to shake hands with him. I had read books about his triumphs, and loosing his Olympic medals... and about getting a college scholarship for his athletic endeavors...

Each of these great athletes had to battle prejudice on and off the field. They all taught me about sportsmanship at a young age... and made me a better person because of them.

Looking back... 1947 was filled with hope that lasted a lifetime.