OCTOBER BLUES!
by Wayne Richards
October is a nerve-wracking time for baseball fans....particularly when the team that is embedded in your heart makes the playoffs! Our hearts are a bit sad at the moment, but, after a while we will dust ourselves off and continue on. Keep the following in mind. I can assure you this team will be working together in off season to make next season even better! We will make adjustments. Put together new strategies. Improve skills. This was an exciting and wonderful summer and I can't wait until SPRING returns!
AN IMPRESSIVE MAN TO VISIT CUBS WORLD
by Wayne Richards
Many of us know Rich Billings as the man who oversees the LEESBURG LIGHTNING. But there is much more to the man and his talents and accomplishments and I can tell you from phone conversations, he is VERY excited about visiting us again!
Billings is also head coach at Lake-Sumter college. Young players for the future need to be guided properly when moving toward a career in the majors. Rich is a man who knows how to shape young talent.
Rich is also a great speaker and Cubs World is fortunate to have him join us on Monday, November 3rd.
by Wayne Richards
Many of us know Rich Billings as the man who oversees the LEESBURG LIGHTNING. But there is much more to the man and his talents and accomplishments and I can tell you from phone conversations, he is VERY excited about visiting us again!
Billings is also head coach at Lake-Sumter college. Young players for the future need to be guided properly when moving toward a career in the majors. Rich is a man who knows how to shape young talent.
Rich is also a great speaker and Cubs World is fortunate to have him join us on Monday, November 3rd.
THOSE WHO ATTENDED OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING DEFINITELY HAD A BALL! SEVERAL IN FACT!
By Dan Marx
Our speaker seeker has done it again !!
About a year ago our Prez, Wayne Richards was telling me that he went with Annie to St. Petersburg and came across a “baseball” museum there. The manager was Rui Farias, and it was a really cool place. And, I just pacified him by telling him, Yeah, Yeah, Wayne that really sounds great !
By Dan Marx
Our speaker seeker has done it again !!
About a year ago our Prez, Wayne Richards was telling me that he went with Annie to St. Petersburg and came across a “baseball” museum there. The manager was Rui Farias, and it was a really cool place. And, I just pacified him by telling him, Yeah, Yeah, Wayne that really sounds great !
Well, Prez was determined and Monday night, October 6th we had Rui and his assistant, Liberty O’Neill drive from St. Petersburg to enlighten us about baseball in the St. Pete area.
I have to tell you that it was a wonderful experience. Rui told us about how St. Pete got put on the baseball map by a fellow named Al Lang. Before Al Lang came to St. Petersburg in 1910, St. Petersburg had a baseball team that played Teddy Roosevelt’s Roughriders. I think the thought of playing against the roughriders might be a little unsettling. Actually in 1904 St. Pete had a HIGH SCHOOL baseball team that was the best team in Florida .
I have to tell you that it was a wonderful experience. Rui told us about how St. Pete got put on the baseball map by a fellow named Al Lang. Before Al Lang came to St. Petersburg in 1910, St. Petersburg had a baseball team that played Teddy Roosevelt’s Roughriders. I think the thought of playing against the roughriders might be a little unsettling. Actually in 1904 St. Pete had a HIGH SCHOOL baseball team that was the best team in Florida .
Al Lang came to St. Petersburg in 1910, and convinces MLB to come to St. Pete for spring training.
Since Al had some experience in the Pittsburgh area, it was the Pirates that were the first team of about 7 over the years to play there. In 1925 MLB brought the Yankees to St. Pete and that really put St. Petersburg and spring training baseball on the map.
You can only imagine how the stands were packed in the 1920s and 1930s to see Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and their exploits in the area during those years. The Cardinals came into town in 1938 and was one of the first teams that was able to help baseball integrate.
Since Al had some experience in the Pittsburgh area, it was the Pirates that were the first team of about 7 over the years to play there. In 1925 MLB brought the Yankees to St. Pete and that really put St. Petersburg and spring training baseball on the map.
You can only imagine how the stands were packed in the 1920s and 1930s to see Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and their exploits in the area during those years. The Cardinals came into town in 1938 and was one of the first teams that was able to help baseball integrate.
There was a fellow by the name of Dennis Schrader (photo) who was asked by the baseball teams in St. Petersburg to chase down baseballs for them. He did that for .25 cents each. Dennis decided once to get one of the balls autographed. A guy by the name of Mickey Mantle signed his first ball, and nowadays and still counting there are 5036 autographed baseballs in the Schraders Little Cooperstown Museum . Actually 5039. The latest are the 3 balls that were signed by all of the attending Cubs World members. We will always be living in baseball immortality.
And by the way, these signed baseball are not all of baseball players. In fact, the most popular autographed baseball is the one that is signed jointly by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe.
After the meeting was over , many of the members came up to the Prez and were wondering if we could take a bus ride to the museum .
Francis Ford Coppola is already lined up to do the sequel film.
And by the way, these signed baseball are not all of baseball players. In fact, the most popular autographed baseball is the one that is signed jointly by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe.
After the meeting was over , many of the members came up to the Prez and were wondering if we could take a bus ride to the museum .
Francis Ford Coppola is already lined up to do the sequel film.
YOUR MOVIE NIGHT!!!!
by Wayne Richards
I have loved seeing films on the big screen, particularly when cinematic magic is utilized to tell a great baseball story. Judging from our scheduled visits to the Epic theatre, you're loving it too!
Our next movie night will be on Monday, December 1st. What will the feature be? We'll know as soon as you tell us!
On the marquee below, you will find a selection of five classic acclaimed baseball films.
by Wayne Richards
I have loved seeing films on the big screen, particularly when cinematic magic is utilized to tell a great baseball story. Judging from our scheduled visits to the Epic theatre, you're loving it too!
Our next movie night will be on Monday, December 1st. What will the feature be? We'll know as soon as you tell us!
On the marquee below, you will find a selection of five classic acclaimed baseball films.
THE BLEACHER BUM REPORT
by Jack Herbon
Well, there is not much I can say after watching that final out in Milwaukee. The Cubs sure gave it a try against a formidable Brewers pitching staff. The bats just went cold in game 5. After watching the final month of baseball I'll be surprised the Cubs give Kyle Tucker a big contract. For the money he is asking I say go ahead and spend it elsewhere.
The Cubs finished the season with a 92-70 record. Putting them in second place in the National League central division. We went 53-30 at Wrigley Field and our road record was 83-79. Our bullpen had a very good ERA of 3.78 and the save percentage was 68.8%. The team home run leader was Michael Busch with 34 dingers. Nico Hoerner had a batting average of .297 and did great in the post season as well.
I'm already looking ahead to the 2026 season and of course there is one series we will all be focusing on. That is when our Cubs come to Tampa to play the Rays. That series will be at the start of the baseball season. The dates for the three games is April 6,7, and the 8th. The home opener will be against the Washington Nationals on March 26th. Brrrrrrr that is going to be a cold time to play baseball.
I'm sure Cubs World is already looking into another bus trip to watch the Cubs play the Rays in April. And yes, the new roof has been installed after Hurricane Milton ripped it off. In the meantime Cubs fans are also Bears fans so let's wish them luck!
by Jack Herbon
Well, there is not much I can say after watching that final out in Milwaukee. The Cubs sure gave it a try against a formidable Brewers pitching staff. The bats just went cold in game 5. After watching the final month of baseball I'll be surprised the Cubs give Kyle Tucker a big contract. For the money he is asking I say go ahead and spend it elsewhere.
The Cubs finished the season with a 92-70 record. Putting them in second place in the National League central division. We went 53-30 at Wrigley Field and our road record was 83-79. Our bullpen had a very good ERA of 3.78 and the save percentage was 68.8%. The team home run leader was Michael Busch with 34 dingers. Nico Hoerner had a batting average of .297 and did great in the post season as well.
I'm already looking ahead to the 2026 season and of course there is one series we will all be focusing on. That is when our Cubs come to Tampa to play the Rays. That series will be at the start of the baseball season. The dates for the three games is April 6,7, and the 8th. The home opener will be against the Washington Nationals on March 26th. Brrrrrrr that is going to be a cold time to play baseball.
I'm sure Cubs World is already looking into another bus trip to watch the Cubs play the Rays in April. And yes, the new roof has been installed after Hurricane Milton ripped it off. In the meantime Cubs fans are also Bears fans so let's wish them luck!
HEY....LOOK DOWN HERE FOLKS!
HI there cubs world! I'm making a special appearance to call your attention to our monthly RED WORD CONTEST!!! It's very simple! As you peruse this newsletter, search for a word printed in red. When you find it....JUMP FOR JOY AND DO SOME CART WHEELS because you will have a chance to win a gift card from PUBLIX! Simply write down the word along with your name and drop it in our special container at the next membership meeting. That's all there is to it! We wish you good luck!
CUBS WORLD CHATTER WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A BIG WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS....
DAVID AND AMY WEPFER!
and
KEVIN LUCAS
Welcome to our unique and ever-growing club.
DAVID AND AMY WEPFER!
and
KEVIN LUCAS
Welcome to our unique and ever-growing club.
ANOTHER GREAT LOSS
by Dan Marx
Saturday night was not a good night for any of us as the Brewers beat the Cubs in game 5, but what made that night so much worse for me was that Dave Gran passed away . I knew it was coming but……………..
Having lost Jim G. not that long ago (which was still very raw to me), it made acceptance even harder.
Dave and I spent the whole magical summer together in 2016 at Dave’s house watching the Cubs win so many games . During the World Series we would stand up behind the couch during each ninth inning until we won the world championship . Dave even wrote a book called I Did Believe about the whole season. During that season, we decided it would be a great idea to start a Cubs club.
With Gary Koca and Dick Stone’s help we had some organizational meetings and figured out ways to market ourself. Dave was the membership chairman, and most of what he did was contacting everyone individually, and all of the members knew Dave so well. And Dave loved it so much. We would go around together and put Cubs business cards on windshield wipers on cars with Illinois license plates . Or golf carts. We would recruit Chicagoland members with Connie Rogers’ help.
We had a terrific board, but there was no question that Dave was a tremendous driving force.
He had so much fun when he started a new segment called Gran-standing . It was a predecessor to Jim G’s Let’s Play Too.
For the last 3 years in The Villages, David was aware that he had memory issues, and was very open about it. Eventually, he had to move to the Charlotte area to be with his son. It came to a point that Dave was not able to talk to me anymore for the last year and a half.
Normally we would have been dissecting the Cubs loss, and looking forward to the Bears game Monday night.
I am so happy that all of the charter members were able to get to know Dave so well, and witness his passion for Cubs World. For those who did not know Dave at all, I’m so sorry that you didn’t get to know my truly dear, dear friend.
Rest in piece, Dave Gran.
Prayers for his wife, Maxine, and his whole family who loved him so much.
by Dan Marx
Saturday night was not a good night for any of us as the Brewers beat the Cubs in game 5, but what made that night so much worse for me was that Dave Gran passed away . I knew it was coming but……………..
Having lost Jim G. not that long ago (which was still very raw to me), it made acceptance even harder.
Dave and I spent the whole magical summer together in 2016 at Dave’s house watching the Cubs win so many games . During the World Series we would stand up behind the couch during each ninth inning until we won the world championship . Dave even wrote a book called I Did Believe about the whole season. During that season, we decided it would be a great idea to start a Cubs club.
With Gary Koca and Dick Stone’s help we had some organizational meetings and figured out ways to market ourself. Dave was the membership chairman, and most of what he did was contacting everyone individually, and all of the members knew Dave so well. And Dave loved it so much. We would go around together and put Cubs business cards on windshield wipers on cars with Illinois license plates . Or golf carts. We would recruit Chicagoland members with Connie Rogers’ help.
We had a terrific board, but there was no question that Dave was a tremendous driving force.
He had so much fun when he started a new segment called Gran-standing . It was a predecessor to Jim G’s Let’s Play Too.
For the last 3 years in The Villages, David was aware that he had memory issues, and was very open about it. Eventually, he had to move to the Charlotte area to be with his son. It came to a point that Dave was not able to talk to me anymore for the last year and a half.
Normally we would have been dissecting the Cubs loss, and looking forward to the Bears game Monday night.
I am so happy that all of the charter members were able to get to know Dave so well, and witness his passion for Cubs World. For those who did not know Dave at all, I’m so sorry that you didn’t get to know my truly dear, dear friend.
Rest in piece, Dave Gran.
Prayers for his wife, Maxine, and his whole family who loved him so much.
FAKE! FAKE! FAKE! FAKE! FAKE! FAKE! FAKE! FAKE! COMMENTARY
by Wayne Richards
For those of us who explore the likes of FACEBOOK, TIK TOK or other platforms, it is very important to prevent yourself from being manipulated or convinced that something is true. I'm sure most of us have received things in our SPAM files that ask for private information. The logos appear to be legit. But, send them what they ask for and you'll be screwed!
This year, I've noticed many FACEBOOK posts that present news and sports that are designed with the intent to convince us that what is being reported is true. In particular, there has been a steady stream of bulletins about the Chicago Cubs that positively border on the supernatural. I call them "WISHFUL THINKING" posts.
But, the truly pathetic posts are those that outright distort the truth. Such offerings as CUBS DEN, CUBS HQ, CHICAGO CUBS 24/7 FANS are sites to approach carefully! People are catching on to their shenanigans and are beginning to complain left and right.
Here's how these scam artists operate and twist the stories. The headline might read, MARK GRACE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HALL OF FAME. The truth is... that never happened (UNFORTUNATELY). However, Mark was inducted into the CHICAGO CUBS HALL OF FAME.
Another report came out that Rizzo is going to donate his entire pension to charity. We all know that he is a giving soul and has set up some amazing charities. I checked on this story and he has no such plans.
There is a rather sad and troubling reality behind all this chaos. SOME OF THESE FAKE NEWS DISPENSERS MAKE MONEY!!!!
We must also remember that the growth of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE adds to the fray. A computer generated image of the much-maligned BARTMAN has shown the poor soul sitting quietly in the stands. There's one problem. He has NEVER returned since that unfortunate incident in 2003. Reason being he has suffered an almost constant barrage of threats from some bent-out-of-shape individuals. Publishing this fake photo only serves to kick up the dust of dissension. (NOT FAKE....The Cubs organization DID present him with a world series ring.)
The point I'm making here is that the way news is presented today, one really needs to fact check like crazy!!!! My recommendation is to trust Jack Herbon's private page CUBS WORLD THE VILLAGES. You need to be an approved member. But, once in you can rest assured our friend will do his level best to embrace the truth.
THE MESSAGE HERE IS....DON'T FALL FOR THIS STUFF. ONLY PEOPLE IN HAWAII LIKE SPAM!
by Wayne Richards
For those of us who explore the likes of FACEBOOK, TIK TOK or other platforms, it is very important to prevent yourself from being manipulated or convinced that something is true. I'm sure most of us have received things in our SPAM files that ask for private information. The logos appear to be legit. But, send them what they ask for and you'll be screwed!
This year, I've noticed many FACEBOOK posts that present news and sports that are designed with the intent to convince us that what is being reported is true. In particular, there has been a steady stream of bulletins about the Chicago Cubs that positively border on the supernatural. I call them "WISHFUL THINKING" posts.
But, the truly pathetic posts are those that outright distort the truth. Such offerings as CUBS DEN, CUBS HQ, CHICAGO CUBS 24/7 FANS are sites to approach carefully! People are catching on to their shenanigans and are beginning to complain left and right.
Here's how these scam artists operate and twist the stories. The headline might read, MARK GRACE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HALL OF FAME. The truth is... that never happened (UNFORTUNATELY). However, Mark was inducted into the CHICAGO CUBS HALL OF FAME.
Another report came out that Rizzo is going to donate his entire pension to charity. We all know that he is a giving soul and has set up some amazing charities. I checked on this story and he has no such plans.
There is a rather sad and troubling reality behind all this chaos. SOME OF THESE FAKE NEWS DISPENSERS MAKE MONEY!!!!
We must also remember that the growth of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE adds to the fray. A computer generated image of the much-maligned BARTMAN has shown the poor soul sitting quietly in the stands. There's one problem. He has NEVER returned since that unfortunate incident in 2003. Reason being he has suffered an almost constant barrage of threats from some bent-out-of-shape individuals. Publishing this fake photo only serves to kick up the dust of dissension. (NOT FAKE....The Cubs organization DID present him with a world series ring.)
The point I'm making here is that the way news is presented today, one really needs to fact check like crazy!!!! My recommendation is to trust Jack Herbon's private page CUBS WORLD THE VILLAGES. You need to be an approved member. But, once in you can rest assured our friend will do his level best to embrace the truth.
THE MESSAGE HERE IS....DON'T FALL FOR THIS STUFF. ONLY PEOPLE IN HAWAII LIKE SPAM!
- THE LAST WORD
- SMART PEOPLE READ THE CUBS WORLD CHATTER! That means only one thing. YOU HAVE OPINIONS!
- That is why THE LAST WORD belongs to you each month! We encourage you to speak your mind. Let your thoughts flow!
- This has been a very interesting season and what do you think the future is for the Cubbies? What changes do we need to make? So many things to consider for the future.
- Why....it's enough to make old Albert scratch his head! Which, by the way, brings me to the following reality....ALBERT EINSTEIN WAS A HUGE BASEBALL FAN! He absolutely loved the game.
- In fact, Albert took out his pad and pencil when he was ill and one of the last things he did was attempt to develop his UNIFIED FIELD THEORY. In other words, Old Al was convinced that all teams should play on the same field! Perhaps he imagined that he could then sit under a tree during a game so that another apple could fall on his head and generate even more theories!
- OH WAIT.....MY BAD.....THAT WAS SIR ISAAC NEWTON.
A light shines over a field of magic
The sun dances it's final bow
The lights are only a part of the electricity
The real energy comes from the fans
Supportive
Loving
Endless
Passionate
We are a very real extended close family
Wins bring total joy with a song
Losses bring tears
There's no crying in baseball...
Or....so they say...
But in time
After the sting of winter begins to loosen it's grip
The light will return
And we will continue to
cheer
laugh
sing
and embrace the Cubbies
Just as we always have
and
ALWAYS WILL
- THE PREZ
The sun dances it's final bow
The lights are only a part of the electricity
The real energy comes from the fans
Supportive
Loving
Endless
Passionate
We are a very real extended close family
Wins bring total joy with a song
Losses bring tears
There's no crying in baseball...
Or....so they say...
But in time
After the sting of winter begins to loosen it's grip
The light will return
And we will continue to
cheer
laugh
sing
and embrace the Cubbies
Just as we always have
and
ALWAYS WILL
- THE PREZ