Home Run Derby

And it begins again. 

The Cubs and White Sox renew their Black and Blue rivalry with a three game interleague showdown at Wrigley Field.  Followed by a three game set at US Cellular Field in 11 days.

Growing up a big baseball fan in Northern Indiana, I had always openly rooted for both teams – they played in different leagues and never played each other.  My family would make trips into Chicago and watch whatever team was in town.  I was a Harry Caray fan – which meant I watched both Sox and Cubs broadcasts in the early 80’s. 

I never fully “got” the Cubs-Sox rivalry until I went to college in Chicago – when my dorm-mates made me choose Cubs or Sox.  Right then.  Right there. 

Being the new roommate of a die-hard White Sox fan, I did what had to be done … and after making him think I was a Sox fan … shouted “GO CUBS!” just to piss him off.  A friendly rivalry which lasts to this day was born.

Just for fun, here’s a look at some of the more memorable commercials Chicago-area merchants have aired to show off the Rivalry.

Here’s a bumper from Miller Lite  for a Cubs-Sox broadcast on Fox.

Okay, that was lame.

McDonalds has been getting in on the Cubs-Sox rivalry.  With pranks that would rival those my roommate and I played on each other.

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Back in college, I knew someone who landed a gig working on the Wrigley Field grounds crew. 

He used to always tell me how much work went on after the game to clean up after the crowd because there would literally be tons of trash to sweep up. 

Especially out in the bleachers.

Millions of peanut shells, thousands of cups and wrappers, gallons of spilled beer and soda, half eaten food, vomit-soaked shirts (ewww – but real), beaten-up Cardinals fans, you name it. 

And things I won’t mention at this family-based website.  Oh what the heck  …. soiled prophylactics.

Anyone else wonder if seeing all that trash will keep people from naming their kids after Wrigley Field?

I had no reason to disbelieve him … but I never realized it was this bad.  Here’s some pics of the cleanup effort.

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So someone actually used the Jersey of the Week tip line and sent me a heads-up that there was a Snuggie Pub Crawl in Chicago sometime in April.

Wait a minute - there was a Snuggie Pub Crawl?  And I wasn’t informed? 

You know Snuggies – the blanket with sleeves – which have developed their own cult-like status among Americans.

Either way, I guess this Crawl meandered through all the bars I used to frequent on the North Side of Chicago.  And as you might expect, there were some Snuggies which were devoted to the Chicago Cubs.  But since you can’t buy MLB-themed Snuggies … they’re all homemade.  I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.

Here’s some pics of some Cubbie Snuggies.

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So it’s been a few weeks since we did a Jersey of the Week post here at Home Run Derby.  So we’ll make it up to you.  With a bunch of them. 

And all of them pertain to one of our favorite baseball-related activities. 

Drinking.  Sometimes, just going to a baseball game isn’t enough.  You’ve got to get your drink on. 

And unfortunately for some people … sometimes that isn’t enough either … sometimes people are going to be loudmouth, stumbling drunks while they’re at it.  If you’re going to do that … at least have the courtesy to pre-identify yourself as such …. by wearing a personalized Jersey which lets everyone know that you’re going to be … that guy.

We’ll start off early in the game, where this White Sox fan is going to let everyone know what he wants.

Gotta tell ya – I like that Jersey a lot.  I saw it on TV last season … and danged if someone didn’t capture it.

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If you’re about to be thrown out of a baseball game and get arrested … what do you do?

Comply quietly …
or get your money’s worth?

Well, this Milwaukee Brewer fan chose the Red Pill at a recent game at Miller Park and decided to strip down to his boxer shorts before a pair of Milwaukee’s Finest (should they be called Milwaukee’s Best?) could haul him away.

And damn if this isn’t the 21st Century … it’s all on video. 

Watch.  If you dare.

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Everyone’s going La-La over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 13-0 start at Dodger Stadium so far this season.  Even though it is indeed an MLB record for most consecutive wins at home to start a season … I would like to remind everyone that it’s how you finish, rather than how you start. 

And teams that start off REALLY hot at home … well, let’s just say that none of them have ever enjoyed a home-field advantage in October. 

So far as I can tell, there have been six MLB teams (including the 2008 Dodgers) who have started a season 10-0 or better at home.  The previous five didn’t make the playoffs.

Best MLB Home Starts

Mind you, most of those teams made their early run before the advent of Baseball’s current three-divisional format, and all but one of them would have made the playoffs if there was a WildCard playoff entry.  

That would be the 2003 Royals, who went 29-40 at home the rest of the season.  To make matter worse for the Royals – there was a WildCard that year … and they still couldn’t make the playoffs.

Did you ever notice that Baseball Players have great big rides? 

Last Spring, we showed you Mark Buehrle’s big-ass Ford F-150 Dominator.  The Spring before that, we saw Jon Lieber’s F-150 Super Truck.

This year we’ll head to the North Side of Chicago to check out Cubs’ Outfielder Alfonso Soriano’s tricked out Hummer H2.

Now, Soriano’s ride isn’t exactly a four-wheeled beast like the Ford F-150 SuperTruck, but it’s got it’s merits. 

Especially the sound system, installed by Abt Electronics of Glenview, IL.  Check this out.

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With the return of baseball … it’s about time for Home Run Derby to bring back …. JERSEY OF THE WEEK!

For this JotW, we’re headed to Mesa, Arizona - where the Chicago Cubs are having their spring training … 

One Cub fan apparently left his shirt in the dryer a little too long.

Seriously.  That’s a women’s shirt isn’t it?  Next time, just go shirtless, dude.  See Milwaukee Brewers fans as an example.  Or Philadelphia Phillies fans and their bodypaint (NSFW).

I’m really hoping that this guy lost a bet and he doesn’t like walking around in women’s clothing.  Then again, he likes Mike’s Hard Lemonade in the can.

Cub fan in a women’s shirt Rating

• Cleverness:  0
• Originality:  0
• Understandability:  0

That’s the T-Shirt Hall of Shame.  Wy is he wearing it?

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Thanks to suec93 – who let Home Run Derby use her pictures.

Think you’re good at picking Home Run hitters?  Play homerderby.com’s 2009 Home Run Derby Contest and find out … and compete for $2,000 in prizes while you’re at it.  Only $10. 

See the Official Rules for details.

2009 isn’t expected to be a great season for the San Diego Padres.

• The Padres are coming off a last-place finish in the NL West (63-99)
• Baseball Prospectus predicts them to stay in the basement (74-88)
• They’ve been trying to trade their Ace Starting pitcher, 2007 Cy Young winner Jake Peavy
• Trevor Hoffman’s bobblehead is now with the Brewers 
• And Baseball America ranked the Padres’ farm system 29th … of 30 teams.

In fact, the Padres’ greatest cause for celebration during the 2009 season is their past.  More specifically, the Padres’ 40th anniversary as a ballclub … and the 25th anniversary of their 1984 National Peague Pennant. 

You remember 1984 (or maybe you don’t) - when the Padres came back from an two game deficit against the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS to win three straight  and go to their first World Series.

In fact, the Padres will be having a 1984 NL Champions Weekend the weekend of May 22-24.  There will be Fireworks on Friday, a NL Champs celebration game on Saturday (most likely with lots of players from the 1984 team on the field), and T-Shirt and Batting Helmet giveaways all weekend.  I’d also expect the Padres to wear throwback of their hideous 1984 kits (pictured above) for at least one of the games.

But that celebration will be a slap in the face of their opponents that weekend -

The Chicago Cubs. 

Ouch.  That’s just stone cold harsh.  I think it tops the guy who wrote “CUBS SUCK” in the snow in St Louis.

And somehow … I don’t think it’s a coincidence.  Do You?

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