Home Run Derby

The Cubs are on the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated. 

Oh No.

There’s been a lot said about the SI Cover Jinx  – it’s the kiss of death – athletes and teams who appear on it will inevitably fail.   You might believe in it, you might not.  But there’s definitely one team whose fortunes seem to crash after showing up on the cover. 

You guessed it – THE CHICAGO CUBS.  Since 1966, the Cubs have been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated nearly twenty times.  And if the Cubs have something at stake when they show up on the cover … bad things seem to happen. 

Especially if that appearance happens late in the season or (gasp) during the playoffs. 

Seeing as Aramis Ramirez and the Cubs are the pre-playoff SI Cover-boys again in 2008 … let’s take a look at the Cubs and the SI Jinx, starting in depth with the late-season appearances …

September 8, 1969

On September 8th, 1969, the Cubs were in the midst of a four-game losing streak and the Cubs and Mets were about to begin a two-game series at Shea Stadium – with the Cubs 84-56-1 and the Mets right on their well-clicked heels at 80-57, a mere 2.5 games back.

The SI Jinx took effect immediately.  Ron Santo (who was on the cover back in June) met the Black Cat in the on-deck circle at Shea on September 9th … and the Mets completed the short sweep, pulling within a half-game of the Cubs, who simply withered up and died.

The Cubs finished eight stinking games behind the Mets.

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So Sports Illustrated went out put the Tampa Bay Rays on the cover … a cover which looks a lot like the front of a Comic Book.  There’s even a cameo by Bizarro Superman.

That’s just awesome cool … but it’s not the first time Baseball and Superheroes have crossed paths.  As much as Superheroes are the legends and myths of American Folklore, it makes sense that they’ve done crossovers with America’s Pasttime.  Superman, Batman, The Hulk, the X-Men, and Spider-Man have all played a little baseball in their day …

Let’s take a look …

SUPERMAN

In Action Comics #389, the big blue Boy Scout was on the cover taking a mighty swing …

only to be struck out by some kid with a goofy curveball.  

I call B.S. 

There is no way the Man of Steel doesn’t crush every freaking pitch thrown anywhere near the plate, unless the ball is made of Kryptonite and he’s playing inside a dome.  That kid is probably Mister Mxyzptlk or something.

I have no idea about the story inside, but I know that there’s a tribute to Babe Ruth in it.

Uhhh … where are the basepaths?

A lot more after the jump …

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