1. Baseball evolved from the British working-class game of “rounders”… However, unwilling to accept this origin of a game so profoundly American, a 1907 committee decided, based on an untraceable rumor, that Abner Doubleday “invented” the game in 1839, noting especially Doubleday’s post at Fort Sumter and his command to return fire on the Confederates in the opening volley of the American Civil War (even though Doubleday “didn’t know a baseball from a kumquat”). Abner Doubleday 1847The first official game of baseball is played between the Knickerbockers and a group of cricket players. 1889The Players' League is created. 1908Chicago Cubs win the “World Series” for the last time that century (and still counting). 2003 ChicagoCubs come within 5 outs of the “World Series”, but blow it again (oh the horror) 2003 Chicago Cubs come within 5 outs of the “World Series”, but blow it again (oh the horror)

2. Major League Baseball in the USA consists of both the National and American Leagues: 30 teams (14 American and 16 National League)

3. Game = 9 “innings” (top & bottom half) Inning = 3 “outs” 1 out =caught fly ball or, “strike-out” (3 bad swings) tag base runner with the ball “walk” = 4 bad pitches “home run” = ball hit over the wall “7 th inning stretch” (bottom of 7 th : fans sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, a Chicago custom only now emulated by lesser teams) Nuts and Bolts

4. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_74reg_040874_ladatl Hank Aaron, April 8, 1974, 715 career home runs

6. "I'm not an athlete. I'm a professional baseball player.“ -John Kruk -John Kruk "If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her.” -Leo “The Lip” Durocher

7. "So I'm ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face." "In baseball, you don't know nothing." "Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical." "I didn't really say everything I said." Yogi Berra

8. By the shore's of old Lake Michigan Where the "hawk wind" blows so cold An old Cub fan lay dying In his midnight hour that tolled Round his bed, his friends had all gathered They knew his time was short And on his head they put this bright blue cap From his all-time favorite sport He told them, "Its late and its getting dark in here" And I know its time to go But before I leave the line-up Boys, there's just one thing I'd like to know Do they still play the blues in Chicago When baseball season rolls around When the snow melts away, Do the Cubbies still play In their ivy-covered burial ground When I was a boy they were my pride and joy But now they only bring fatigue To the home of the brave The land of the free And the doormat of the National League A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request by Steve Goodman (1948-1984)