Rare Sports Films

 

1966 and 1971
CHICAGO CUBS

“A Look At The Cubs”
(With Jack Brickhouse)

Two vintage WGN TV shows “A Look At The Cubs” are now available on a new 39-minute DVD in COLOR from Rare Sportsfilms, Inc! Both shows, 1966 and 1971, are hosted by Jack Brickhouse from Cubs Spring Training for airing on WGN Channel 9 in Chicago just before the baseball season opened.

   The 1966 show is subtitled “Hello Leo!”, and in addition to a look at the Cubs, is also a look at salty new Cubs manager, 59-year-old Leo Durocher. You’ll hear what Ron Santo thinks of the new manager as well as comments from coach Fred Fitzsimmons, former manager Charlie Grimm and pitcher Dick Ellsworth about Durocher. Throughout the presentation, you’ll see the players in action and hear interviews with players Larry Jackson, Ellsworth, Santo, Bill Faul, Ted Abernathy, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, newcomers Wes Covington and Ty Cline, young Randy Hundley and “Jolly Cholly” Grimm, present at his 50th Spring Training! Players you‘ll see are Billy Williams, Ernie Broglio, Glenn Beckert, Don Kessinger, John Boccabella, Harvey Kuenn, Byron Browne and Ernie Banks. Many of the interviews are with Durocher, as he talks about his style of managing, Byron Brown’s third base play, his preference for versatile ballplayers, his thoughts about Bill Faul’s self-hypnosis, and his impressions of John Boccabella, Ernie Broglio and Harvey Kuenn. The highlight of the entire DVD however, is Leo’s first clubhouse speech to all the players. You are right there watching and listening as Durocher says, “I am the manager of this ballclub – I am the ONLY manager of this ballclub. I will let no one run this ballclub but me, not front office, or anybody!” He continues about how he will manage, what he expects out of the players, getting in shape for the season, the role his coaches will play, curfew, drinking and staying out late after a game! The 1966 show ends with eternal optimist Ernie Banks giving his slogan for the season: “The Cubs Will Shoot From The Hip, With Leo The Lip”!

   The 1971 show is similar in style to the ’66 presentation – still lots of Durocher, but with more in-depth player interviews. There are also short blank spots during the show where game-action footage was to be inserted. Much anticipated is the addition of newcomers Joe Pepitone and Milt Pappas to the ballclub. Jim West, also of WGN, joins Brickhouse handling player interviews and talks with Pepitone about his upcoming 200th home run, his World Series experience with the Yankees, and becoming one of the leaders of the Cubs in ’71. Other players interviewed are Phil Regan (the bullpen failures of ’70), Billy Williams (the end of his consecutive game streak and becoming the highest paid Cub in history), Ron Santo (his “off” year in ’70 and what he thinks of Pepitone), Ken Holtzman (his control and what makes Bill Hands so effective), Bill Hands (his most effective way of pitching), Randy Hundley and Fergie Jenkins (who calls the pitches and in what percentage), Milt Pappas (his impression of Billy Williams), Jim Hickman (who will be in Durocher’s lineup?), John Callison (his distaste for being platooned), Beckert and Kessinger (why they practice constantly). When Durocher is interviewed he names the club’s two big weakness and then talks about Pappas, Pepitone and hopefully having a healthy Hundley for an entire season. During the show, Santo and Pepitone team up to sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” (I’ve heard worse from the celebrity booth at Wrigley Field)!

A must for Cub fans! To get your own DVD of this nostalgic and rare baseball footage, send $29.95 plus $4.00 for shipping and handling (Illinois residents must add $2.00 sales tax) to:


Write: "RARE SPORTSFILMS N", 1126 Tennyson Lane, Naperville, IL 60540 (630) 527-8890


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