On September 29, 1945, the Chicago Cubs’ fireball pitcher Paul Erickson threw a curve ball to Tommy
O’Brien of the Pittsburgh Pirates with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. O’Brien’s knees
buckled, as any hitter’s knees would when he expects a fastball but gets a curve instead. O’Brien had
reason to be surprised—it was Erickson’s first curveball of the game, and some even claim that it was his
first of the year. The ball crossed home plate for strike three. The Cubs won 4-3 and captured the
National League championship.
The Cubs’ journey to the National League pennant in 1945 is detailed here. The author interviewed nine surviving members of the 1945 Cubs, including pitchers Erickson, Hank Borowy, Hank Wyse and Claude Passeau, second baseman Don Johnson, shortstop Lenny Merullo, backup catcher Dewey Williams, first baseman Phil Cavaretta, and outfielder Andy Pafko, and includes their recollections of that magical Cubs season.
View the interview with the author of The Cubs Win The Pennant, John C. Skipper below.
What inspired you to write the book "The Cubs Win the Pennant"?
John Skipper - I wrote a book several years ago called "Take Me Out to the Cubs Game." The premise of the book was to get players' insight into why the Cubs have had such a long dry spell. I interviewed players from Cub teams of '40s,.'50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. In the course of doing research for that book, I talked with several players from the 1945 pennant winning team. That's where I got the idea to do a whole book on that team.
How long did it take you to research your book?
John Skipper - I took more than two years with the help of some of the research already done, because of the previous book.
How did your previous experiences of being a General Manager for a minor league baseball team help you write this book?
John Skipper - I was able to understand the nuances of the game from both the business side and the on-the-field activity -- how the front office has to work to provide the players the team needs -- and how the organization has to make money to make the whole thing work.
In the introduction to the book, you referenced the quote: "just think of all the men who played so many games on this field". Can you explain what this means to you?
John Skipper - The quote is from Ron Santo, former Cub third baseman and now broadcaster. He said it to Rick Wrona, a catcher on the Cubs 1989 division championship team as the players were being introduced on the field before the first playoff game. That statement capsulized the history, the achievements, the disappointments, the frustration and yet the pride of hundreds of ballplayers who never got the chance to do what Wrona was doing that night.
How did the war and baseball affect each other?
John Skipper - The war took many great stars and shortened their careers. Some of the stories are legendary -- Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg. But it also gave opportunities to young players who may never have had the chance to play Major League baseball had they not been filling in because the regular players were gone. The nightmare of war for some created some dreams-come-true for others.
On July 1st, 1945, the Cubs were about 5 games out of first place and only a few games above .500. What gave them the surge to move to the top of the division?
John Skipper - Some times a team just catches fire. Everything comes together at the right time. Example: With two weeks to go in the 2005 baseball season, every story about the White Sox mentioned they were on the verge of the greatest fold in baseball history. What happened? They won 5 in a row to end the season, 3 in a row against Boston, 4 out of 5 against the Angels and 4 in a row against Houston. That's one of the remarkable things about baseball. In 1945, the Cubs were plodding along at about a .500 pace and then they went 26-5 in July, took over first place, and never relinquished it. One thing they had in common with the 2005 White Sox was outstanding starting pitchers.
Hank Borowy was a huge addition to the 1945 Cubs. How were the Cubs able to get Borowy from the Yankees?
John Skipper - That is a mystery that Cubs general manager Jim Gallagher took to his grave with him. Borowy was an outstanding pitcher for the Yankees and was 10-5 at the time the Cubs picked him up on waivers. He was 11-2 for the Cubs down the stretch drive. Borowy says the Yankees soured on him when he gave up a grand slam home run to Zeb Eaton of th Tigers, the opposing pitcher, in a game in early July. There was also rumor that Larry McPhail, the Yankee general manager, paid back a favor to Gallagher because, in 1941, when McPhail was with the Dodgers, the Cubs dealt Billy Herman to Brooklyn and helped them win the pennant. But the answer to your question is: No one really knows.
Do you think Charlie Grimm should get more recognition for what he did as a manager during his career?
John Skipper - If you look at Charlie Grimm's statistics as a player: 2,299 hits, .290 lifetime batting average for 20 years; and his record as a manager: Cub pennant winners in 1935, 1938 (with Gabby Hartnett who took over in mid-season) and 1945, it's surprising he hasn't gotten more Hall of Fame consideration. He deserves extra credit for 1945. Every big league manager was fielding a team with less than super ballplayers at some positions. Grimm won the pennant with his.
If you could compare the Cubs starting rotation in 1945 to pitchers in the majors today, who would you compare them to?
John Skipper - The Cubs starting rotation in 1945 was Borowy, Hank Wyse, who won 22 games; Claude Passeau, who won 17 and threw a one-hitter in the World Series; Ray Prim, the only lefthander, who was 13-8; and Paul Derringer, who was 16-11. To give you an idea of how good that staff was, Prim was the least known of the four -- and he had the lowest earned run average among them -- 2.40. It's hard to compare pitchers of one era to pitchers of another era but again I would make the comparison with the 2005 White Sox. They got the job done. In 1945, starting pitchers expected to finish what they started. Today's pitchers strive for "quality starts" -- a minimum of six innings -- and then turn it over to the bullpen. That's why it's hard to make comparisons.
The Billy Goat Curse is still a big topic among Cubs fans today. Do you believe William "Billy Goat" Sianis actually attempted to place a curse on the Cubs or was this something of an "urban legend" that Cubs fans have built over the years?
John Skipper - Both. Phil Wrigley banned the goat from the ballpark because he said other patrons wouldn't like the smell. After the Cubs lost the World Series, Sianis sent a message to Wrigley which said, "Now who smells?" and vowed to put a curse on the Cubs. It was probably a figure of speech, a pronouncement of his disgust. Leave it to the Cubs to go 60 years (and counting) without winning another pennant -- making the so-called "curse' a part of their history.
There are several different accounts as to how Charlie Grimm decided on who would pitch Game 7. Some players even blamed Grimm later for making the wrong choice. After your interviews with numerous players on the '45 team, what do you think happened?
John Skipper - Grimm was in a bind. In Game 6, a game the Cubs had to win to stay alive, Passeau, the starter, was hit by a line drive, injuring his pitching hand. Grimm used his other three main starters, Wyse, Prim and Borowy to salvage an 8-7 win in 12 innings. So for Game 7, Passeau, was hurt, Borowy had started Game 5 and went four innings in Game 6 and both Wyse and Prim were ineffective in Game 6. According to some of the players, Grimm thought about starting Derringer or Hy Vandenberg, a spot starter and reliever,.in Game 7. I think he went with Borowy because Borowy was the best pitcher down the stretch in the regular season and he was 2-1 in the World Series. In my interviews with the players, Wyse was still bitter after almost 60 years. He thought he should have started. The others wouldn't question Grimm's judgment. Another factor is this: In the locker room after Game 6, Borowy acted like he really wanted the ball for Game 7, maybe wanted it more than the others. He was the stud of the moment, that's for sure.
Do you think any players from the 1945 team deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?
John Skipper - Though he was a third baseman, Stan Hack was a Mark Grace type of player for many years -- a nice guy, a spark plug and a consistently good hitter. First baseman Phil Cavaretta was also a good ballplayer. Neither of them were "great" for their entire careers, though, and that hurt them for Hall consideration.
What will it take for the Cubs to get back to, and maybe WIN, the World Series?
John Skipper - The Cubs starting pitchers need to stay healthy. If the Cubs could get full seasons out of Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano, they could be back in the playoffs. They also need guys at the start of the lineup who will work pitch-counts better than Corey Patterson did. The Cubs must lead the league every year in swinging at first pitches. I hope the new guys take some pitches, get some walks and set the table for the power hitters. If that doesn't happen, it could be another long year.
What is your prediction for the 2006 Cubs?
John Skipper - If everything I mentioned above comes true, this could be the year for a Cubs-White Sox World Series.
CBB thanks John Skipper and and appreciates the time he took to give us an interview. To purchase the book, visit McFarland Publishing.
The Cubs’ journey to the National League pennant in 1945 is detailed here. The author interviewed nine surviving members of the 1945 Cubs, including pitchers Erickson, Hank Borowy, Hank Wyse and Claude Passeau, second baseman Don Johnson, shortstop Lenny Merullo, backup catcher Dewey Williams, first baseman Phil Cavaretta, and outfielder Andy Pafko, and includes their recollections of that magical Cubs season.
View the interview with the author of The Cubs Win The Pennant, John C. Skipper below.
What inspired you to write the book "The Cubs Win the Pennant"?
John Skipper - I wrote a book several years ago called "Take Me Out to the Cubs Game." The premise of the book was to get players' insight into why the Cubs have had such a long dry spell. I interviewed players from Cub teams of '40s,.'50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. In the course of doing research for that book, I talked with several players from the 1945 pennant winning team. That's where I got the idea to do a whole book on that team.
How long did it take you to research your book?
John Skipper - I took more than two years with the help of some of the research already done, because of the previous book.
How did your previous experiences of being a General Manager for a minor league baseball team help you write this book?
John Skipper - I was able to understand the nuances of the game from both the business side and the on-the-field activity -- how the front office has to work to provide the players the team needs -- and how the organization has to make money to make the whole thing work.
In the introduction to the book, you referenced the quote: "just think of all the men who played so many games on this field". Can you explain what this means to you?
John Skipper - The quote is from Ron Santo, former Cub third baseman and now broadcaster. He said it to Rick Wrona, a catcher on the Cubs 1989 division championship team as the players were being introduced on the field before the first playoff game. That statement capsulized the history, the achievements, the disappointments, the frustration and yet the pride of hundreds of ballplayers who never got the chance to do what Wrona was doing that night.
How did the war and baseball affect each other?
John Skipper - The war took many great stars and shortened their careers. Some of the stories are legendary -- Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg. But it also gave opportunities to young players who may never have had the chance to play Major League baseball had they not been filling in because the regular players were gone. The nightmare of war for some created some dreams-come-true for others.
On July 1st, 1945, the Cubs were about 5 games out of first place and only a few games above .500. What gave them the surge to move to the top of the division?
John Skipper - Some times a team just catches fire. Everything comes together at the right time. Example: With two weeks to go in the 2005 baseball season, every story about the White Sox mentioned they were on the verge of the greatest fold in baseball history. What happened? They won 5 in a row to end the season, 3 in a row against Boston, 4 out of 5 against the Angels and 4 in a row against Houston. That's one of the remarkable things about baseball. In 1945, the Cubs were plodding along at about a .500 pace and then they went 26-5 in July, took over first place, and never relinquished it. One thing they had in common with the 2005 White Sox was outstanding starting pitchers.
Hank Borowy was a huge addition to the 1945 Cubs. How were the Cubs able to get Borowy from the Yankees?
John Skipper - That is a mystery that Cubs general manager Jim Gallagher took to his grave with him. Borowy was an outstanding pitcher for the Yankees and was 10-5 at the time the Cubs picked him up on waivers. He was 11-2 for the Cubs down the stretch drive. Borowy says the Yankees soured on him when he gave up a grand slam home run to Zeb Eaton of th Tigers, the opposing pitcher, in a game in early July. There was also rumor that Larry McPhail, the Yankee general manager, paid back a favor to Gallagher because, in 1941, when McPhail was with the Dodgers, the Cubs dealt Billy Herman to Brooklyn and helped them win the pennant. But the answer to your question is: No one really knows.
Do you think Charlie Grimm should get more recognition for what he did as a manager during his career?
John Skipper - If you look at Charlie Grimm's statistics as a player: 2,299 hits, .290 lifetime batting average for 20 years; and his record as a manager: Cub pennant winners in 1935, 1938 (with Gabby Hartnett who took over in mid-season) and 1945, it's surprising he hasn't gotten more Hall of Fame consideration. He deserves extra credit for 1945. Every big league manager was fielding a team with less than super ballplayers at some positions. Grimm won the pennant with his.
If you could compare the Cubs starting rotation in 1945 to pitchers in the majors today, who would you compare them to?
John Skipper - The Cubs starting rotation in 1945 was Borowy, Hank Wyse, who won 22 games; Claude Passeau, who won 17 and threw a one-hitter in the World Series; Ray Prim, the only lefthander, who was 13-8; and Paul Derringer, who was 16-11. To give you an idea of how good that staff was, Prim was the least known of the four -- and he had the lowest earned run average among them -- 2.40. It's hard to compare pitchers of one era to pitchers of another era but again I would make the comparison with the 2005 White Sox. They got the job done. In 1945, starting pitchers expected to finish what they started. Today's pitchers strive for "quality starts" -- a minimum of six innings -- and then turn it over to the bullpen. That's why it's hard to make comparisons.
The Billy Goat Curse is still a big topic among Cubs fans today. Do you believe William "Billy Goat" Sianis actually attempted to place a curse on the Cubs or was this something of an "urban legend" that Cubs fans have built over the years?
John Skipper - Both. Phil Wrigley banned the goat from the ballpark because he said other patrons wouldn't like the smell. After the Cubs lost the World Series, Sianis sent a message to Wrigley which said, "Now who smells?" and vowed to put a curse on the Cubs. It was probably a figure of speech, a pronouncement of his disgust. Leave it to the Cubs to go 60 years (and counting) without winning another pennant -- making the so-called "curse' a part of their history.
There are several different accounts as to how Charlie Grimm decided on who would pitch Game 7. Some players even blamed Grimm later for making the wrong choice. After your interviews with numerous players on the '45 team, what do you think happened?
John Skipper - Grimm was in a bind. In Game 6, a game the Cubs had to win to stay alive, Passeau, the starter, was hit by a line drive, injuring his pitching hand. Grimm used his other three main starters, Wyse, Prim and Borowy to salvage an 8-7 win in 12 innings. So for Game 7, Passeau, was hurt, Borowy had started Game 5 and went four innings in Game 6 and both Wyse and Prim were ineffective in Game 6. According to some of the players, Grimm thought about starting Derringer or Hy Vandenberg, a spot starter and reliever,.in Game 7. I think he went with Borowy because Borowy was the best pitcher down the stretch in the regular season and he was 2-1 in the World Series. In my interviews with the players, Wyse was still bitter after almost 60 years. He thought he should have started. The others wouldn't question Grimm's judgment. Another factor is this: In the locker room after Game 6, Borowy acted like he really wanted the ball for Game 7, maybe wanted it more than the others. He was the stud of the moment, that's for sure.
Do you think any players from the 1945 team deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?
John Skipper - Though he was a third baseman, Stan Hack was a Mark Grace type of player for many years -- a nice guy, a spark plug and a consistently good hitter. First baseman Phil Cavaretta was also a good ballplayer. Neither of them were "great" for their entire careers, though, and that hurt them for Hall consideration.
What will it take for the Cubs to get back to, and maybe WIN, the World Series?
John Skipper - The Cubs starting pitchers need to stay healthy. If the Cubs could get full seasons out of Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano, they could be back in the playoffs. They also need guys at the start of the lineup who will work pitch-counts better than Corey Patterson did. The Cubs must lead the league every year in swinging at first pitches. I hope the new guys take some pitches, get some walks and set the table for the power hitters. If that doesn't happen, it could be another long year.
What is your prediction for the 2006 Cubs?
John Skipper - If everything I mentioned above comes true, this could be the year for a Cubs-White Sox World Series.
CBB thanks John Skipper and and appreciates the time he took to give us an interview. To purchase the book, visit McFarland Publishing.
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