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Author Interview - Classic Cubs
View the interview with the author of Classic Cubs: A Tribute to the Men and Magic of Wrigley Field, John Hanley below.
You're a well known sports artist. What gave you the idea to tie your artistic ability into a book about the Cubs?
John Hanley - I was born and raised a Cub fan despite my father and grandfather being Sox fans. In 2002 after painting a series
of 3 Wrigley Field images I thought it was time to do a whole book on the Cubs, but really it was something I wanted to do since I was
a kid. I have been drawing and painting since I can remember and when the Cubs were on TV I would sketch and doodle while watching
the games.
Did you create any of the paintings specifically for the book?
John Hanley - All the images were created specifically for the book. Prints were made of the images while I worked on the book
to get my name out and generate interest in my work and of course pay bills.
Are any of these paintings or prints available for purchase?
John Hanley - All the paintings are available for purchase. Some have been sold already. Prints are also available. (For
information on Hanley's artwork, visit JohnHanleyArtist.com.)
Of the Cubs Hall of Fame players you reference in the book, who your favorite or most interesting?
John Hanley - I would have to say the players I find most interesting are the ones before the modern era; Cap Anson, Tinker,
Evers, Chance, Hack Wilson, Grover Alexander, etc. When you see images of them they look 15-20 years older than they really were, the
lives of these players were so much more complex than today's player. They had to work during the off season, some served in the
military, the travel and pay was brutal, yet they loved the game.
But my favorite was Billy Williams. As a kid he was my favorite and I patterned my batting stance after him and did the warmup
in the on-deck like him: swinging at spit.
Of the Outsanding Players your book references, who will be the next Hall of Fame player?
John Hanley - Greg Maddux of course, but as a Brave unfortunately. Derrek Lee has a chance and Andre Dawson should be there.
Was it easy for you to paint or draw pictures to expand each of the stories?
John Hanley - Oh yes, this project was a labor of love and it came pretty easy. I was an illustrator for years before moving to
fine art and that experience helped in making the right images and ideas tell the stories.
How long did it take you to put the book together?
John Hanley - I worked on this starting in 2002 in between other commissions and projects, but I did devote the entire year in
2006 to getting a large portion of the book finished. The research into this book was time consuming and very fun.
Did you learn anything new about the Cubs that you did not know before writing the book?
John Hanley - A few things I did not realize, such as when Hack Wilson died his body was left unclaimed by family in a morgue.
MLB had to bury him. Charles Murphy, owner of the Cubs in the glory years of 07-08 was a complete a-hole, treated the team like crap
and tried scalping tickets during the World Series.
What are your thoughts on the 2008 Cubs?
John Hanley - I like this team a lot. Fukodome is exactly what this team needed but I am concerned about the starting pitching.
Marmol needs to be the closer right now. The team you see now, I think will look different in August. There will be some sort of major
move made to put this team over the top. Right? Lead-off, pitching, pitching, pitching.
CBB thanks John Hanley and and appreciates his time. Purchase the book through
Amazon.com or visit JohnHanleyArtist.com.
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