MLB's WGT BASEBALL GAME "SCAM" BY JERRY PRITIKIN the Bleacher Preacher

Note the time on my computer...

Note the message about getting a homer on the first try...
Note, no matter where you guess the 3rd pitch will be, it's winds up getting hit out of the park!

Note the same result!

DATELINE CHICAGO: April 10,2012... Over the past several weeks, I notice a MLB game called WGT on my FACEBOOK PAGE. Todate, I have tried it 10 times and the results have been the same each and every time. I have managed to hit 10 HOME RUNS in 10 times at bat. I can assure you that I am not on Steroids, and I have not been stealing the catcher's signals. In fact, I tried to strike out on purpose the last 3 times. The object of the game is to guess where the pitcher is going to throw each pitch so you will be ready to hit it. Somehow the first pitch will

be taken by the batter, the next pitch will be fouled off, and no matter where you think the 3rd pitch will go, it winds up being pitched exactly there, and when you swing it winds up going out of the ball- park for a homer. After 3 homers in a row, I thought I was using Sammy Sosa's corked bat!

I do not equate this SCAM with the 1919 White Sox, however it is a scandle just the same! It reminded me when I was a 16 year old kid at Chicago's Riverview Amusement Park in 1953. On the mid-way there were games of chance, and I remember one of the "Barkers" offering me a free chance to throw a ring at a rack of clothes pins a short distace away. Each pin had a point value, and on my Free Throw I just happened to get 5 points. I was told if I managed to get a total of 10 Points that I would win one of the valuable prizes on the top shelf. There was a portable Adrimal Radio, a Waterman's Pen & Pencil set, A giant stuffed Panda Bear and a few more items that must of been worth atleast $15. bucks. And being a nice guy, the "Barker" allowed me use the 5 points that I received on my free toss. It only cost 50 cents a toss. I was already half way to victory. How could I lose? Somehow I kept getting a half a point a throw or no points at all, and won only a plaster of Paris Kwupie Doll and a cheap cigarette lighter made in Occupied Japan. I managed to lose 10 Dollars and I gave up. As I was walking away a sailor with his girl friend took a free throw... and he too got 5 points like I did on his 1st toss. He wound up losing $10. too and won a cheap prize, and then the next person also got 5 points on his 1st try and did not win any of the big prizes after spending 10 bucks and walking away with a consolation prize.

I learned my lesson back then, and I was not about to see what the next level of the WGT Baseball game was going to cost me. The formula to get me hooked was the same. I believe this License Product of MLB should be banned for their deceptive advertising practice.

Here is the LINK: http://apps.facebook.com/wgtbaseballmlb/?fb_source=bookmark_apps&ref=bookmarks&count=0&fb_bmpos=1_0

There used to be a Ballpark : By Jerry Pritikin the Bleacher Preacher

When I was a kid,and you paid 10 cents for a bag of P-nuts... the vender told you a story and made us laugh. (c) J Pritikin



The old marquee, I remember when it was green in the 1940s.



Bill Veeck, boycotted Wrigley for all but 2 games in 1985. This is the last picture taken of him in the bleachers (c) J Pritikin



My side-kick and good friend Carmella. She had great Chicago stories to be told. Our old seats have been replaced by the Bud-Lite Bleachers. Took 2 buses to and from the park and once went 7 years without missing a game. (c) J Pritikin

I have been going to Wrigley Field since the summer of 1945, when my dad gave me a crash course in baseball 101 and Cubs history. He was my Baseball Rabbi. Then took me to my first game... and I have been back to the Friendly Confines over a thousand times since. In the late 40s, I often worked after a game to help clean the grandstands and received a free pass to the next game. In 1945, there were only 8 teams in each league. Post season play consisted only of the World Series. Baseball was the official language around the Pritikin kitchen table between my dad Hank, older brother Allen and myself. When the Cubs clinched the N.L. Pennant, I asked my dad to take me to the World Series. He felt I was too young at 8 years old. He made me a Promise, he would take me the next time.

Since then I have seen all of changes in and around the ballpark and on the field. Yet for many generations the Ball Park never seemed to change until new traditions were changing at a faster pace. I always felt young in Wrigley. Traditions stop and start almost at the same time. The faces in the stands, the voices on the mic, and the players on the field always changing at a snails pace.

However, it was when Wrigley sold the ball club, lock,stock and Ivy to the Tribune Company. The new owners had a catchy little slogan"Building a New Tradition" and forgot to tell the fans it came at the expense of many old traditions. First to go, the Andy Frain Ushers,selling tickets in February. Building Sky boxes that eliminated much of the grandstand fans view... and they had to watch tv sets to see what happened. Advertising signs in the Friendly Confines were popping up more then the Cubs players! Then the lights, the family section, the forest in center field... and of course,the scorecard going from 50 cents to 75 cents and 2 to 3 pages... the extra page was all advertisements. The cheap seats became the hip place to be and each year they kept raising the price of of a ticket, the beer and the eats. My dad always talked about his good old days, and always comparing teams of his era with that of mine or my brother.
I remember when the Trib raised the price of their evening paper from 2 to 3 cents, and he yelled "it's not worth 2 cents NOW!"


The changes in the bleachers really hurt mostly the old fans... who remember when the Cubs Radio announcer (before TV) would repeat often "Wrigley Field, The most beautiful ball park in the world!" For me it was the Grand Canyon of Baseball. I have sat in various areas of the old bleachers over time, but it was the time my good friend Carmella and we sat at the top row of the LCF Bleachers. From there, we could see most of the visible changes... The Holy Grail has become the Bud-lite Bleachers. Beers are now $7.00, I remember when they were a quarter and came in glass bottles. And 50 cents got us in the bleachers, and those seats are now $48. for either an adult or kid!

When I am walking near the ballpark on a day of a game... the rustic feeling of Old Wrigley is completely gone, the Grand Canyon of Baseball has been replaced by a Giant Cash Register.
The roof tops look like the tops rows of the Big-Top at a circus. Most of the friends and old neighborhood that helped Wrigley to become known as the "Friendly Confines"... are gone.
I do not go to games anymore... I have been priced out of the ballpark at face value of a ticket. So how do I feel about the new right field signage and make-over. FRANKLY, I do not care!
Every so often, when I am in Wrigleyville... I hear a voice in my head... it's Frank Sinatra. And he singing... "There used to be a ballpark" except this time it's Wrigley.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4YQkrUCE80

My Pick for 2011 Gay Softball Comeback of the Year ... By Jerry Pritikin

Senior Cup in hands of sponsor


Director Peter Meyer CMSA Senior Cup



Scooter Div Champions 2011 Bob's Old Bats/ Chicago




12th Annual CMSA Senior Cup Program


My 3rd CMSA Senior Cup for Being Oldest Active Player at 74

I had great intentions of writing about this event when it happened early in September. I had postponed a hernia operation to play in this years 2011 annual Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association's Senior Cup Tournament. This was their 12th year. I played for most of their existence, sponsoring several Bubbies Pickle's teams. I have earned a nice array of Awards. I almost did not come back after the last years debacle I had with the sponsor/ manager of the St. louis entry. I was treated badly, with poor excuses for not starting me or playing me. I was added to their roster because they were short on players. Mosquitoes and rain put a damper on the first game. I was 1 for 3, and replaced in the 5th inning of our first game. Then waiting for rain delays and a late game. I was told that I would play in all games... it never happened. Sunday morning I showed up for an early game, and again the promise of being in the starting line-up was never kept. He stayed with the same losing line up. So I quit, but I later learned he won the Award as the oldest active player for that tournament that had i stayed would of won. Earlier this years, I told Peter Meyers (Director of the Senior Cup and one of the original founders of the Senior Cup) that I would like to play again... and presented him a short list of teams that I prefer not to play with.

The night before the 2 day event I was assigned to meet with Manager/sponsor Robert Heidrich of Bob's old Bats. They were a player short. He asked me what position I played, and volunteered to catch, or DH, and he even offered me a chance to pitch,again. However it's been too many years since I threw my patented Knuckle Ball. I had hoped to contribute by playing. I missed a great photo opportunity when I did not bring my camera to record the festive sign-in party at Charlie's on Broadway. It was like old times... seeing so many friendly faces... and a few not so friendly. A few things happened to me that never happened before in all my years playing, since 1974, I actually swung and miss a slow pitched lob. I was saved the first time, when it only became the second strike... and then the umpire called the game on time and we were winning, so it never counted. The very next day, I again missed a pitch. In my defense, I had not played on any team in the summer CMSA's regular softball season. I did modified my swing and I wound up going 9 for 19, and had 4 walks with one turning out to be the game winning run. I had one game winning hit, and had a few timely RBI's and scored often. I won the Award for Oldest active player... my 3rd time. Bob's Old Bats won the first place trophy in the Scooter Division.

One other fact, I played on my first seniors team, "The Fabulos Forty's!" that was the first gay senior team in the nation back in 1979. Today, thereare over 50 American cities that have Gay Sponsored Sports Leagues.



Peter Meyer, who is retiring from being the Senior Cup Tournament Director, batter over a thousand on getting the fields in shape, and the weather was perfect, too. The Umpires were fabulous,as always. I enjoyed picking on some players... some of the younger players complained, and I had to shut up... I guess I took it out with my vicious swings... I admit a few turned out to be dribbles through the infield with seeing eyes or pop-flyies just over the infielder's head... I like the old baseball adage "They look like line-drives in the scorebook!"
One more thing...
My hernia operation turned out to create more problems then I bargained for. I am thankful I had the opportunity to play ball, because I have been recovering from my 2 months in hell, and I'm just now beginning to recover.

Wave breaks heart of the Bleacher Preacher by(c) Jerry Pritikin

Fans in Left Field make last minute bets...



Looking from the Right-Field Corner out toward the Left Field Bleachers.



THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE AT TODAY'S GAME... THANKS TIM!




My Bleacher Preacher Drag came OUT of retirement, that's my batgirl Miss Pretty Kitty.

ALL PHOTOS (c) J Pritikin

I want ot thank Kevin Henry for giving me an extra ticket to today's game.I really thought there was going to be more hoop-la
prior to the game concerning PRIDE DAY, and this years Gay World Series Champions.

(CHICAGO Sept. 4th, 2011) Today marked my first game at Wrigley Field this season. The surrounding buildings look like seats at a Big Top with the sky as the tent. Advertising signs hits from all angles. The whole feeling that personified the everyday fan and gave Wrigley the moniker THE FRIENDLY CONFINES are 2 different things compared to the crowd at todays Cubs Game. The weather was near perfect and a nice breeze kept my propeller on top of my Intersteller Propellar Beany spinning in the Winds of Wrigley. I spoted just a few old timers I knew from my 25 years of roaming in and around the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. I could not hear the special pregame announcement that introduced this weekend's Gay World Series Winners that took place in Chicago.

The first Buc batter got a hit, and a short time later he scored putting the Pirates in the lead. Then, there was signs of a plague beginning in the Center Field Bleacher... it was the dreaded "WAVE". In my 25 years roaming that sacred ground I had never seen a completed wave accomplished. Usually good fans were able to prevail with the wave usually wimping out near where it began. I always warned thos fans they were threading on hallowed grounds, and warn them of my 8th Cub-mandment. "Thou Shalt not start or participate in the wave at Wrigley Field, or you will be Ex-Cub-Fan-Municated!" I consider that the most important of my 10 Cub-Fan-Mandments. Ironically. Today for the 2nd time in my adult life, I left the ballpark before the last man was out. In fact and by far it was the earliest after only 2 1/2 innings, because I witnessed 2 full around the ballpark WAVES. I have no respect for any ballpark that allows those things. I dared not photograph that baseball blasphemy. I just walked out and visited with a few ballhawks at the corner of Waveland and Kenmore... sommeday I hope that corner will be officially know in honor of people who are part of the Wrigley Folk lore, and to be called Ballhawk Drive and Carmella Way. Named after The Waveland Ave. Ballhawks and Carmella Hartigan

In January I'll hit 75, and that is not homers. Next week I will be playing in Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association's Senior Cup. I won the honor of being the oldest active player twice since 2000. I played on one championship team and looking forward to hanging up my spikes(as in baseball) after this weekend. Til then...
Cheers, and ONCE IN A WHILE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD LEAVE A COMMENT,
Cheers, Jerry

MLB Suspension of Roger McDowell and his apology. By Jerry Pritikin

"BLEACHER PREACHER" PHOTO BY MIA AIGOTTI

Well Major League Baseball has decided to suspend Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, for 2 weeks for his inappropriate actions at Pac-Bell Park last week. I agree, especially there were some who felt Roger McDowell should of been fired. Chances are, I probably would of felt the same way based on the stories on the web and wire services. A few years back I took the time to write the Commissioner and several newspapers when Julian Tavarez of the Cubs, and John Rocker of the Braves made anti-gay remarks. However those guys had reputations as hot-heads and were bigoted. I did not know those ballplayers, but I have known Roger McDowell since 1984. Without a doubt, I knew him to be a fan favorite with every team he pitched for, and now as a pitching coach. I am glad this one moment out of a ditinguished career did not cost him his job. I was going to write McDowell to join me in the Bleachers for Chicago's Windy City Gay Newspaper special "Out at the Ballpark" game. I guess he'll have better things to do. I am attaching an artical in Sports Illustrated from 1987. It gives you an idea as to why I liked Roger. Thankfully, I hope people refrain from heckling him because of this one time event. In fact, MLB should make sure all teams do a better job at preventing fans from making obscene or anti-gay remarks aimed at ballplayers. And once a fan has been warned, they should be banned from the ballpark if they continue to do so.

Cheers... NOW LET'S PLAY SOME BASEBALL!

October 12, 1987

Scorecard

Edited by Sarah BallardDEFROCKED

Jerry Pritikin, the Bleacher Preacher of Wrigley Field, feels as though he has been excommunicated. A Cubs fan for 42 years and a fixture in the bleachers for the past three, Pritikin wears, or used to wear, a T-shirt that reads JERRY PRITIKIN, BLEACHER PREACHER, THE GOSPEL OF THE CUBS. He claims to have converted 1,500 nonbelievers into Cubs fans, baptizing them with an oath that invokes the names of Bill Veeck Sr., Bill Veeck Jr. and Charlie Grimm, the last man to manage a Cub team in the World Series (42 years ago).

The seeds of the present trouble were sown a couple of seasons back when Pritikin and some other fans in the bleachers tossed a Frisbee around with visiting Mets pitchers Ron Darling and Roger McDowell, who were standing in the outfield. Since then, when the Mets have come to Wrigley, McDowell always spots Pritikin in the crowd and asks, "Where's your Frisbee?"

That's what happened on Sept. 22, two hours before a Cubs-Mets game was scheduled to begin. It was raining, but as usual Pritikin was already in his seat. McDowell came out to rightfield and asked Pritikin the usual question. This time, though, Pritikin had come prepared. He took his Frisbee out of a bag and was about to throw it to McDowell when an usher said, "Don't throw it." Maybe the devil made him do it, maybe not, but Pritikin threw the Frisbee anyway. The usher expelled him from the park, breaking Pritikin's 75-game attendance streak. The Cubs beat the Mets 6-2, but it was small comfort to Pritikin, sitting on a bench outside the ballpark.

The Preacher finished up the season by attending the Cubs' next five home games, but things, he says, will never be the same. His T-shirt now reads: THIS SPACE FOR RENT.

The Bleacher Preacher in defense of Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger Mc Dowell

Welcome first time visitors to my blog. Sometimes people will stop by for just a second or 2, and in many cases much longer. I wished that those who have returned, would leave a comment once in a while. It is not easy for me to put into words why I do this... however I have been blessed to have had one heck of an interesting life. I covered a lot of bases and often recorded them with my camera. I have been involved in sports, and politics as a participant or observer. I have been described as a gay Forrest Gump, or even as such without the word gay. In the past few days, I read about a former ballplayer, and now pitching coach with the Atlanta Brave's, Roger Mc Dowell. Our paths first crossed in the N.L. Pennant chase late in the 1984 season. For those that are visiting here for the first time, let me brag about becoming a legendary fan of the Chicago Cubs. It began in 1945 when I was 8 years old. That year my dad Hank, gave me a crash course in Baseball 101 and Cubs History. He then took me to my first game at beautiful Wrigley Field. A month or so later, when the Cubs clinched the N.L. Pennant, I asked him to take me to the '45 World Series. He said I was too young , but made me a PROMISE that he would take me the next time! The following year I heard the expression WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR for the first time. Baseball was the official language between my dad and myself ever since. In 1981, he was in a coma,at the Evanston St. Francisco Hospital. He awoke from the coma once. I was there... and in a soft whisper he said 'WE GOTTA GET RID OF KINGMAN!" He was not able to keep his PROMISE to me in his lifetime, but I have been looking for closure in mine.

In 1984, I thought I might get a chance. Without great detail... the Cubs was hot news on the sporting pages across the country. From Opening Day, the All-Star break and into the home stretch of the N.L. pennant chase. I was a Chicago transplant in San Francisco. A few years earlier I had gained the moniker as the Bay Area Resident Cub fan when I was the publicist for the S.F. production of the Stage Play "BLEACHER BUMS". It was supposed to be a 6 week run that ran for over a year. I turned the Lobby of the Little Fox Theater into Wrigley Field West. I was being quoted in local newspapers. When the run ended... I continued doing Chicago tie-in promotions whenever the Cubs and Bears came into town.

There are more complete stories about 1984 on this blog. I decided to return to Chicago for the last month. I had some T-shirts made and my battle cry was HOW DO YOU SPELL BELIEF? CUBS! I brought with me my life size Generic VOODOO Doll. I arrived in time for the dreaded N.Y.Met series. Before the game, I was photographed by the Associated Press, and interviewed on several local TV stations and made the Front page of the Chicago Sun-Times. The next day after walking around the friendly confines with the doll... I entered the ballpark in time for batting practice. The Mets were taking their swings. A Met pitcher yelled up to me I saw you on CNN and then he flung a Frisbee at me. We did that for a few times and his name was Roger Mc Dowell. It was the beginning of a long mutual friendship. My Voodoo Doll was then made into a Padre model for the Play Offs after capturing the N.L.E. Division. When the Cubs won the first 2 games, I honestly thought my Dad's PROMISE would finally be fulfilled. However... the Cubs dropped 3 in a row. For the next few years,whenever the Mets were in town, I kept a Frisbee in my back pack. Roger would always come out to the Left Field Bleachers, and we would fling the Frisbee for a few minutes. In 1987, both the Cubs and Mets were not contenders. In the final month of the season the Mets were in for their last series with the Cubs. As usual, I packed my Frisbee. It was a rainy day and no need to bring my voodoo doll. There were very few people in line when the gates opened. There was a tarp on the infield and chances were the game might be postponed. Then I saw Roger in the dugout, he then trotted out to greet me, and asked if I brought the frisbee. I nodded and as I was taking the Frisbee out of my backpack, a "rookie" security guard came over and warned me if I threw the Frisbee... I would be tossed out of the park. I pointed up toward the scoreboard and when he turned around, and I threw it to Roger. And he tossed it back to me. The Security guard said I was "OUT!" My 75 game streak for that season came to an end. I was really mad. There were just a hand full of fans in all the bleachers, and I was escorted out of the park. It stopped raining,and the game started on time. It was hard for me to get used to the noise of the little crowd from outside the park. I decided to call Cubs General Manager Dallas Green. He told me to go to the front entrance, and he would meet me there. However, before he got there the head of security told me to leave or I would be arrested. I called the Sun-Times, and then Sports Illustrated. That night I called Harry Caray at the Ambassador East, and told him I was going to become a "Free Agent Fan". He said I was foolish. The next day, the story appeared in the Sun-Times and a few days later in SI under the title"Defrocked!", in the ScoreCard Section.

The following year, I continued to fling a few Frisbee's and play catch with Roger, and he entertained the fans. Sometimes by having the fans drop him their camera, and he proceeded to take pictures of the fans in the stands, or his teammates, or just make a funny face and snap a self portrait. He also managed to cool off the fans by hosing them down with the hose from under the bleachers. Then he was traded to the Phillies... and he continued to always come out and talk, play catch or model a Interstellar Propeller beany that I gave him. Then he became a Dodger, but remained the same good guy. Along with Orel Hershiser, they created a game of chance. The would bring a large empty plastic barrel, and put a new Dodger jacket in it, along with a bat, a signed team ball and a crisp one hundred dollar bill in to it. fans from throughout the bleachers took turns trying to make a basket with a baseball. When some lucky fan made the winning bucket, they received a standing ovation from their peers and cheers from Roger and Orel.

Even after becoming a Coach, Roger always took part in the Beer Ball Game, trying to throw a ball from the outfield warning tract into a Beer Cup. In fact, there is a youtube out there of him doing that. However... I was shocked to read about Roger and his anti-gay antics at Pac bell Park last weekend. I appreciated that he made a public apology. If I did not know Roger, I would of been the first one in line to protest his actions. In the past I wrote letters to Commissioner Bud Selig when Cubs Pitcher Julian Taverz, and the Brave's John Rocker made anti-gay remarks. However they have been known to be hot heads and also prejudice. I took the time to send Bud Selig an email.

Today talked with a sports reporter from the Atlanta Constitution Journal, and I asked her to convey my good wishes to Roger, and made the suggestion that he would consider making a good faith contribution to the San Francisco Harvey Milk Academy Public School, and the Atlanta Gay Community Center.

A Salute to Lee Balterman 3/31/11 by:Jerry Pritikin

Top Picture and 2nd Lee Balterman with Nurse Misha, 3rd Lee at the Apollo 11 Astronaut Parade and 4th Lee Between friends and Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams






(Chicago March 31,2011) I spent time with my good friend Lee Balterman today, on the eve of the 2011 Cubs Baseball Season. I first met Lee on the last day of the 1984 "ALMOST" Cubs season, and today we spoke about the good times we have had since. Many of times we spent New Years, Opening Days and 4th of July and often with our sidekick Carmella Hartigan. After Carmella died in 2002, we have hardly spent time at Wrigley. A few years ago, Lee had a stroke and it looked like he might be meeting up with Carmella, Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray and my dad in the Heavenly Confines. However, be that as it may... he has bounced back like a cat with nine lives. He gets around with a wheel chair, but his mind is a sharp as a Ginsu Knife! In the past few years he has spent much of his times putting his thousands and thousands of negative and slides in order. He has had shoots with several Presidents,Astonauts, Movie Stars, Athletes and street people. Over the last 40 years he has spent many shoots on Milwaukee Avenue, showing the great changes during that time. Lee has had several succesful shows at Chicago's Daiter's Gallery. At 90, he does not use glasses and still takes his camera with him whenever he leaves his apartment at the Kenwood Senior Assistant Living on Sheridan Road. I have noticed that over the past few years, that Lee gets more hits then most of my postings, and for sure, more than the Cubs on most days. If you have any questions or comments that you would like me to give to Lee, please do. I am one lucky fellow, over the years Lee has documented many years of me as the Bleacher Preacher in and around the Friendly Confines. Tomorrow, along with Lee, we will not be at the Cubs Opener... but I'm not complaining. I spent on the avaerage 5 hours at each of the thousand games I witnessed since the mid 80s. Please come back and spend some times in my archives, and later this year... I will be featured in an upcoming documentary about my photographs of San Francisco in the 1970s.
Cheers for Now... Jerry

Phil Cavarretta, 1945 NL MVP with Cubs, dies at 94

Phil Cavarretta was my first Cubs Hero. He was a local Cub player who went to Lane Tech High School in the early 1930's. From the first Cubs game I attended in 1945, I liked the Cubs first sacker, with a big numbered 44 on his back. The Cub's radio announcer(WIND) Bert Wilson, had a nickname for him "Philabuck" . In 1946, when I was 9 years old, I recall walking home after (Hibbard) School, by way of Lawrence Avenue, and in the window of Little Al's Radio and Phonograph Store... who's slogan was "Where the Customer was always Wrong! I witnessed the first time I ever saw a tv image. On the 10 inch black and white RCA Victor table model, I noticed a baseball game was being televised, and there on the screen was a batter with the number 44 on his back, and I knew at once it was Cavarretta! He then grounded out to end the game, and in my young mind, I thought the game had ended a short while before, because it must of took time for the image to go from Wrigley Field, to WBKB, Chicago's only tv station, and then into that TV in the store window! I have an old Saturday Evening Post magazine ad, With Cavarretta, that was sponsored by Wheaties, the "Breakfast of Champions,"with Phil, and his family. I made my mom go out and buy some! I also recall when Phil was traded to the White Sox, and being interviewed live by Bob Elston , and Commander Elston, asking Phil if he had any regrets leaving the Cubs, and he responded "SHIT NO!" I remember many ballplayers wearing # 44, including Hall of Fame members, Hank Aaron and Willie McCovey... but for me, there will always be only one #44, Phil Cavarretta!

Out, The Glenn Burke Story... with Jerry Pritikin

There is a new documentary that recently had its premier at the Castro Theater in San Francisco. I had a brief cameo in it. I first met Glenn when he was still with the Dodgers. During the off season, Glenn was playing in a choose up basketball game with several other gay athletes. At the time I was a photographer for a San Francisco gay newspaper, and Glenn asked me to refrain from taking his photograph because of the consequences, and I honored his wishes. Glenn was a great guy, but the pressures of being gay and playing in the major leagues in time took its toll. There have been a few reviews that had comparisons to Jackie Robinsons breaking the color barrier in 1947, and some reviews saying that was not a just comparison. I happen to believe, it was more then just to do so! This documentary is completely on target, and long over due. I am thankful to have been part of this historical documentary about Glenn Burke, and his life after he left Professional Baseball. It soon will be made available as a DVD.

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'Out: The Glenn Burke Story' re-airs tonight ...

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AIR DATES/TIMES


8pm

Out. The Glenn Burke Story “Glenn was comfortable with who he was. Baseball was not comfortable with who he was.” –Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim, Childhood Friend and Sports Agent Glenn Burke’s journey through baseball began and ended in Oakland, California. His sports career had many stops along the way, starting as a multi-sport star at Berkeley High School, followed by a brief stint at the University of Nevada, Reno as a prized basketball recruit, and then moving into professional baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers, being hailed by one coach as “the next Willie Mays.” Early in his career, Burke felt he had to hide his true self from his teammates. Later, when he began to reveal glimpses into his sexuality the baseball establishment began to close him out. Out. The Glenn Burke Story, a one-hour documentary produced by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, tells the dramatic tale of Burke’s legacy as the first openly homosexual Major League Baseball player. From his Major League debut in 1976 and starting Game One of the 1977 World Series for the Dodgers to subsequently being traded to the Oakland Athletics the next season, and then walking away in 1980 from the game that he deeply loved, Comcast SportsNet follows one of baseball’s most dramatic arcs. Many of Burke’s teammates were aware of his homosexuality during his playing career, as were members of management. And many of those teammates believe that his sexuality – and the reaction it provoked – led to the premature derailment of his baseball career. Out. The Glenn Burke Story tells the tumultuous story of the wedge that was driven between Burke and the Los Angeles management, the ensuing similar situation in Oakland that led to Burke’s abrupt retirement, and the hero’s welcome that Burke received in San Francisco’s Castro District after he left professional baseball. Comcast SportsNet’s narrative follows Burke through his public announcement of his homosexuality in a 1982 Inside Sports magazine article (‘The Double Life of a Gay Dodger’) and on The Today Show with Bryant Gumbel, to his subsequent downward spiral to drugs, prison, and eventually living on the same San Francisco streets where he was once hailed as an icon. Burke’s story took on another level of tragedy when he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1994. Yet at the end of his life, the game that he claimed abandoned him so many years before reached out to one of its own. The A’s found Burke and provided him with constant support in his final months, as did some of his former teammates. Glenn Burke passed away on May 30, 1995 at the age of 42 of AIDS-related complications. Out. The Glenn Burke Story documents the extent of Burke’s courage, strife and friendship throughout his life, and the compassion and callousness of the sport of baseball. The program weaves together insights from Burke’s teammates and friends, including Dusty Baker, Davey Lopes, Reggie Smith, Rick Monday, Manny Mota, Rickey Henderson, Claudell Washington, Mike Norris, Shooty Babitt, Tito Fuentes, and former Major Leaguer and gay rights activist Billy Bean,and Gay Softball player,Jerry Pritikin.

Jerry Pritikn's First Chutzpah Award Goes to Cubs Owners!

Today's Trib Headlines 11/12/10
Jerry Pritikin aka The Bleacher Preacher
Real Baseball Fans are an Endangered Species T-shirt designed by Pritikin over 10 years ago.

(Chicago,Il.) I think I heard it before... I am mad as hell, and I am not going to take it anymore! Ironically, I do not consider myself a ba$eball fan anymore either, because I have been priced out of the "Friendly Confines" of Chicago's Wrigley Field , at the face value of a Bleacher Ticket. My Dad, who was my BASEBALL RABBI, and taught me "Baseball 101" and Cubs History way back in 1945, that also included stories of his adventures when the Cubs played at the Old West-Side ballpark dating back to 1906-08. There he picked up beer and soda bottles to get free entry into the games. He had stories of Cubs teams and players ever since that time, and even during the Great Depression he said the average person, working or not working could still afford a day at the old ballpark.

When the Tribune Company bought the team in 1981, they had a catchy slogan... "Building a New Tradition". However, they forgot to tell us fans... that it came at the expense of many of the fine traditions... that earned Wrigley Field the moniker, "The Friendly Confines". Each year since the Tribune Company, and the Ricketts Family cartel that now own the team... has constanly raised tickets, food and beer prices so much... the average fan taking his family to a game, would have to file for bankruptcy... to do so!

I gave Players, Owners, Scribes and Fans Awards during my 25 years that I roamed inside and outside the ballpark. After seeing today's headlines in both the Trib, and Sun-Times... I almost want to come out of retirement... just to give one more Award... however I decided to make my First WWW Chutzpah Award, via my blog and it's an imaginary one... since I have not learned to master the Photo-shop tools, needed to make one... and if I waited until someone helped me... it might be too late. I am attaching the following "Letters to the Editor"... that I sent to both the Trib and Sun-Times, as the messenger to my response of Today's Headlines:

Editor:
If there are needs for improvements at Wrigley Field, it should not come from the City's entertainment tax, and the fans should not pay for building improvements, either. I recommend that funding be based on the Cubs payroll. There should be a 10% Added Value tax on all games played at Wrigley, with 5% paid by the Cubs, and 5% paid by the players for all home games. The same Added Value Tax formula should be put on any other Entertainment venue, based on what Bands are paid, or other events that take place within the "Friendly Confines". If the Cubs new owners don't like that... let them move.

Jerry Pritikin aka The Fan Formally Know as the "Bleacher Preacher"

P.S. Look forward to my next Chutzpah Award... and also take the time to leave your comment on this, or any other of my postings on this site... PLEASE!

Cubs Opening Day 1980

The last time I went to an Cubs Opener with my dad, was in 1980. They were loosing to the Mets, going into the bottom of the 9th. I snapped this image... of a sign in the Right Field Bleachers. The Cubs went on to lose 2-0. During the summer, my dad took ill and for the last 30 days of his life... he was in a coma at the St.Francis Hospital in Evanston. I was visiting him, when he came out of the coma for just a few seconds... when he spoke for the last time. In a very low whisper he said "WE GOTTA GET RID OF KINGMAN!" and died about a week later. Hank, was my Cubs Rabbi, and gave me a crash course in Baseball 101, and Cubs History in the summer of 1945. Then he took me to my first game at beautiful Wrigley Field. I was 8 years old. When the Cubs clinched the National League Pennant... I asked him to take me to the World Series. He felt I was too young, however he made me a PROMISE, he would take me the next time! I heard the expression "WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR" for the fist time in 1946. About that time, the first televisions appeared in Taverns in our neighborhood. He took me to my first Opener in 1947. A month later, my brother Allen and I was on hand along with over 47,000 other fans for Jackie Robinson's Chicago debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Baseball was the "Official"language around our kitchen table. When my father heard that I was sneaking into Stiner's Tavern, and sat on the bar's footrail to watch sports... he went out and bought the firstTV, in Albany Park, that was not in a tavern. And for the next 30 plus years we had great discusions about the players of his era and mine. Over the years, I got use to hearing him yell, at the ballpark or at the tube... especially when he disliked someone. Looking back... he hated Dave Kingman, the most! He would say "He be shit! That guys strikes out every time they need a run, and homers when the Cubs were down by double digits! Today was Opening Day for the 2010 Cubs season. In recent years, I have only gone to a few games in the regular season... and also a few of their post-season fiascos. Today, I did not want to see the Opener, and the new additions of images and advertising on their outside walls. For many years... I always felt young when taking in a game, because the ballpark hardly changed. The beginning end of my youthful feelings came about shortly after the Tribune Company purchased the Cubs in 1981. The had a catchy slogan...Building a new Tradition. Sadly, the forgot to tell us the fans, it came at the expense of many of the old traditions... that gave the ballpark it's nickname...The Friendly Confines. Years ago, you could not tell a millionair from a bum in the stands... but that all changed with the advent of Lights in 1988 and yuppies talking about Dow-Jones Averages, instead of earn run averages talking on cell phones and wearing ties and Rolex's in the bleachers. Frankly, one yuppie is too many, for any ballpark! It's hard for me to enjoy a gamenow-a-days... when I was a kid, a hot dog was a dime, a coke was a nickle, a score card was 10 cents and a cheap seat was cheap... to buy a ticket at face value on the day of a game is harder to find than weapons of mass destruction in Iraq! I miss my dad and his insights of being a fan in changing times. At least he was able to go to games in the great depression... today, you almost have to file for bankruptcy to go to a couple of games a year. I get a daily reminder about my dad, because he has replaced me in the mirror every morning. Harry Caray used to say" YOU CAN'T BEAT FUN AT THE OLD BALLPARK" to which I add, as long as you can afford it! Silent Cheers...

Lee Balterman... In my thoughts (FOR LEE'S DEATH CHECK THIS SITE FOR MARCH-2012)

LEE BALTERMAN FAN...

PLEASE NOTE, SINCE THIS STORY RAN- I HAVE POSTED SEVERAL STORIES ABOUT LEE BALTERMAN, INCLUDING LEE'S DEATH CAN BE FOUND ON THIS SITE FOR MARCH 2012 , AND BY LOOKING UP PREVIOUS POST IN MY ARCHIVE LABEL SECTION, UNDER LEE'S NAME. J.P. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL ME @ jerrypritikin@yahoo.com

The profile image of me on this site was taken by famed photographer Lee Balterman, who only has 2 Life Magazine covers to his credit, and was a staff photographer for Time-Life & Sports Illustrated just to name a few. I usually play phone tag with him and vice versa to see what is on Lee's agenda. It is seldom that we ever plan ahead. However, tomorrow we had a date with partners of a well known sports auction house in the East. Lee was going to sell his sports collection, and for the past year plus, he was getting it into some kind of order from the past 50 years. I first met Lee just after the final outs of the Cubs/ Padres 1984 N.L. Play-offs... the game was in San Diego... but here in Chicago, Cubs fans hung around the Wrigleyville sports bars, especially Murphy's Bleachers. The Pennant went down the drain, when First Baseman Leon Durham booted a play that led to the Cubs downfall. I was there with my life size Voodoo Doll... dressed in the Padre's ugly uniform.



The rainy afternoon added at least 20 ponds to my cotton stuffed friend. I was interviewed by USA TODAY... and as the reporter asked me my thoughts on the Cubs loss... and on "Q" a tear came to my eye. It was the first place nationally that I was tabbed "The Bleacher Preacher". A few hours later, I was still on Addison, near the Tents that popped up containing the latest "Cubs" gear, selling at better than half off, that including Pennants and T-shirts announcing The 1984 World Series Cubs Edition, that became instant collectables. It was there, that Lee was shooting the aftermath of their final game of the year. Lee took a few photos of me... then we walked towards the #36 bus. Then we talked Cubs, Chicago, and photography for most of the next 29 years...

About 3 years ago I had read in a newspaper about an auction house that bought up a famed early sports photographer's collection. And I sent them contact information for Lee... but be that as it may... they never contacted him. Then last month I was meeting Lee to celebrate his 89th birthday... and he handed me a copy of the letter I had sent to that auction house. I resent it, and this time they called back within a few minutes... and was able to set up a date to see Lee's collection. Well... that was to be tomorrow. For the past month, Lee has been working to put it into some kind of order... mostly baseball, but he also shot Mohammed Ali, Sonny Liston and 40 years ago took photos for Life of Buzz Aldrin's wife. Last night, I received a message that Lee was in Northwestern Hospital... and this morning I found out he had a stroke. I just got back from visiting him... and he is partially paralyzed... but he able to speak and recall... and we hope soon for his complete recovery. I am posting a few of Lee's images...
Get Well Soon Lee!



Carmella Hartigan, Margie and Lee circa about 2001