Gabby Hartnett and Charlie Grimm, 1937
Photographer: Charles Conlon
Photo Subject: Cubs Hall of Fame member Gabby Hartnett and Manager Charlie Grimm posing in front of a visitor’s dugout. Image is from 1937 Charles Conlon photo.
Fun Facts:
Gabby Hartnett – In 1922, Gabby Hartnett became the backup catcher for the Chicago Cubs, due in part by a positive review he got when catching the great pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander. He also acquired his first nickname that year. They called him “Gabby” because he rarely spoke to anyone as a shy rookie trying to find his way. In view of his awkward shyness, teammates and the press dubbed him Gabby, an ironic moniker at the time, but one that he actually grew into as he aged, developing a reputation as something of a chatterbox crouched behind home plate.
Charlie Grimm – In 1960, P.K. Wrigley brought back Charlie Grimm to manage the Cubs. At the same time, Cleveland Indian star Lou Boudreau was in the broadcast booth assisting Jack Brickhouse in announcing Cubs’ games. The Cubs under Wrigley were known to do some strange things. One of the strangest involved Jack Brickhouse, the Cubs announcer, who helped negotiate a trade of Grimm for Boudreau. Quoting from Peter Golenbock’s book Wrigleyville:
Jack Brickhouse: “Phil Wrigley called me in, this was in May, and he said, ‘Jack, I want to make a trade, and I want you to take care of it’. I said. ‘Oh, who’s involved?’ And Mr. Wrigley looked at me and said, ‘I want to trade Boudreau for Grimm.’”
“Boudreau for Grimm?” Brickhouse repeated.
“’Yes,’ Wrigley answered, ‘Charlie’s worrying himself sick over the team. He’s out walking the streets when he should be resting. And between that and his coaching first base, if the Cubs don’t kill him first, his sore feet will.’
“A manager for a broadcaster. Only with the Cubs.”
Painting Detail: Printed on 13” x 19” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details, like cap pinstripes, were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement:“Gabby Hartnett”, Society for American Baseball Research article by Bill Johnson.Wrigleyville,by Peter Golenbock.