One Date In History: August 15, 1979

Thanks to all who helped identify the pictures posted last week (and an apology to Teej for regaling him with the "ketchup and eggs" story). The game does appear to be the Cubs 6-5 win over the Giants on August 15, 1979. Several people helped identify the pics, but e-mailer Chuck in Ohio summed it up the best. Here are the pics again with Chuck's nearly complete and mostly correct analysis.

Anyone care to identify the umps?



Comment: Can't recognize any of the players. All we know is that yes, it was picture day. I lived in Chicagoland, Cincinnati and San Diego during the 1970s and I think just about all the M.L. teams followed similar picture day guidelines like you describe in your blog. It was cool to stand on the field anyway. I attended several picture days in Cincinnati and somewhere have close up pictures of stars from the Big Red Machine (Rose, Foster, Bench) standing with bats or gloves taken with a Kodak Instamatic 110 on the Astroturf of Riverfront Stadium. Also some lesser-knowns like Rowland Office and Larvell Blanks of the Atlanta Braves.



Comment: Big right handed white guy with no apparent facial hair. Appears to be wearing #48. That would be Rick "The Whale" Reuschel. He didn't become "Big Daddy" until the mid-1980s.



Comment: This was helpful. That is Hall of Famer Willie McCovey stretching at first. Willie, of course, was left/left handed. He has just caught what appears to have been a throw from the left side of the infield to retire #25 Scot Thompson.

Ivy Chat Edit: This seems to be the first inning when Thompson GIDPed. Thompson made four ground outs that day: 6-4-3 in the first, 4-3 in the 5th, 6-3 in the 6th, and 4-3 in the 8th. By the sequence the pictures were taken, this was earlier in the game than the 6th inning. That leaves the first or 5th inning ABs. Also, McCovey's foot is pointing towards second as if he's expecting a direct throw from the bag. Then, look how close the play is. Thompson was no speed merchant. Lastly, the next pic locks it. If that is Montefusco next, that means this pic, taken earlier, was in the first or second inning as Montefusco was gone in the 5th. Thompson doubled in the second. Conclusion: GIDP in the first.



Comment: This appears to be John "The Count" Montefusco #26 pitching to Bill Buckner (based on his batting stance that I recall quite vividly).



Comment: This is Terry Whitfield taking ball four in the sixth inning with Darrell Evans and Mike Sadek on second and first, respectively, advancing, having run on a ball three count.



Comment: Ex-Cub Bill North is stealing his 50th base of the season late in the game. Steve Dillard is the Cubs' second baseman awaiting the late throw. No mistaking Steve's mustache.