A friend of Loge13 sent in the following article from the Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cub legend Ron Santo went on record last week: he will be happy when Shea Stadium is no more.
Loge13 admires his reasoning. Unlike other Shea naysayers (or is it naySheaers?) who complain about the stadium’s infrastructure or various smells, the Cubs broadcaster has ill feelings towards Shea because of all the things that happened to him there, both as a player and a manager.
Santo cites the 1969 Cubs campaign for the playoffs, ruined by the Mets, Seaver’s 1–hitter and a black cat, as plenty enough reason to hate the stadium.
He also recalls late September 2004, when Cubs reliever LaTroy Hawkins blew a three-run lead in the ninth. The Cubs ultimately lost in 10 innings and spiraled out of the wild-card playoff race.
In 2003, Santo stood up for the national anthem in the broadcast booth. An overhead space heater set his toupee on fire.
According to the article, “Santo had made a standing offer to push the button to implode Shea, but he was disappointed to learn from broadcast partner Pat Hughes the ballpark will be torn down piece by piece instead of all at once.
‘I would come personally back here to blow it up,’ Santo said. ‘I'd pay my own way. Maybe even just to watch it.’"
Given that our mission is to chronicle the last days of Shea, Loge13 therefore should be one of Ron Santo’s favorite blogs.
Comments
Pepsi vs. Coke is a perfectly legitimate reason to loathe Shea.