The Hollywood Cubs Quiz

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As promised, we finally persuaded a longtime Chicago Cubs fan to talk about the roots of his Cubs-mania. The man who stepped up to the plate? None other than actor and comic Jim Belushi, who stars in the ABC sitcom ‘According to Jim.’ He first went to Wrigley Field with his Cub Scout troop and has been hooked ever since. Of all his stories, my favorite is the one about Belushi and his Aunt Susie giving Cubs announcer Harry Caray a ride home from the ballpark. A legendary ladies man, Harry engaged in some serious flirting with Aunt Susie, who was about 80 years old at the time. Belushi not only offers up more fun memories, but aced our rigorous set of Cubs trivia questions.

So hoist a brewski and listen to two lunatic Cubs fans sharing the sheer pleasure of being only 26 days away from seeing the Cubs back in the postseason:

Big Picture: What was the first Cubs game you ever went to?

Belushi: My first game was with my Cub Scout troop, Den 10. What I really remember was Jack Brickhouse saying on TV, “Well, it’s a great day in baseball when Den 10 from Wheaton, Illinois, comes to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs play.” That was it, Brickhouse made us famous. Smart marketing back then. Oh, and ... the Cubs lost.

Who was the biggest Cub fan in your family?

My aunt Susie. She watched every game until the day she died. Her mother used to listen to professional wrestling on the radio and she was just carrying on that aggressive fanatical behavior. I once gave Harry Caray a ride home from Wrigley Field to the Ambassador East Hotel after a game. I was with my Aunt Susie, who was around 80 years old. They sat in the back seat together and he flirted incessantly with her. It not only made her day, but completed her life. I guess it took glasses that thick to make my Aunt Susie look young and cute. Oh yeah ... the Cubs lost that day.

Who would you go to games with--your dad, brother, school pals. In our youth, the Cubs only played day games. Was cutting school ever involved?

Since I have two school age children, I’d like to stress that I would never, ever cut school. BUT, this one time a guy I knew cut school with his buddies and hopped the El to Wrigley. That guy said it was a beautiful day and it felt like the first time he was truly a man. Cubs lost that day.

Who was your favorite player growing up?

Ernie Banks. “Let’s play two!” I’ve lived with that mantra ever since. But since I don’t play baseball I had to adjust it for my circumstances. My mantra is ‘Let’s pay me twice!’

I’m guessing you have led the crowd in singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame.’ What was the experience like? And how would you describe your singing voice?

When you begin singing it from that booth from where the late, great, Harry Caray sang, it becomes an out of body experience. It is fun, it is loud and who cares if you’ve got a good voice or not. The culmination of everything involved in being a fan all these years radiates through your body at that moment. It’s really cool. It’s like you’re Mick Jagger. I remember when I walked out of the booth I was tingling. Then I was through the concourse, feeling 10 feet tall, and this guy walks up to me and says, ‘Way to go, Aykroyd!’ Then the Cubs lost.

Is there a curse? I mean, in the past dozen years, the Red Sox have won two World Series, the Florida Marlins have won two World Series--even the lowly White Sox have won a championship. It’s been 100 years for the Cubs. What is the problem?

Problem? Patrick, maybe you haven’t been informed of this, and maybe you’ve been away from Chicago or you’ve lost your Cubs fan status, but this never happened. You must be misinformed. I’m tired of the press constantly making this up. It’s like saying “Macbeth” in a theater. Wise up, move on.

Which Cub do you think most belongs in the Hall of Fame who hasn’t been voted in yet? (a) Lee Smith; (b) Ron Santo; (c) Andre Dawson; (d) Mark Grace

Those four guys aren’t in and they still call it the Hall of ‘Fame’? How about the Baseball Hall of Very Good Players Except for Some Great Cubs? I mean, come on, Lee Smith led the league in saves ... pitching for the Cubs!

OK, a few trivia questions for the serious fan: In 1945, the last time the Cubs went to the World Series, which Cub won the batting title and was the NL MVP?

Hold on ... that’s so easy. My 6-year-old son knows that one. “Jared? In 1945, the last time the Cubs went to the World Series, which Cub won the batting title and was the NL MVP?” Jared said Phil Cavarretta.

What Cub won the batting title two years in a row--and was unceremoniously traded the very next year to the Giants for an outfielder who hit .265?

Come on, everybody knows that. Let me ask my 9-year-old daughter. “Jami? What Cub won the batting title two years in a row--and was unceremoniously traded the very next year to the Giants for an outfielder who hit .265?” Jami said Bill Madlock and rolled her eyes at me.

What 26-year-old Cubs pitcher won 20 games, led the league in starts and innings pitched and was allowed to leave and become a free agent in 1991?

Hold on, let me ask my dog. “Cashew, what 26-year-old Cubs pitcher won 20 games, led the league in starts and innings pitched and was allowed to leave and become a free agent in 1991?” I think he barked Greg Maddux, but he is confused by the question because Maddux was granted free agency in 1992.

And finally: Who was the man who was the first black major league scout and who signed both Ernie Banks and Lou Brock for the Cubs?

My Aunt Susie’s old boyfriend, Buck O’Neil. He said Lou Brock is quick, but my Aunt Susie had better legs.