Something different for the UFO feature this month–rather than a currently unidentified filmed object that we need help with, we’re highlighting a previously unidentified filmed object that we’ve gotten help with!
MIRC owes a big thank you to Cubs fan Steve Lux, who was able to identify the specific baseball game featured in “Chicago and concert tours–Wiseman–home movies” after seeing the Lula Belle and Scotty Wiseman Home Movie Collection in the October 26th issue of the Internet Scout Report.
Steve, a retired Senior Health Educator at Northern Illinois University, sent us an email explaining how he “deduced” that the game was the Sunday, May 15, 1938 match-up between the Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates: “I used scoreboard information” that is visible (if blurry) in the film. “The marquee showing the May 30th visit by the Cincinnati Reds was a preview for the next home-stand. May 15th was the last game of that current home-stand.”
Steve also took a hard look at the game play and the players, and checked that data against a baseball data reference site:
“The Cubs are in the field and the visiting player hits a home run. He is greeted by the batboy #63 and the next hitter #21. On the 15th, the Cubs played the Pittsburgh Pirates and Johnny Rizzo (a 25 year old rookie who wore #12) hit a homerun (actually it was the 1st HR of his career, hit in the 7th inning). He was followed in the order by Arky Vaughan who wore #21 (this is the only way to tell the hitter crossing the plate since his # is not visible). The Cubs pitcher was Bill Lee. Also in the film in the Cub outfield are CF Joe Marty and LF Augie Galan and the Cub catcher is Gabby Hartnett #2.”
We’ll be adding Steve’s information to the catalog record describing the film, which will allow users interested in say, Joe Marty or Bill Lee (rather than Lulu Belle or Scotty), to find the footage. Thanks Steve!
~ Heather Heckman