Thursday, July 31, 2008

Top Top Facts About Life When the Cubs Won the 1908 World Series

Truthfully, you every right to label me as a hypocrite with this list. Last week, I decried the constant references to the Cubs and their 100-year World Series drought by the media. And now, I'm doing exactly that by looking at the Top Top Facts About Life When the Cubs Won the 1908 World Series.

But then I thought about it some more and concluded that by being the first to do a list of this kind, I am actually being original.

It's amazing how we can convince ourselves of almost anything.

Either way, hopefully you find this interesting:


10. Henry Ford introduces the Ford Model "T" and sells it for $850


Rumor has it that after the Cubs won the World Series, pitcher Mordecai Brown bought the Model "T" with his bonus and immediately threw some 22-inch Lexani rims and Louis Vittonn leather interior on it. That ride was sick.

9. The average life expectancy was 47 years


Julio Franco was just barely entering his prime at the age of 47.


8. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 MPH


Apparently my Huffy would be the equivalent of a Hiyabusa sports bike back then. I get that baby up to at least 12 mph going down the hill by my house.

That's crazy fast.


7. Roughly 230 murders were committed in all of 1908


Death isn't funny so I'll just let the numbers speak for themselves.


6. Eight-percent of homes had a telephone

Can you imagine how long this Brett Favre situation would have taken to play out without the telephone?

They'd get a deal done in 2010, right after Favre receives his AARP card.


5. Six-percent of Americans had graduated high school


Most of them decided to play overseas because of David Stern's age requirement in the NBA.


4. Population of Las Vegas, Nevada = 30


Pacman wouldn't have had to make it rain in the clubs, only a light mist would have been necessary.


3. The average worker pulled in anywhere between $200 and $400 annually


And Devin Hester thought being paid $445 thousand before getting a new contract was a slap in the face.

2. Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all over the counter drugs


This entire era is still under question as to the legitimacy of their statistics.

Cubs SS Joe Tinker's team leading 6 HR season in 1908 just seems too good to be true.


1. 90% of Doctors didn't have a college education


I'm thoroughly convinced the Cubs still employ some of these physicians today.

Their remarkable treatments on Kerry Wood's blister have defied modern science and will have him ready to pitch sometime in September.

5 comments:

Freddy in the Chi said...

I think Clark mighta been,like, 12 back then. No?

Anonymous said...

A person graduates from college.

Matthew Olsen said...

And this writer does not care.

But we will be having the first ever Top Ten Chicago Sports grammar and spelling competition next week.

Stay tuned and you might win yourself a key-chain.

The Real TO said...

anonymous is a "Douche" and will always be a "Douche".

I got your back Cuz....

Also in 1908, Japanese immigration to the USA was forbidden. What would the MLB look like if that was still going on?

Anonymous said...

Matt, I just read this today and thought it was hilarious. And to answer "the real to's" statement: It's quite simple. Fukudome and Ichiro would be challenging Kobeyashi (sp? who cares) in hot dog eating contests and would only be coming overseas to compete in the sport of all sports