Go Cubs Go! A Tribute to Steve Goodman

Intra-squad spring training games start today! Is everybody excited! Another year, another chance for the Cubs to eke out some way to screw it all up...I'll be listening anyway. In honor of another season, I wanted to write a little blog love letter to Steve Goodman.

You can't call yourself a Cubs fan unless you know who Steve Goodman (wiki) is. Born and raised in Chicago, Goodman became quickly famous in folk guitar circles right out of high school. He was also diagnosed with leukemia. He's most famous for "City of New Orleans" made famous by Arlo Guthrie (youtube). His was a die-hard Cubs fans, and his contributions include "Go Cubs Go", still played constantly in Chicago, and the following, recorded here from one of the Waveland rooftops:

Steve died at the age of 36, on September 20, 1984, 11 days before the Cubs played their first playoff game since 1945 (meaning they never made the playoffs during his lifetime).

His ashes are buried underneath home plate at Wrigley Field, making him part of the legend. After Ron Santo, who was yesterday denied entry into the Hall of Fame by a mere handful of votes, he is perhaps the most famous and most diehard cubs fan.