Art of the game
A book by the Sun-Times' CHRIS DE LUCA, featuring the work of JOHN HANLEY, captures history of Cubs, spirit of Wrigley Field for past, present, future fans
Crystal Lake artist John Hanley's earliest memories about being a Cubs fan go all the way back to his grandfather's living room, listening to Jack Brickhouse describe the action on a Philco TV.
Brickhouse's calls left indelible images in Hanley's mind, and he transferred them to canvas, embarking on a career as a nationally renowned sports artist. He has done work featuring stars of the NBA and NFL, including art for Super Bowl programs, but his most passionate subject remains the Cubs.
Hanley, along with Chicago Sun-Times national baseball writer Chris De Luca, last month published Classic Cubs: A Tribute to the Men and Magic of Wrigley Field. The book celebrates the rich history and bittersweet moments created by the players, managers, owners and broadcasters who have taken part in Cubs baseball through the years with more than 125 original oil paintings and drawings by Hanley.
''He has captured the spirit of the Cubs and the unmistakable aura of the greatest ballpark in the world, Wrigley Field,'' Cubs radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes writes in the introduction to the book. ''From the great Cap Anson and the double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance, to the intensity of Hack Wilson and the energy of Ernie Banks, the legendary ballplayers are all beautifully rendered in John's unique style.''
Hanley's style creatively mixes history and commentary on canvas.
Excerpted here are some of the images from Classic Cubs, including pieces depicting Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa -- a montage that illustrates his famous hop, his loud boombox, his trusty bottle of Flintstones vitamins and his controversial bat topped with a super-sized cork -- and a tribute to the Cubs' most popular trio, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks.
''Classic Cubs is a living tribute to everything that is special about one of the greatest baseball organizations ever,'' Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg said.
Copyright © 2008. Reprinted by permission.
Excerpted from the book Classic Cubs: A Tribute to the Men and Magic of Wrigley Field by John Hanley and Chris De Luca, published by Cumberland House Publishing.
(Available for $24.95 at www.amazon.com.)
