The year was 1953, and it was great to be young and a major-league batboy. Just ask WBBM-TV anchorman/commentator Walter Jacobson, who, as a 16- year-old with one season of experience as a Cub batboy, went to work on the visitors` side in 1953.
That`s when the real fun began. As Jacobson recalls, his duties included more than toting bats, shagging balls and shining shoes for visiting National League clubs.
”I used to steal signs for the Cubs,” Jacobson said. ”I would run all the way around under the stands from the visitors` dugout to the Cubs` dugout in full Cubs uniform with cleats on and deliver the information.
”People watching probably thought I was just a 16-year-old Cubs fan who liked wearing his uniform to games. I don`t remember who I reported to or even what I told them. I do recall Rogers Hornsby managing the Cincinnati Reds and chasing me to the bullpen when he thought I was stealing signs.
”I`d just stand around the corner to the dugout entrance trying to listen. One day it was, `Hey, kid, what are you doing?` ”
Not much, as evidenced by the Cubs` 65-89 record in 1953, good for seventh place, 40 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Dodgers. That was Phil Cavarretta`s last year as manager. In Cubs history, only the 1962 team, which finished 42 1/2 games out and was managed by the infamous College of Coaches, trailed the leader by more games.