Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

[REMASTERED] Direct from a Betamax videocassette we found and restored, here's the complete broadcast of the first Old Timers Game of the Chicago Cubs, in which they play against the Hall of Famers (the entire game only lasted three innings), all as aired on WGN Channel 9. The announcer is Jack Brickhouse.

(this broadcast was previously posted here: youtu.be/q2tiBzIVHMw)

Includes:

Tail end of National Geographic Specials (Sunday at 6:30pm) Station ID bumper

Onscreen text: "BB OLD T-1764-73"

Opening, with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" theme, and voiceover by Len Johnson, introducing game and reading sponsor billboard

Commercial: Buick Park Avenue car

Commercial: Pepsi-Cola - "Have a Pepsi Day!"

Jack introduces batting order, with Hall of Famers introducing themselves first: Cubs' Billy Herman (2B), Cleveland Indians' Lou Boudreau (SS), Homestead Grays' (Negro Leagues) Buck Leonard (LF; misidentified on screen as Ralph Kiner), White Sox' Luke Appling (SS), San Francisco Giants' Monte Irvin (LF), Cubs' Fred Lindstrom (3B-OF), Pittsburgh Pirates' Lloyd Waner (CF), New York Yankees' Lefty Gomez (P), Al Lopez (C), and Indians' Bob Feller (P); the Cubs Old Timers then introduce themselves: Bob Wall (CF), Glenn Beckert (2B), Ernie Banks (SS), Phil Cavarretta (1B), Ron Santo (3B), Andy Pafko (RF), Walt Moryn (LF), Randy Hundley (C), Dutch Leonard (P), and Charlie Grimm (1B).

Jack notes that other Hall of Famer players are being introduced by announcer Bob Elson, who names, in order: Negro Leagues' James 'Cool Papa' Bell (CF), Earl Averill Sr. (CF), Negro Leagues' Judy Johnson (3B), Stan Coveleski (P), Buck Leonard (LF), Burleigh Grimes (P), Joe Cronin (SS), Joe Sewell (SS), and Lefty Gomez (P) - but jokes about Ernie Banks' whereabouts (Jack notes he is to be introduced as a Cub).

Commercial: Tru-Test Paint at True Value Hardware Stores (voiceover by Lee Philip)

Commercial: 1977 Buick Century Special

Commercial: North West Federal Savings - "63 Hours a Week"

Jack mentions Cubs exec Gus Suttergren (longtime friend of team owner Phillip K. Wrigley) threw first ball during break; the umpiring crew for this game consists of Jocko Conlan, Tom Gorman (behind plate) and John Rice. Dick Ellsworth is starting pitcher for Cubs; others introducing themselves are Ralph Kiner (OF), Bob Rice (3B), Gene Baker (2B), and Jerry Kindall (2B).

Grimm and Boudreau are managers for Cubs and HOFers, respectively, with Jim Enright and Ed Prell official scorers; Eddie Monzell(?) had lost his sister and he won't be at the game. In between plays, Lou does some commentary on the field.

Batting first are the HOFers, with Herman, Boudreau, and Banks (who gets standing ovation); Rich Nye becomes pitcher; next at bat is Appling. (End of top of inning: 0-0.)

Commercial: Pepsi-Cola

Commercial: Buick Riviera

With Feller pitching, at bat for Cubs Old Timers are Will, Beckert (in the middle, Phil Regan has some words with Jack) and Cavarretta (end of 1st: 0-0)

Commercial: Union 76

Commercial: Tru-Test Paint Sale (voiceover by Lee Philip)

Commercial: McDonald's Sundaes

Top of 2nd, with Irvin, Lindstrom and Warren Spahn at bat; in between, Feller speaks with Brickhouse (Bob will appear on Lou's Lead-In program later) (end of top: 0-0)

Commercial: Buick Park Avenue

Commercial: Pepsi Cola

Bottom of 2nd, with Santo, George Altman, Moose Moryn, Clyde McCullough, Hank Sauer, Pafko, Paul Popovich, Kindall and Baker batting (during this frame, Beckert speaks with Jack)

Commercial: Tru-Test Paint Sale

Commercial: 1977 Buick Century Special

Commercial: North West Federal Savings

Top of 3rd, with Herman and Buck Leonard batting before intros by Joe Cronin, Larry French, Russ Meyer, Augie Galan and Claude Passeau; then Jack and Warren Spahn talk; also at bat are Boudreau and Appling

Commercial: Stephens Leisure Town (voiceover by Len Johnson)

Commercial: Buick Riviera

Commercial: North West Federal Savings

Bottom of 3rd, with Santo batting, followed by intros by Dick Bertell, Hank Sauer, Paul Popovich, Bill Hands, J.C. Martin, Phil Regan, Clyde McCullough and Milt Pappas; next to bat is Martin (Al Lopez speaks with Jack);

"I think the game is over..."

This aired on local Chicago TV on Saturday, June 25th 1977 during the 12:00pm to 1:02pm timeframe.

About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:

The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved. We preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you!