harry caray statue at wrigely

[andrew in philadelphia]

a question and a comment for any chicago area FOTs out there: what's the deal with the harry caray statue at wrigley? it's hands down the most frightening and ill-conceived example of public art i've ever seen. holy cow indeed. just look at this thing:



i don't know if tom's ever discussed this in the show or not (only been listening 6 months or so) - but this definitely a subject that requires further examination.

the artist has depicted him as some kind of superhuman monster (bent on committing assault, i assume) bursting forth from the foundation of wrigley (while destroying it) and enveloped in what i can only describe as a tornado of souls and/or demons (though i'm assuming they're supposed to be cubs fans.)

what in god's name is this thing? how? why? can i get a life sized replica for my living room to hang coats on?

i stood in front of it transfixed - literally unable to move as it cast its weird power over me. it was mesmerizing, and makes the rocky statue look like a heaping, steaming pile of "rocky V" DVDs.

[senorcorazon]

They should have just put this up:


My brother and I got picked up by our cousin to go to a Cubs game, and our cousin proceeded to take his shirt off and get two beers for himself as soon as we got there (after drinking a few while he was driving us there). I'm not sure if Harry was drunker by the 7th inning stretch, but I bet he was.

[dania]

the artist has depicted him as some kind of superhuman monster (bent on committing assault, i assume) bursting forth from the foundation of wrigley (while destroying it) and enveloped in what i can only describe as a tornado of souls and/or demons (though i'm assuming they're supposed to be cubs fans.)

i stood in front of it transfixed - literally unable to move as it cast its weird power over me. 

You should really consider not staring at the statue high on pot. 

[andrew in philadelphia]

You should really consider not staring at the statue high on pot. 

whoa there, narc! i was dead sober. just look at that thing though, it's insane.

[joanna]

i so rarely hear "whoa there, narc!" in my day to day life.

that thing is truly terrifying. i would love to hear the story behind how it was made. surely the story has to be online somewhere?

[andrew in philadelphia]

i so rarely hear "whoa there, narc!" in my day to day life.

that thing is truly terrifying. i would love to hear the story behind how it was made. surely the story has to be online somewhere?

forged in hell by lucifer himself, i believe.

[joanna]

ha:

http://www.joesportsfan.com/column.php?postid=656

[andrew in philadelphia]

"Shown here is the commemorative statue of Caray at the southeast corner outside Wrigley. On home game days, it's mobbed by shutterbug tourists. It depicts a terrified Caray attempting to escape a mob of ghost children swirling around him and sucking him into the hell of Wrigley Field. I don't know where the ghosts come from; they are perhaps children abandoned at Wrigley, or the lost childhoods of kids raised by the players. Or they represent the wrathful lost innocence of people foolish enough to believe in the Cubs during Caray's announcing days. Or they're just hallucinations brought on by all of Caray's drinking. All I know is the statue is way creepy."

there's a little more here - plus a funny budweiser commercial from the 80s featuring rap music and a humorous take on his apparent alcoholism:

http://chicago-bob.blogspot.com/2007/03/countdown-to-baseball-harry-caray.html

[Man Machine]

the artist has depicted him as some kind of superhuman monster (bent on committing assault, i assume) bursting forth from the foundation of wrigley (while destroying it) and enveloped in what i can only describe as a tornado of souls and/or demons (though i'm assuming they're supposed to be cubs fans.)

I had the same reaction when I saw this. It is frightening and hilarious all at once.

On a related note is the monument to Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray's predecessor as Cubs announcer.



Look closely at the bottom of the statue and you can see, quoted in metal, Brickhouse's signature "Hey-Hey." It's gets me every time.

[Dorvid Barnas]

It looks like he's getting kicked in the balls from behind.

That's all I got. Thank you good night.

[Chris L]

He kinda looks like the Mole Man from Fantastic Four.

[Oogie]

It's better than the Jimmy the Greek / Cesar Chavez mixup debacle.

[andrew in philadelphia]

i found these creepworthy honorable mentions:

Jack Lord


Former Philadelphia Mayor and all around frightening character Frank L. Rizzo


Phil Lynott (I'm pretty fond of this one actually)


FDR

[Chris L]

[mokin]

Are you sure that's a Harry Caray statue?

Harry Caray


Larry "Bud" Melman



Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's


You be the judge.