The Dugout
| The Dugout (Bottom of the Ninth) | |
|---|---|
_--_Norman_Rockwell%252C_1948.jpg) | |
| Artist | Norman Rockwell |
| Year | 1948 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Location | Norman Rockwell Museum |
The Dugout (Bottom of the Ninth) is a 1948 painting by American artist Norman Rockwell, painted for the September 4, 1948, cover of The Saturday Evening Post magazine. The painting depicts the Chicago Cubs bench dejected during a game against the Boston Braves at Braves Field.
The painting became one of Rockwell's most iconic baseball-themed works and came to symbolize the Cubs' "lovable loser" image, throughout.[1]
Composition
The painting features four members of the 1948 Chicago Cubs. From left to right:
- Bob Rush, pitcher
- Charlie Grimm, manager of the Cubs
- Rube Walker, seated behind the batboy, catcher
- Johnny Schmitz, standing behind the batboy, pitcher
Amongst the subjects in the crowd are two women with connection to personnel of the 1948 Boston Braves: Helen Fitzsimmons, daughter of Braves' coach Freddie Fitzsimmons, and Terese Prendergast, wife of Braves' pitcher Jim Prendergast.[2]
Background
Before a doubleheader at Braves Field between the Boston Braves and the Chicago Cubs on May 23, 1948, Rockwell approached both teams with the intention of creating a portrait of a visiting team's dejection in contrast elation of hometown fans.[3]
A number of Cubs players and manager Charlie Grimm agreed to pose in the dugout to be photographed. As spectators filled the stands, Rockwell handpicked a number of them and instructed them to mimic expressions of delight or scorn. Additionally, a batboy for the Braves, Frank McNulty,[2] had to be convinced to pose in a Cubs jersey in front of the dugout.[3] Rockwell paid McNulty $5 ($65.44 in 2024).[2]
The Cubs went on to lose both games of the doubleheader.[4][5]
References
- ^ "Scott Simon on baseball and the power of art". CBS News. April 23, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c Brady, Bob. "Braves Field Inspires A Masterpiece: Norman Rockwell Visits The Wigwam". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "Rockwell Files: The 1948 Chicago Cubs in Boston". Saturday Evening Post. December 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 23, 1948 (Game 1)". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 23, 1948 (Game 2)". Baseball-Reference.com.