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Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 23
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Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 23

Publication:
Herald and Reviewi
Location:
Decatur, Illinois
Issue Date:
Page:
23
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

1 mm iY BU77 UU J.IIII"lIUIHIiHi.l. II Actor Jason Lee now looking for good karma in 'MemphisVDB 5 Mobile pedicure senice keeps owner on its toes Wednesday if 3 1 Compiled from staff and news service reports June 22 birthdays Actor Ralph Waite, 82; singer-actor Kris Kristofferson, 74; movie director John Korty, 74; actor Michael Lerner, 69; broadcast journalist Brit Hume, 67; singer Peter Asher, 66; actor Andrew Rubin, 64; actor David Lander, 63; singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan, 63; singer-musician Todd Questions or comments regarding this section? Contact Life Editor Jeana Matherly at 421-6974 I i Alway, Rundgren, 62; actress Meryl Streep, 61; actress Lindsay Wagner, 61 singer Alan Osmond, 61 actor Murphy Cross, 60; actor Graham Greene, 58; pop singer Cyndi II Waite Decatur Madlock keeps in swing with business, work for Cubs By BOB FALLSTROM Community News Editor Bill Madlock knows how to hit a baseball. So hitting is still his game. The 59-year-old former batting champion from Decatur operates a batting cage enterprise in Las Vegas. As president of Madlock he gives lessons and demonstrations.

Lauper, 57; actor Chris Lemmon, 56; rock musician Derek Forbes, 54; actor Tim Russ, 54; rock musician Garry Beers (INXS), 53; actor Bruce Campbell, 52; rock musician Alan Anton, 51 actress Tracy Pollan, 50; rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville, 49; author Dan Brown, 46; rock singer-musician Mike Edwards, 46; actress Amy Brenneman, 46; rock singer Steven Page, 40; actress Mary Lynn Rajskub, 39; TV personality Carson Daly, 37; rock musician Chris Traynor, 37; country musician Jimmy Wallace, 37; actor Donald Faison, 36; actress Alicia Goranson, 36; TV personalityactor Jai Rodriguez, 31 actress Lindsay Ridgeway, 25. He also helps obtain corporate sponsors for the Chicago Cubs and books personal appearances as a baseball legend from an office in High-wood. "I do a lot of traveling," he said. The other day, he played in the Walter Payton Foundation Golf Gala in Schaumburg. Madlock maintains there is Pets of the Week i I 1 Because of the volume of adopt-able animals in the Humane Society of Decatur facility, a dog and a cat are featured today.

Janie is a Shiba InuLabrador retriever mix, a spayed female, about 6 months old. She weighs 40 pounds. She's very friendly, easygoing and loves Madlock when he played for the Cubs 1 N' son Jenkins. And he played with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers. His 15-season totals were a .305 batting average, 2,008 hits.

In 1975, he batted .354 with the Cubs. He batted .339 in 1976, .341 in 1981 and .323 in 1983. The four batting championships should have guaranteed Madlock a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Instead, he has been overlooked by the sports writers who do the voting and never emerged as a serious candidate. Why? "Who knows?" he said.

"The criteria seem to change from year to year. Roberto Alomar was the best second baseman who ever played. He's not in. Bert Blyleven, one of the great pitchers, can't get in. Lee Smith, a great relief pitcher for the Cubs, belongs, i don't know any Hall of Fame players who batted from the right side like I did.

"McGwire and Bonds saved baseball with their home runs. They should be in. "Can we change the selection process? Not likely. Some people have said turn the voting over to the players. Some people have said turn the voting over to the fans.

Maybe a mix of those two might work. Maybe we should have a computer pick the Hall of Fame." Perhaps Madlock's reputation as a controversial "Mad MADL0CKD6 no right way or wrong way to hit. "Every hitter is different" is his philosophy. He wants the kids to find their own individual style. He never instructs the Albert Pujols style or the Manny Ramirez style.

The Madlock style was a short, concise swing that sent line drives rocketing into the outfield. The Eisenhower High School athlete he also played foot Checkers to play. Janie is current on all shots, is microchipped and is house-broken. She is enrolled in obedience class. Her adoption fee is $125.

Checkers is a neutered male. He's 12 weeks old and has a great personality; a very playful Madlock when he played for the Pirates Janie ball and basketball won four National League batting championships, in 1975 and 1976 with the Chicago Cubs and in 1981 and 1983 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played 22 games with the Texas Rangers before joining the Cubs in a trade involving Cubs pitcher Fergu- file photos 1978: During his 15 seasons playing Major League Baseball, Decatur native Bill Madlock won four National League batting championships. cat. Checkers is current on all shots and is micro-chipped.

His adoption fee is $85. The Humane Society, 2890 N. Martin Luther King Drive, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. except Wednesday and Sunday.

Call 876-0000 or visit hsdmc.org. Blue Book available The Mount Pulaski Blue Book 1836-1986 is now available for $55. The limited edition reprint was produced for the city's 175th anniversary in 2011 It contains 1 50 years of area history and information. To order a copy, call 792-5985 or First Call for Help 1968: Madlock was a standout for the Eisenhower Panthers football team. 1967: Madlock was a member of Eisenhower High School's basketball team.

1968: Madlock, left, was honored as most valuable football player while at Eisenhower. At right is Carvel Johnson, who was honored for leadership and sportsmanship. First Call for Help connects people who have a service or item to donate with individuals who need a service or item. This Madlock's career provides highlights for writer, too week, requests include: First Call for Help NEED: Our son B33 FALLSTROM Cincinnati Reds for a second National League batting championship. Griffey went 0-for-2 and finished at .336 It was considered to be Madlock's best season.

He set career highs in doubles, 36, and runs batted in, 84. BRADENTON, APRIL, 1982: 1 was in the Pittsburgh Pirates' dressing room interviewing Madlock before a spring training game. Dave Parker, the obnoxious Pirates' slugger, had the locker next to Madlock's. Parker slammed a bat against the locker time after time as I attempted to question Madlock. We couldn't hear each other.

Madlock protested. Parker kept it up. I finally gave up. FALLSTR0MD6 the Montreal Expos. Before the game, the fans presented Bill Madlock with a portrait painted by Berna-dine Medley.

Madlock was celebrating the National League batting championship, finishing with .354 in his second season with the Cubs. Arrangements for the trip were handled by Eddie Root. The fans wanted to have a ceremony at home plate. The Cubs front office turned it down. The painting was delivered to Madlock in seats on the left field line, near the fence.

A SEPTEMBER SUNDAY, 1976: On the final day of the season, Madlock slammed four hits in a game with the Braves, raising his batting average six points to .339, to nip Ken Griffey Jr. of the go White Sox gave up Madlock's hit. National League wins 6-3. Madlock and Jon Mat-lack, the New York Mets pitcher, shared the Commissioner's Trophy as most valuable player. It was the first time two players shared the award introduced in 1970.

The Dodgers' Ron Cey was the Nationals' starting third baseman. Madlock flied out in his only other time at bat. Mat-lack was the winning pitcher. Madlock also appeared in the 1981 and 1983 All-Star games as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. SUNDAY, SEPT.

28, 1975: Three busloads of Decatur fans attended the Chicago Cubs' final game of the season in Wrigley Field with I remember Bill Madlock, who zoomed from Eisenhower High School in Decatur to the four-time National League batting champion: I remember writing a headline in the Decatur Herald on July 16, 1975. I remember a September afternoon in 1975 in Wrigley Field. I remember a Sunday in 1976. I remember an April morning in 1982 in Braden-ton, Fla. I remember an April morning in 1985 in Vero Beach, Fla.

Let's take those memories one by one: JULY 16, 1975: The big headline on the sports page in the Decatur Herald: "Madlock's single in ninth wiiis All-Star game." Mad- (age 50) has been diag-. nosed with Parkinson's disease. He is unable to drive and currently has no income. He really needs a good, sturdy bike. HAVE: I have many VHS videotapes of sewing programs.

I would like to give to someone who would enjoy them. If you have a "Need" or a "Have" please contact First Call for Help at 475-2255, by e-mail at or by posting on the Web at www.firstcalldecatur.org. lock, the Chicago Cubs third baseman, was leading the National League in batting at the time with .353. It was the 46th All-Star game. Milwaukee County Stadium was the site.

Madlock banged the winning hit in the ninth inning off the glove of third baseman Graig Nettles after the National League had loaded the bases with none out. Rich Gossage of the Chica.

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