The Dugout

Last updated

The Dugout
(Bottom of the Ninth)
The Dugout (Bottom of the Ninth) -- Norman Rockwell, 1948.jpg
Artist Norman Rockwell
Year1948
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.

Contents

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:

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

  1. ↑ "Scott Simon on baseball and the power of art". CBS News . April 23, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Brady, Bob. "Braves Field Inspires A Masterpiece: Norman Rockwell Visits The Wigwam". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Rockwell Files: The 1948 Chicago Cubs in Boston". Saturday Evening Post . December 2018.
  4. ↑ "Chicago Cubs vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 23, 1948 (Game 1)". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ "Chicago Cubs vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 23, 1948 (Game 2)". Baseball-Reference.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.