Hello, fellow readers. This is Mr. Birdwell. Hard to believe that baseball season is back once again. Being it opening week, I felt I had to focus on something baseball related for this new review. I’m a fan of the Chicago Cubs, so what better way than to focus on something related to them? Today’s review will be focused on the documentary, “This Old Cub.”
Produced by Jeff Santo and narrated by Joe Mantegna, this documentary focuses on Ron Santo, a celebrated former third baseman and broadcaster of the Cubs. The film focuses on his playing career, and his lifelong battle with diabetes. Santo was the first and only major league position player to play with the disease. Despite his condition, he rarely missed a game and stayed optimistic about life.
Sports are a big part of our culture. Whenever the local team wins, it can make a whole city feel like winners. But sadly, the negativity of sports tends to dominate the news and social media. From players getting caught using steroids, to players hitting their girlfriends/wives, it almost makes me uninterested in the games anymore. However, this documentary has renewed my faith in sports.
As the documentary shows, Ron Santo was the ultimate optimist. He was not only passionate about the Cubs, but he was also passionate about life. There is plenty of footage from his playing days, and it is nice to see. It takes you back to a time when the players did it purely for the love of the game.
There are also some interviews with celebrities who are from Chicago talking about how great Ron Santo and the Cubs team of 1969. The celebrities that are featured are Bill Murray, Gary Sinise, William Peterson, and Dennis Franz. It also shows that they are still kids at heart, and haven’t forgotten where they came from.
The documentary also shows how Santo has given back to Cubs fans over the years. Every year in Arizona, he use to host a Cubs fantasy camp where for one week, Cubs fans from all over the country could don a Cubs uniform and play with their childhood idols. How many people could say that they could do that? It is so popular that there is an annual waiting list, because so many people come back.
The music selection is great too. It is a good mixture from the 60s and 70s. Whenever there was a transition into the next scene, there is always a vintage tune. It ranged from the Beach Boys to Johnny Cash. A soundtrack can make or a break a movie.
In the last part of the movie, it shows Santo having his number retired by the Cubs organization. I still remember watching it like it was yesterday because seeing his number retired was one of my first memories watching the Cubs. Where Santo was coming full circle, I was just getting started with my passion for not only the Cubs, but for the game of baseball as well.
Overall, I would say if you are a fan of the Cubs, or just the game of baseball in general, just check out this documentary. You will not be disappointed. I am going to give “This Old Cub” a 5/5. Whoo, that makes two perfect ratings in a row. Let’s see how long this can go. Let me know what you think in the comments below. What are y’all’s favorite baseball stories? This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep reading and watching. You’ll never know when you’ll find something remarkable.”