Meeting Mad Dog

AU Sports in Skokie, IL, is a sportscard collector's dream. Boxes and boxes of organized singles line the many shelves which cover the walls. If AU doesn't have it, good luck finding it.
AU also does the occasional sports signing. Former major leaguer Bill Madlock was the guest signer on this day.
Bill Madlock played for the Chicago Cubs from 1974-1976. He was young, popular and very good, winning batting titles in '75 and '76. He was a blossoming star.
Of course, the rather frugal owners of the Cubs at the time decided not trade him rather than pay him more money. Off he went to San Francisco for aging star Bobby Murcer. Madlock went on to play 11 more seasons, collecting 2008 hits while batting .305. Murcer played 2 1/2 lackluster years with the Cubs, before they traded him to the New York Yankees, where his career started.

Bill Madlock and me at AU Sports in Skokie, IL-Winter 2006.