Description:
This collection of 19 essays examine the role of baseball's Cubs in the history and politics of Chicago. They focus on topics such as the rise of a nationwide fan base through the long reach of superstation WGN; the local uses and views of icons Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Ryne Sandberg; historical divides along lines of race (on the field) and class (in the stands); Wrigley Field as a public space both sacred and cursed; the importance of local and nationwide media coverage; and the Cubs' impact on Chicago music and literature.
Brief description: Gerald C. Wood is chair of the English department and dean of the School of Humanities at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He lives in New Market, Tennessee.
Review Quotes: "even for those who are not Cubs fans, Northsiders is worth reading"-Nine.