Tag: Chicago White Sox

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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

Chili Dog MVP Scores Honorable Mention at Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Awards

By K.P. Lynne

Left to right: Publisher David Stern of Eckhartz Press; Dr. David Fletcher and John Owens, Co-Authors of Chili Dog MVP; Publisher Rick Kaempfer of Eckhartz Press. Photos Courtesy of Chicago Writers Association and Eckhartz Press.
Left to right: Publisher David Stern of Eckhartz Press; Dr. David Fletcher and John Owens, Co-Authors of Chili Dog MVP; Publisher Rick Kaempfer of Eckhartz Press. Photos Courtesy of Chicago Writers Association and Eckhartz Press.

Eckhartz Press best-selling authors David Fletcher and John Owens took home a well-deserved Honorable Mention at the Book of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Chicago Writers Association. The literary event of the year was held on January 21, 2023 at The Book Cellar in Chicago.

Publishers Rick Kaempfer and David Stern of Eckhartz Press were on hand to receive the award, alongside authors David Fletcher and John Owens.

Watch the Video!

The “Home-Run” of all Chicago White Sox books…Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and a Transforming Chicago (Eckhartz Press, 2022) is an exceptionally well-written, intensively researched, thought-provoking, enlightening and professionally packaged treasure trove of baseball history.

Read the full article at Patch.com…

The authors, John Owens and Dr. David J. Fletcher, truthfully did their “homework” on this one…conducting exhaustive research, first-hand interviews, extreme fact-checking and hour-upon-hour of historical research, resulting in a magnificent romp through a by-gone era, jam-packed with solid, reliable, scholarly research, presented in a highly entertaining and enjoyable format, enhanced by a myriad of historically significant photography.

Don’t let the whimsical title of this thoroughly-researched book fool you.
A review from Gary Johnson, a Finalist Judge at the Book of the Year Awards
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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Virtual Author Series: John Owens and David Fletcher

Chili Dog MVP was featured on National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum‘s Virtual Author Series with an interview with Bruce Markusen, John Owens and David Fletcher on October 13, 2022.

Owens and Fletcher discuss the impact of Allen, his White Sox teammates, and legendary broadcaster Harry Caray on the landscape of Chicago baseball.

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Chili Dog MVP Events Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

“Chili Dog MVP” Authors speak at Headlines from History series In-person at Cantigny Park

The Robert R. McCormick House at Cantigny Park resumed its Headlines from History series with a presentation by the authors of “Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, the ’72 White Sox, and a Transforming Chicago.”

Co-Author Dr. David Fletcher talked about a unique time and place in baseball and Chicago history, when the arrival of a controversial slugger electrified Chicago and the White Sox stayed in town. The program weaved a narrative of Allen, his teammates, broadcaster Harry Caray, and organist Nancy Faust bringing pride to a franchise that had one foot out of town to Milwaukee just 2½ years previously. The “Chili Dog MVP” program brought to life a more innocent time in baseball intertwining with the hard truths of a hyper-political city like Chicago. In both baseball and life, for which the game is often a metaphor, past is prologue.

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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

Sox in the Basement Podcast: “How Dick Allen Saved The White Sox”

Recorded in front of a live crowd at Blue Island Beer Company as the White Sox finished off the first half against the Twins. We sit down with the authors of “Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The ’72 White Sox And A Transforming of Chicago.” Learn how a season not talked about enough by White Sox fans featured that year’s MLB attraction, a young Harry Caray, the inventor of walk-up music Nancy Faust & the resurgence of a team on the brink of leaving the south side. Enjoy a very fun end entertaining “30 Minutes of Sox!”

The Sox in the Basement Podcast sat down with the authors of “Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The ’72 White Sox And A Transforming of Chicago.”
The Sox in the Basement Podcast sits down with Chili Dog MVP Authors John Owens and Dr. David Fletcher

Read more at SoxInTheBasement.com…

Continue reading “Sox in the Basement Podcast: “How Dick Allen Saved The White Sox””
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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

Sox Pre Game Live features a segment about Dick Allen and Chili Dog MVP book!

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Chili Dog MVP Events

Blue Island Beer Company Event: July 17, 2022

The authors of Chili Dog MVP will be at Blue Island Beer Company on July 17, 2022 for a book signing and a podcast recording – come on out for some baseball talk and some beer!

Listen to the Podcast here!
Continue reading “Blue Island Beer Company Event: July 17, 2022”
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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

Remembering Dick Allen 50 years after his Chili Dog Game!

Continue reading “Remembering Dick Allen 50 years after his Chili Dog Game!”
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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

Queens Chronicle’s 2022 Sports Emmys: “Chili Dog MVP” takes readers back the Windy City 50 years ago

by Lloyd Carroll, Chronicle Contributor

“Chili Dog MVP” (Eckhartz Press) by John Owens and David Fletcher looks back at how mercurial slugger Dick Allen saved the Chicago White Sox franchise with his MVP season. Pitchers Terry Forster and Wilbur Wood, the great knuckleballer, along with charismatic manager Chuck Tanner, helped propel them to their best season in 13 years.

The book is far more than a recap of the ’72 White Sox season as authors Owens and Fletcher do a fantastic job taking readers back to what life was like in the Windy City 50 years ago as they discuss such Chicago institutions as Mayor Richard “Boss” Daley and the city’s top columnist, the colorful Mike Royko, who remains one of my journalism heroes. I learned that hot dogs served with seasoned ground beef were a popular concession item at Comiskey Park.

Read the full article at www.QChron.com…

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Chili Dog MVP Press Box: News & Media

WGN Radio: Co-author of ‘Chili Dog MVP’ believes Dick Allen should be inducted into the Hall of Fame

Steve Dale is joined by John Owens, Co-Author of Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and A Transforming Chicago. John shares details about the process of interviewing previous White Sox players as part of the research for this book; the changes the team and city have gone through over the years, and more. Order a copy today!

Listen to the interview at WGNRadio.com…

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Chili Dog MVP Events

Chili Dog MVP Book Launch

Harry Caray’s in Chicago, IL

A gathering to officially launch the Chili Dog MVP Book will take place on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Harry Caray’s in Chicago, IL.

Preliminary plans include:

  • Nancy Faust Organ Prelude
  • Introductions
  • Showing of the 2012 video produced by John Owens for the Chicago Baseball Museum. The video was previously shown at the June 26, 2012 Dick Allen Tribute.
  • Short talk from co-authors John Owen and Dr. David Fletcher.
  • Fergie Jenkins remarks about being Dick’s roommate on the road when they were in Little Rock. Additional topics are anticipated to include comments on the Black Lives Matter movement and how Dick Allen was ahead of his time.
  • Goose Gossage remarks.
  • Richard Allen II closing comments about his Dad.

Check back for more details!