The Dugout
1948 painting by Norman Rockwell
| The Dugout (Bottom of the Ninth) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Norman Rockwell |
| Year | 1948 |
| 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.
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:
- Bob Rush, pitcher
- Charlie Grimm, manager of the Cubs
- Rube Walker, seated behind the batboy, catcher
- Johnny Schmitz, standing behind the batboy, pitcher
Amongst the subjects in the crowd are the daughter of a coach of the Boston Braves and the wife of pitcher Bob Rush.[2]
Background
Before a doubleheader in 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.[2]
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 had to be convinced to pose in a Cubs jersey infront of the dugout.[2]
The Cubs went on to lose both games of the doubleheader.[3][4]
References
- ^ "Scott Simon on baseball and the power of art". CBS News. April 23, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Rockwell Files: The 1948 Chicago Cubs in Boston". Saturday Evening Post. December 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 23, 1948 (Game 1)". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 23, 1948 (Game 2)". Baseball-Reference.com.
- v
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- Children Dancing at a Party (1918)
- The Love Song (1926)
- Four Freedoms (1943, Freedom of Speech
- Freedom of Worship
- Freedom from Want
- Freedom from Fear)
- Little Girl Observing Lovers on a Train (1944)
- We, Too, Have a Job to Do (1944)
- Working on the Statue of Liberty (1946)
- The Dugout (1948)
- Tough Call (1948)
- Saying Grace (1951)
- Walking to Church (1952)
- Breaking Home Ties (1954)
- Marriage License (1955)
- The Scoutmaster (1956)
- The Rookie (1957)
- Triple Self-Portrait (1960)
- Growth of a Leader (1964)
- The Problem We All Live With (1964)
- Murder in Mississippi (1965)
- Russian Schoolroom (1967)
- Southern Justice (1965)
- Thomas Rockwell (son)
- Norman Rockwell's World... An American Dream (1972 documentary)
- William Obanhein (model)
- James K. Van Brunt (model)
- List of Boy Scout calendar illustrations
- The Saturday Evening Post
