Wrigley Field circa 1970 photo help needed

[Ribbens]

My dad took this picture at Wrigley Field on one of our family trips. I am wondering if someone can ID the young boy between Willie Stargell and Ernie Banks. I think it might be Michael Jackson near the very start of his singing career from nearby Gary Indiana. Anyone help ?

[almostdone]

Can't say for sure but it certainly does resemble him. Any approximate years your family trips could be from? Interesting that both the Cubs and Pirates players are in their home uniforms. Exhibition game maybe?
Drew

[Ribbens]

We went to Friday Cubs games ( half price for my Mom and 4 sisters) from 1967 through 1977.

[almostdone]

The Pirate player on the right has the build and stance of Clemente but doesn't look like his number 21 on the jersey.
Drew

[Ribbens]

That's Clemente...

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by Ribbens

That's Clemente...

That's awesome. Sorry I'm not helping much with your original question. I love the photo wether or not it's Michael Jackson.
Drew

[Jeff Alcorn]

Hi Guys,

This photo should be from 1972. That was the first year that the Cubs wore the stretch knit uniforms and Ernie Banks was a coach, having retired after 1971. Also, if it was from 1973 the Pirates would have had the black #21 patch on the left shoulder in remembrance of Roberto Clemente.

These are the Pirates road uniforms which were a light gray that could appear whitish looking under hazy or cloudy lighting conditions. To me it looks the player on the right is Al Oliver, not Roberto Clemente because the uniform # does not look like 21 (Oliver was #16) and the player's sideburns look longer than Clemente.

Hope that this information is useful, very nice picture by the way, but I do not know if that is Michael Jackson or not. He would have been 14 years old at the time, and I did check a picture of him at that age and there was a definite resemblance to your photo.

Jeff

[Cliff Bowman]

If the year can only be 1972 and the day can only be a Friday, then the date is June 23, 1972. Pirates won 4-2, Steve Blass beat Fergie Jenkins, and Roberto Clemente hit a triple. The Pirates only came to Wrigley Field twice in 1972, the first three game series there was wiped out by the player strike. When the Pirates came back later in the season it was a weekday series, not a weekend series. Now if someone can figure out if the Jackson Five or just Michael were on tour June 23, 1972 and where that would help.

[Shoeless Moe]

nevermind

[GoCubsGo32]

It does look similar to Michael Jackson to me. Jackson was from Gary, Indiana which is fairly close...like 45 min. away from Chicago. Not much supporting evidence there but, something to think about I guess.

[Cliff Bowman]

I found a tour date list for the Jackson 5, they finished a tour in Memphis on April 1, 1972, then didn't start another tour until June 30, 1972 at Madison Square Garden, New York. That would leave open the possibility that Michael Jackson could have appeared at Wrigley the week before on June 23, 1972.

[JollyElm]

I honestly don't think that's Michael Jackson at all. But be that as it may, does anyone know who the guy is holding that boy? Man, he looks familiar, but I can't place it. Seems like he may have a large championship(?) ring on his right hand.

[Aquifer]

Great thread throughout but I can't help thinking a 14 year-old kid would be taller than the four-feet-not much more of the kid here. Does seem like a kid with some cache, though, or why else are these guys getting photo'd with him.

Fun read, regardless. Thx

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by Aquifer

Great thread throughout but I can't help thinking a 14 year-old kid would be taller than the four-feet-not much more of the kid here.

+1, I was thinking the same thing

[GoCubsGo32]

National Anthem at Wrigley maybe...? Here's a video of Jackson 5 during the 1970 WS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL6j6yHlYSg

[whitehse]

The YouTube link below is from 1972 and it shows Michael Jackson who appears to be much taller than the child in the original photo.

https://youtu.be/prfUzZU1oKw

[Ribbens]

Photos of Michael in 1972......

[bobw]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

If the year can only be 1972 and the day can only be a Friday, then the date is June 23, 1972. Pirates won 4-2, Steve Blass beat Fergie Jenkins, and Roberto Clemente hit a triple. The Pirates only came to Wrigley Field twice in 1972, the first three game series there was wiped out by the player strike. When the Pirates came back later in the season it was a weekday series, not a weekend series. Now if someone can figure out if the Jackson Five or just Michael were on tour June 23, 1972 and where that would help.

Based on info from Cliff, I found this in the June 24, 1972 Chicago Tribune regarding Willie Stargell and Ernie Banks

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by bobw

Based on info from Cliff, I found this in the June 24, 1972 Chicago Tribune regarding Willie Stargell and Ernie Banks

Good sleuthing, I didn't think of looking at the Chicago Tribune Archives for info.