Eamus Catuli

Eamus Catuli

"EAMUS CATULI!"
Location Lakeview Baseball Club
3633 North Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60613
Coordinates 41°56′53.776″N 87°39′14.356″W / 41.94827111°N 87.65398778°W / 41.94827111; -87.65398778Coordinates: 41°56′53.776″N 87°39′14.356″W / 41.94827111°N 87.65398778°W / 41.94827111; -87.65398778
Owner Lakeview Baseball Club

"EAMUS CATULI!" is a Latin phrase associated with the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team and the team's home ballpark, Wrigley Field – gaining fame at both a local and national level. Featured on a sign that sits perched atop the Lakeview Baseball Club – the first of the rooftop establishments overlooking the ballpark[1] – it has not only become somewhat of a rallying cry amongst Cubs fans, but has also served to mark the team's historic futility.[2]

Features

The primary sign, with "EAMUS CATULI!" posted in large, white capital letters on a blue background (the words stacked one over the other), is on the left side of the upper facade of the Lakeview Baseball Club building, 3633 N. Sheffield Avenue, just beyond the ballpark's right field bleachers. Not only can it be seen from the street, but it's also easily readable from various points within the ballpark. It is accompanied by another smaller sign to its right, reading "AC," followed by seven (originally six) numbers which change yearly. Originally this sign read AC075188 in white on a blue background. Currently, it reads AC0871108.

Meaning

The phrase, ”EAMUS CATULI," is derived from Latin and loosely translates to "Let's go Cubs!" – the word "Eamus" meaning "Let's go," and "Catuli" technically meaning "whelps."[3] Without a direct Latin equivalent for "Cubs," its originator settled on the word for "whelp," which is defined as "the young offspring of certain animals, such as dogs, wolves or bears."[4] Thus, "EAMUS CATULI!" could be understood as "Let's go little bears!"[5] i.e., "Let's go Cubs!"

The meaning of the secondary sign is more straightforward yet also a little more complex, particularly since some math is involved. The letters "AC" stand for "Anno Catuli," which again is Latin-based, meaning "In the Year of the Cubs."[6] The numbers which follow refer to three different date markers – counting the years since the team’s seasonal and playoff success. The first two represent the number of seasons since the Cubs last won their division (2008). The next two represent the number of seasons since the Cubs last won the National League pennant (1945). The last three (originally two) represent the number of seasons since the Cubs last won the World Series (1908).[7] Using this vernacular, AC0770107 indicates that it's been seven years since a division title, 70 years since a National League title and 107 years since a World Series championship.

Origin

Both the “EAMUS CATULI!” and “Anno Catuli” signs were erected atop the Lakeview Baseball Club around Opening Day of the baseball season in April 1996.[8] Visible from the stands in Wrigley Field, they were the brainchild of Bob Racky, owner of the building and managing director of the club at the time. They were meant to serve as a trivia contest for Cubs fans, with the winner receiving a one-year membership to the club.[9] In addition, Racky also believed that it made the building, and its rooftop club, easily identifiable.

The contest to guess the meaning of the signs was more challenging than Racky anticipated. Though he offered monthly clues to contestants, it wasn’t until the end of that year that someone correctly guessed the meaning of the “EAMUS CATULI!” sign. Capturing the meaning of the “Anno Catuli” sign, however, proved to be more difficult – even with continuing clues. In fact, it wasn’t until September of the following year, 1997, that a caddy from the Glen Oak Country Club correctly guessed the meaning of both signs, winning the one-year membership, as well as a day for four at the club.[10]

History

Once the contest was over, the signs remained. With updates to the numbers of the “Anno Catuli” sign with every passing season,[11] the signs continued to generate press in both local and national news media outlets. Not only were they tracking the progress (or lack thereof) of the team, but they also came to be an identifiable part of Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field lore, as well as a type of rallying cry for Cubs fans: “EAMUS CATULI!”

In 2012, with the building and club under new management, both signs were removed temporarily for repairs. At the time, however, its owner also debated publicly whether to put the “Anno Catuli” sign back up, since some felt it was a negative reminder of the team’s record of futility.[12] Eventually, though, both the “EAMUS CATULI!” and “Anno Catuli” signs returned. With both signs currently on display, the countdown continues on.

Significance

With mentions in numerous books and articles – ranging from the New York Times,[13] New York Daily News[14] or Boston Globe[15] to USA Today,[16] the Christian Science Monitor[17] or Sports Illustrated[18] – the “EAMUS CATULI!” and “Anno Catuli” signs have come to be equated with Chicago Cubs baseball and Wrigley Field. Moving beyond a trivia contest, both have gained a life of their own – identifiable to fans as well as ballplayers on both the home and opposing teams. For Carlos Peña, Cubs first baseman for the 2011 season, the sign appeared to be a source of frustration when he called for a change in the team's losing ways mid-season.[19] For others, such as rival catcher A.J. Pierzynski, it's served as an opportunity to gloat over the team's continually lackluster fortunes.[20] In each case, it has certainly come to be equated with futility, its numbers keeping track and serving as a reminder of the team’s seasons, and possibly culture, of losing. At the same time, it has served as a ray of hope, with Cubs fans looking forward to one day gazing toward the “EAMUS CATULI!” sign only to see the one next to it reading AC0000000 (unless, of course, they merely win a wild-card berth).[21]

Notes

  1. ↑ Finnell, N (2006, Dec 18). "Anno Catuli...A Q&A with Lakeview Baseball Club" Chicago Cubs Online. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  2. ↑ Garvey, G. (2012, Mar 30). "This weather is suspicious." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/963386991?accountid=35933 2014-02-16.
  3. ↑ Roach M (2003, Oct 03). "For once, zero is a good sign." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/419773637?accountid=35933 2014-02-16.
  4. ↑ whelp. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved February 20, 2014, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/whelp
  5. ↑ Roach M (2003, Oct 03).
  6. ↑ McArdle T (2009). Living the Dream: An Inside Account of the 2008 Cubs Season. Triumph Books. p15.
  7. ↑ Peterson P M (2005). Chicago's Wrigley Field. Arcadia Publishing. p98.
  8. ↑ Graf J, Skorpad S (2002). Chicago's Monuments, Markers, and Mermorials. Arcadia Publishing. p112.
  9. ↑ Deering, T (1999, Aug 03). "SIGH LANGUAGE SO, WHAT'S THE LATIN FOR `LET GET SOME RUNS'?" Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/418964587?accountid=35933 2014-02-16.
  10. ↑ Deering, T (1999, Aug 03).
  11. ↑ Graf J, Skorpad S (2002). p112.
  12. ↑ Sachdev A, Manker R (2012, March 23). "Eamus Catuli sign may return, numbers may not" Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  13. ↑ Dedman B (1998, Sept 03). "It's Sosa's Day, but Night Belongs to McGwire; Sosa Blasts 56th Homer, Helped by Many Friends" New York Times, Retrieved 2014-03-23.; Belluck P (1998, Nov 15). "Status is...for Chicago sports aficionados, watching the Cubs from the roof of 1038 Waveland Avenue" New York Times Magazine, 6, 95:2. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  14. ↑ (2003, June 01). "TOUCHING BASE Renewing Old Acquaintances" New York Daily News, Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  15. ↑ Edes G (2005, Jun 10). "Winded City Cubs Still Cursed, But Their Misery is Without Company" Boston Globe E.1. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  16. ↑ Farris, G (2009, Apr 13). "Wrigley game for action." USA TODAY. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/409059362?accountid=35933 2014-02-16.
  17. ↑ McLaughlin, A (1999, Jul 06). "The Baron of Wrigleyville has a catbird seat. (cover story)" Christian Science Monitor Vol. 91 Issue 153, p1. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  18. ↑ Verducci T (2013, Nov 28). "The Meaning of 100 WRIGLEY FIELD" Sports Illustrated, Special Issue, p4. Retrieved 2014-20-16.
  19. ↑ Wittenmyer G (2011, Aug 15). "Pena: Z wasn't target of 'culture' observation" Chicago Sun-Times, p.55. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  20. ↑ Sullivan TR (2013, Apr 18). "Pierzynski making smooth transition with Texas" MLB.com. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  21. ↑ Kaduk K (2006). Wrigleyworld: A Season in Baseball's Best Neighborhood. New American Library. p118.
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