PHOTOS: Matt Boltz, Engineer, Chicago Cubs Radio - Wordspecs

AN OPEN LETTER TO PLAYER OF THE CENTURY
August 2, 2007: Wenk Insurance Men’s
16" softball, Division B, HPPD, at West
Ridge Center. Chuck Wenk, first base
coach; Sam Wenk, second base.
Since the late 1960s, when I started my own 16" softball team
(I was at HPHS, you were in your 40s), you always filled in when
we were short a player…even though you had your own
champion team in Division A. Throughout my college-years (and
your 50s), you continued to play for us several games a year.
By the 1980s, our team was mostly in our mid-30s and
settled into the “B” league. Even then, in your 60s, you turned
out four or five games a year for us. A decade later, most of us
were married with kids, and now and again, we came up a
player short on Thursday nights. You—just home after a long
day downtown and pouring yourself that much-deserved dry
martini—always answered the phone when I called from the
Sunset Park pay phone. You were in your 70s, yet you’d drop
everything, drive over and fill in.
Just last month, guess what We were short a player, and
super-sub, 80-plus Chuck Wenk was back in the lineup…again!
Since you began those early pick-up games at Old Elm Park,
you have been an active player in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s
and the double-oughts…To the Minnie Minoso of 16" softball,
all I can say is, “Thanks, Dad!”
Wes
All-American flair
with a little Southern influence
Our baby back ribs are dry rubbed
and slowly pit-smoked ’til tender.
Served with peanut-brittle baked
beans and skin-on “tater sixers.”
What more could we say All the ribs
you can eat Tuesday evenings.
The best bar in town. Bar none.
847-831-0595 bluegrasshp.com
1636 Old Deerfield Road in Highland Park
Fall 2007 / 29