On Tuesday, September 26th, at 6:00 p.m. central, the LaSalle Public Library will virtually host author Jack Bales for a unique presentation about baseball history and true crime.

Violet Popovich argued with her former boyfriend, Chicago Cub Billy Jurges, on July 6, 1932. Both were wounded in the struggle, but Jurges refused to press charges. Even without their star shortstop, Chicago made it to the World Series, only to be on the wrong end of Babe Ruth’s legendary “Called Shot” home run. In the program, Jack Bales will explore this fascinating story of baseball history and true crime intrigue as he traces the ripple effects of the shooting on the Cubs’ tumultuous season.

Jack Bales grew up in Aurora, Illinois. His lengthy career in librarianship included more than 40 years at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He has researched in archives and historical societies all over the country. He has published books as well as numerous articles and essays for books, journals, magazines, literary encyclopedias, and newspapers. His many works on the Chicago Cubs include two books: The Chicago Cub Shot for Love: A Showgirl’s Crime of Passion and the 1932 World Series and Before They Were the Cubs: The Early Years of Chicago’s First Professional Baseball Team.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be presented virtually via Zoom. Register: https://rb.gy/uedn1. For more information, please call the Library at 815-223-2341.