The Dugout

This article is about the painting. For for other uses, see Dugout.

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.

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.

Background

Before a doubleheader at 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.

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 in front of the dugout.

The Cubs went on to lose both games of the doubleheader.