It was 40 years ago today when former Chicago Cubs manager Lee Elia went on his infamous postgame rant after a 4-3 loss to the Dodgers at Wrigley Field. His curse word-filled tirade was directed at the small but vocal crowd that booed and hissed after the team dropped to a dismal 5-14 record on the season. Elia’s words were recorded by the late legendary local sports reporter Les Grobstein, who was one of the few reporters who went to talk to the irate Cubs manager after the game.

Plenty of F-bombs and profanity flew out of Elia’s mouth at rapid fire. Arguably the most remembered part of that rant was him yelling, “And print it!” There are plenty of other lines from his tirade that have been repeated many times, ones we will not necessarily repeat. For any Cubs fan who had heard the rant, those words are probably burned in their memory. The entire audio is easily accessible on YouTube.

It is easy to imagine there was a lot of frustration building up. Being 5-14 and on track for yet another losing season cannot be easy to deal with for a manager, especially after losing a tough game. The 1983 Cubs would mark their 38th consecutive year without postseason baseball. Elia himself did not last the entire 83′ season, as he was fired by Dallas Green on August 22nd.

Elia had been on thin ice since the rant. According to Grobstein, he stated in an interview that immediately after the tirade, the recording was played to several media members. This included Harry Caray, Vince Lloyd, and Lou Boudreau in the old press box. While Grobstein did not want the tape to get to Green and cost Elia his job, the tape eventually made its way to Green’s office. A furious Green called Elia to his office and threatened to fire him if he did not come up immediately. Elia would give a formal public apology. Grobstein added there would be no hard feelings between the two after time passed.

Remembering the infamous Lee Elia rant when he was the Chicago Cubs manager.

Not only was this rant memorable, but it is also a humble reminder of how times have changed over the past 40 years. No internet, smartphones, or extensive television coverage was covering every inch of the ballpark during postgame meetings with the press at the time. This rant was immortalized by a massive gray block and a hand microphone. Grobstein could have easily not recorded it and the rant probably stays in that old dilapidated Wrigley clubhouse. Just imagine David Ross going on a rant like that on the Marquee postgame show! It’s unthinkable.

Mr. Elia is still alive today at age 85, though long retired from baseball. Remembering this rant is in no way trying to attack his character as a person. Everyone has a breaking point, we all get mad and we all let off steam in a not-so-pleasing way at times in our life. Fans can look back and just chuckle.