iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 5h

My 11-year-old tonight. ❤️ Nice job kiddo

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

How it started/how it’s going. I loved the decrepit old relic on Central Street (first went there around 1980, & my 90-year-old dad first went there around 1950!), but wow, the new digs are amazing. The football last night was also amazing, ran all over one of CFB’s most storied programs. Go Cats!

120

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Literary-minded Chicagoans: Come see me at Printers Row Lit Fest on Sunday 9/13, from 2-6pm. I’ll be at the Chicago Writers Association’s tent JJ, on Dearborn just north of Polk. “Eckie” & “War Football” will each be available at the deep discount price of $25. I’ll throw in my autograph for free!

072

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

One week away! Join me Aug. 6 as I discuss my book "Eckie" - which, I'm proud to say, made the Short List for the 2026 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award, honoring a book that "transforms public understanding of Chicago, its history, or its people." www.chicagohistory.org/event/author...

chicagohistory.org

Author Talk | Chris Serb - "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports" - Chicago History Museum

Author Chris Serb discusses his recent book Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports (2025).

164

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Hortus in urbe. (Technically not “in urbe,” the deer and I were about 400 yards over the border in Niles, but on a trail that runs 5 or 6 miles into the city on its south end and all the way up to the Lake County border on the north.)

120

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

@rogersparkman.bsky.social After your excellent talk at Art Institute, I took a stroll to check out “The Dugout” for myself. The mob scene reminded me of the time I went to see Mona Lisa at The Louvre in 2004. As a writer of sports myself, I’m thrilled to see sports and art intersect this way.

042

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

One month from tonight! Come join me at Chicago History Museum, North Ave. and Clark Street, on August 6 at 6:30pm for my talk about “Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports.” www.chicagohistory.org/event/author...

chicagohistory.org

Author Talk | Chris Serb - "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports" - Chicago History Museum

Author Chris Serb discusses his recent book Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports (2025).

176

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

An oldie but a goodie. Wheaton, IL, Independence Day parade in 2018.

010

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

5 years ago, my parents moved from their home of 56 years. At the time I wrote about them, our Rogers Park community, & the life they created for me & my 7 siblings. Too long to share on BlueSky, but here’s a link to the Facebook version, which I’ve made public. www.facebook.com/share/1EDydt...

facebook.com

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

You can take the middle-aged dad away from Leone Beach, but you can’t take the Leone Beach out of the middle-aged dad.

000

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Did my good deed for the day. Now, to find a congruence of tree branches that will support this robin’s nest but that’s still close enough to the original spot for mama to find her babies.

000

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

I'm very pleased to announce that I will be giving an Author Talk at Chicago History Museum on Thursday, August 6, at 6:30 pm about my book "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports." Hope to see you there! www.chicagohistory.org/event/author...

chicagohistory.org

Author Talk | Chris Serb - "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports" - Chicago History Museum

Author Chris Serb discusses his recent book Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports (2025).

082

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Perfect Chicago day, and it happens to be my wife Emily’s birthday, so why not spend it at the lake?! (We lived mere steps from the lake as newlyweds.) Em at Montrose today with our two Tween daughters. Sadly no Piping Plover sightings for us.

110

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Why do I even bother with that other site? Oh yeah, on the off chance that once in awhile, my presence there will help me sell a book or two. But still…these arguments with anonymous idiots who can’t take an “L.”

000

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Made some new friends on today’s bike ride. Less than 3 miles from home.

110

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Spotted by my sister-in-law at an O’Hare bookstore, in a Chicago author-themed section. “Eckie” is sandwiched between Barack Obama and Phil Jackson, pretty good company! (My wife’s college professor & mentor, Carl Smith, is on the shelf below.) @univnebpress.bsky.social

021

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Reason #8,000 to hate Elon’s pay-for-amplification model with its right-wing-boosting algorithms: This was a banger of a reply that, on old Twitter, would’ve earned a couple hundred “likes” & several re-Tweets. Instead, only 138 people have even seen it (compared to 34k views on the original post).

000

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

70 years ago today my dad, then a 19-year-old sophomore at DePaul, was at the last Chicago Stadium college basketball doubleheader that DePaul would ever host: DePaul vs. Notre Dame and Loyola vs. Marquette. And he still has the program to prove it!

110

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

With yesterday's announcement that the Chicago Bears are likely moving to Hammond, Ind., this seems a good time to share my story about how "Papa Bear" George Halas launched his illustrious 64-year career in professional football in neither Chicago nor Decatur, but in Hammond.

131

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Posted to the "other" site: If I get unexpectedly “unalived” in the near future, here’s your prime suspect: a pseudonym-using, Vatican-hating Twitter crackpot, who thinks I’m a “deceitful, despicable POS,” “evil incarnate,” and “filth,” and has called for both swift karma and quick judgment upon me.

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

A funny thing happened on the way to the (online) forum. Mike Lee - whom I used to respect, before he drank all the MAGA kool-aid - kissed Trump’s ass, on Twitter/X, after a prayer breakfast. I took exception to this & somehow gained 31 new MAGA/“patriot” followers. (I think they might be bots?!)

000

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

What better way to kick off Super Bowl weekend than to hear me talk about "Walter Eckersall: Chicago's Original High School Superstar"? This Saturday, 3pm, at 57th Street Books in Hyde Park! @rogersparkman.bsky.social @pmorse.bsky.social @univnebpress.bsky.social @seminarycoopbooks.bsky.social

002

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Please join me next Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3pm, at 57th Street Books (1301 E. 57th St. in Hyde Park) to hear me talk about “Walter Eckersall: Chicago’s Original High School Superstar.” www.semcoop.com/event/chris-... @pmorse.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @robertloerzel.bsky.social

semcoop.com

Chris Serb - "Eckie" | Seminary Co-op Bookstores

023

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

I’ll be giving a talk about my book “Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports” on February 7th at 3pm at 57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th Street, Chicago (southeast corner of 57th and Kimbark). Check it out if you can! www.semcoop.com/event/chris-...

semcoop.com

Chris Serb - "Eckie" | Seminary Co-op Bookstores

010

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

On Sunday, I appeared on the great Rick Kogan’s WGN radio show to talk about my book “Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports,” by @univnebpress.bsky.social. Check it out here: wgnradio.com/after-hours-...

wgnradio.com

010

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

120 years ago today – November 30, 1905, which was also Thanksgiving Day – undefeated University of Chicago hosted undefeated University of Michigan in the first “Game of the Century,” for the @b1gfootball.bsky.social title and the de facto national championship.

110

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Had the opportunity to do a guest post for University of Illinois-Springfield Prof. Jacob Friefeld’s blog, “Middle West US,” about Walter Eckersall’s greatest game, the 120th anniversary of which is this Sunday. Enjoy! @univnebpress.bsky.social @b1gfootball.bsky.social middlewest.us/eckies-great...

middlewest.us

Eckie’s Greatest Game - Middle West US

November 19, 2025 By Chris Serb On November 30, 1905, Walter Eckersall found himself, and his football team, in a tough spot. The University of Chicago quarterback was pinned on his own 7-yard-line, l...

001

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Check it out, fellow sports history and Chicago history lovers! The first few pages of “Eckie” are now publicly available. (Spoiler alert, the story just gets better from here on out!)

001

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to appear on the podcast of my fellow football history buff, Darin Hayes, to talk about “Eckie” (@univnebpress.bsky.social). My end of the video gets a bit pixelated at points but the audio stays strong throughout. Enjoy! pigskindispatch.com/rediscoverin...

pigskindispatch.com

Rediscovering "Eckie": Walter Eckersall and the Unsung Pioneers of American Football

Meet Walter Eckersall, a man who did quite a bit in football history with this indepth interview with Eckersall biographer Chris Serb.

001

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

120 years ago today, on November 18, 1905, University of Chicago football dominated Illinois, 44-0. Walter Eckersall had one of his best college games with 5 drop-kicked field goals (tying a major-college record that still stands) and a 30-yard TD run, along with several 50-plus-yard punts.

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Best day ever, and the foundation for all good things that followed...15 years ago now. Happy anniversary my love!

010

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

120 years ago today, on November 7, 1905, scandal hit the University of Chicago football program. The first installment of “Buying Football Victories,” a four-part expose on crooked recruiting, academic fraud, and other shady dealings in Big Nine football, appeared in Collier’s magazine.

110

Reposted by @kelloggfireman.bsky.social

University of Nebraska Press @univnebpress.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

ECKIE is @kelloggfireman.bsky.social's biography of overlooked early University of Chicago football star and prominent sports journalist Walter “Eckie” Eckersall. Save 40% when you order now: bit.ly/3Jw23vw

012

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Check out my guest post on the University of Nebraska Press's blog! It's something of a short synopsis of the third and final part of my new book "Eckie," covering Walter Eckersall's third act as a prominent and influential Chicago-based sportswriter. unpblog.com/2025/10/24/f...

unpblog.com

From the Desk of Chris Serb: Walter Eckersall and the American Sports Section

Chris Serb is deputy district chief for the Chicago Fire Department. He is also a veteran Chicago freelance writer with almost thirty years of experience as a journalist. Serb’s articles, conc…

000

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

120 years ago today, on October 21, 1905, the Chicago Maroons played their first road football game of the year against Wisconsin, on a suspiciously muddy field. Madison hadn’t had rain for two days, yet the ground was soaked. Coach Stagg blamed both the coaching staff and grounds crew.

110

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

120 years ago, on October 14, 1905, University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg skipped his game against @indianafootball.bsky.social to scout an upcoming opponent, Wisconsin. Skipping a “lesser” game was fairly common practice at the time, but this turned out to be a near-fatal mistake.

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Some early publicity for my @univnebpress.bsky.social book, "Eckie!" Story by @robertloerzel.bsky.social and appearing in Chicago Magazine's November issue, which will be on newsstands around October 20. The online version went live this morning: www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

chicagomag.com

Chicago’s Original Celebrity Athlete

The new book ‘Eckie’ spotlights Walter Eckersall, a bygone local sports pioneer. Here’s what we learned.

014

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

After serving as distributor, play-caller, & occasional kicker in Chicago's "minor" games, Walter Eckersall finally scored a TD of his own on October 7, 1905, in the team’s first @b1gfootball.bsky.social game against Iowa, on a 70-yard punt return. But the game’s star was Eckie’s regular backup.

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Back to Sam Ransom and Walter Eckersall. They became fast friends in January 1900, when Sam arrived at Hyde Park High School as a midyear entry, one semester behind Eckersall. The pair both excelled in football, baseball, and track; Sam also starred in basketball.

110

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

120 years ago today, on a October 4, 1905, University of Chicago played its last “minor” football game of the season, against Beloit College. Beat up from his unexpectedly tough game against Wabash College a few days earlier, Walter Eckersall sits out this game with a minor knee injury.

120

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

The long-awaited day is here! My new book "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports" is officially published! Thanks to all who helped me in this five-plus year journey, especially my wife and daughters for their support and patience! www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...

113

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

On 9/30/1905, the Chicago Maroons football team squared off against Wabash College, which frequently played much larger programs from @b1gfootball.bsky.social and earned the nickname “Little Giants.” Later in 1905, Wabash famously handed Notre Dame its only home loss in an almost-30-year stretch.

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

On 9/23/1905, Chicago took on Lawrence University of Appleton, WI, in the season's 2nd game. For the 2nd week in a row, Walter Eckersall only played the first half & never attempted a rush. He kicked one PAT, but missed two others, in a comfortable 33-0 win. www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...

100

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

A few days ago, I introduced University of Chicago football star Walter Eckersall. He & most of his 1905 Maroons teammates are largely forgotten today. But the original “Monsters of the Midway” were folk heroes, much like the 1985 Chicago Bears (a franchise which co-opted the “Monsters” nickname!)

101

kelloggfireman.bsky.social @kelloggfireman.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Hello BlueSky! First-time poster here. With the pending publication of "Eckie" & the 120th anniversary of the greatest season for University of Chicago football, this seems a good time to revisit 1905. On 9/16/1905, Chicago opened play against North Division High School (today's Lincoln Park H.S.).

132