Morrie Mages Sports 18 Hour Sale

What a Smile!

Lunch with Gene Stilling! The Head Sportswear Rep for many years!

This page is all about the people who worked at, owned, and built this store. The store might be gone, but the memories live on.

We lost one of our original team members. Patel passed away a few days ago! RIP my friend! 🙏🙏🙏.

Rest in Peace Chandrakant Patel. 1949-2020 😞

Morrie Mages Sports 18 Hour Sale updated their business hours.

Lunch with a few friends! Have a Morrie Christmas!

The visitation and funeral for Pete Rago will be on Wednesday and Thursday of this week at Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs.

VISITATION
Wednesday, Nov 13th 5PM - 8PM
Thursday, Nov 14th 1:30PM - 2:30PM

FUNERAL
Thursday, Nov 14th 2:30PM

Pioneer Memorial Church, 8655 University Blvd, Berrien Springs, MI 49103.

A few friends from years gone by.

Gary VanDeven of Kalkaska, MI passed away in his sleep peacefully, yet unexpectedly, on June 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.
Born in Detroit to Betty and Robert VanDeven in 1952, he spent his childhood in Birmingham, Michigan. He graduated from Seaholm High School in 1971 and Northern Michigan University in 1975.
Gary spent most of his life in Chicago. He worked at Morrie Mages Sports, FedEx and spent 31 years as the Service Manager at Viking Ski & Snowboard Shop. He was honored to be a member of the Chicago Fire Department, Engine 39 until he retired in 2015. After retirement, he returned to Michigan to ski, sail, fish and enjoy his many great-nieces and nephews. He was unable to stay away from a “ski shop” and worked part-time at Don Orr Ski Haus in Traverse City.
Always a thrill seeker, Gary traveled around the world fulfilling his dreams. His biggest passions were downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and sailing. He skied the Midwest, took yearly trips to the Rockies and spent last Christmas CAT-skiing in Canada. Gary was a proud member of the Birchleggings Club, competing for 30+ consecutive years at the “Birkie” cross-country ski race. He truly loved getting out on his sailboat.
Thru all of these adventures and careers, Gary has touched and shared the lives of many special people. He enjoyed being around people and was always there to help, support and most of all, laugh with those he loved!
Gary is survived by his mother, Betty VanDeven of Dunnellon, Florida; sister Mary (Jim) Lake of Traverse City, MI; nieces Megan (Pat) McCarren of Traverse City, MI; and Julia (Jeff) Jones of White Lake, MI; nephew Matthew (Kelly) Lake of Hanover Park, IL; and 7 great nieces and nephews: Caitlyn, Hailey, Ryan, Benjamin, Connor, McKenzie, and Zachariah. Gary is also survived by his ‘Chicago family:’ friends MaryAnne & Aaron Newman along with their children, Kate & Paxton. He’ll be greatly missed by his ‘Colorado family:’ friends Bonnie & Dennis Havlik and John Quinn; as well as his Fire Department comrades, Ski Shop colleagues, skiing and sailing buddies. He leaves a hole in our hearts and will forever be remembered with a smile.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert VanDeven; his paternal grandparents Elmore & Marie VanDeven; and maternal grandparents Dwight & Bessie Coy.

A celebration of life will be held from 12 noon to 3 pm on Saturday, July 27 at The Firehouse Grill, at 750 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, Illinois.
Please bring your best stories/memories of Gary to share. Those wishing to make a donation in honor of Gary please use the charity of your choice.

Rest in peace Gary Vandeven Ski Bum! Friday, June 21st Gary died in his sleep...

Congratulations Ed Poczatek I am sure this "changed your outlook" but, in my opinion, you always had a positive outlook. Cheers!

'This changed my life': 'Fittest Loser' winner from Schaumburg Ed Poczatek of Schaumburg was lethargic and out of shape after surviving a bout with cancer. He decided the Daily Herald's "Fittest Loser" contest would be the way to get back on track. Tuesday night, he was crowned the champion.

Ed Poczatek Fight the Good Fight

Fittest Loser contest is 'bringing me back to health' A cancer diagnosis, followed by surgery, radiation and chemotherapy left Ed Poczatek wiped out. Now in remission, the Fittest Loser contestant is losing weight, building his endurance and flexibility, and credits exercise as just the medicine he needed.

A new piece of history supplied by a former employee!

Morrie Mages Holiday reunion 2006.

The Mages brothers are pictured here in 1951.
These four gentlemen: Irving, Ben Morrie, and Sam followed in the foot-steps of thier father Henry Mages by running and building the family business. Mages Sporting Goods was an iconic part of Chicago history. Morrie Mages, was a legend during the 1950s for his late night TV commercials that were dubbed "Mages Moment of Madness" by sportscaster Jack Brickhouse because they often lasted fifteen minutes or more.

More photos from 1980s. The sale in the Hanley Dawson building across the street from 620!! Morrie Mages giving the staff a pep talk the night before opening!

The new up load of photos are from a former employee,Joe Orawczyk. The photos date back to the early 80s. Morrie Mages Sports was the place for all of Chicago's sporting needs! A GREAT place to work. It was Retail University, taught by Morrie,Larry and Liliann Mages! Thank you for the memories!

From way back when?

Thanks, Shtofman (Cooley) for sharing the photo and story of your Grandfathers gift to your Son!
I am sure he is looking down with a big smile on his face!

"Hi, my grandmother just found an old children’s cubs uniform in storage that she sent to my son as a gift. It has a Mages Chicago tag sewn in and I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me when it may have been carried in your store."
"I actually just got it yesterday...apparently my grandfather (who passed away several years back and I was incredibly close to) had bought it in hopes that a son or grandson would want to wear it. My grandmother found it stashed away and sent it to my son (who he never met but is name after him and shares the same birthday). Since it’s the only gift from my grandpa to his great-grandson and we are diehard Cubs fans (my son was born during the 9th inning of the 2016 NLDS championship game after 36 hours of labor...thank god for that comeback for pushing me over the edge), it’s a keeper and will go in a trophy case!"

New photos from Piotr Michalik. Back in the day!

Roof top view from 620 building.

Morrie Mages Sports 18 Hour Sale updated their website address.

Eddy O'Connor Sr and Jr.

Jacek in Warsaw Poland, with some Morrie Mages Sports wear!