Go Cubbies!

When I was a young lad, one of my greatest thrills was going to New York to see baseball games with my Dad. I had the privilege to see greats like Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Moose Skowren, Yogi Berra, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Whitey Ford and on and on play live. I’ve enjoyed the distinction to see the then NY Giants play at The Polo Grounds, The then Brooklyn Dodgers play at Ebbets Field and the Yankees at the original Yankee Stadium.

In 1986, we were living outside Chicago and my parents came for a visit from Connecticut to see us and our then young kids. I was able to get tickets for Wrigley Field, and the three generations, my Dad, me and son/grandson Jeff got to experience the Cubs at home. My first impression and lasting memory of Wrigley as we entered at street level and made the slight descent to our seats was that I was in a theater. It was so different than any ball park I had seen. That park is a magnificent venue for experiencing the game of baseball. So that is where any residual fondness for the Chicago Cubs comes from. I’m glad they made the final season ending journey at long last. Go Cubs! 

A note on the game we saw back then. A very talented player for the visiting Mets, Darryl Strawberry, hit a home run his first at bat. The fans booed. When he came up to his second at bat, he was booed, hit a second homer and was resoundingly booed. His third at bat, the crowd was making all sorts of noise. When he then hit his third consecutive at bat home run, the Wrigley crowd went quiet then then applause started and grew in volume. My son was confused asking why now the Cubs fans would applaud him. The easy explanation was that Strawberry had just achieved a very notable sporting accomplishment, three consecutive at bat home runs. The great Chicago sport fans were acknowledging that with their hands coming together. It was a very cool moment and testimony to the legendary appreciation of sports this fine American city possesses.  I am glad for these fans that their Cubs finally pulled it off.