Another Season of Cheers,beers,tears and Wait Until Next Year!

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I spent many days roaming in and around the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field in my 25 years as the Bleacher Preacher. However I spent many hours as a kid, cleaning the grandstands after a game and getting a free pass to the next game. My dad took my brother , myself and often kids from our neighborhood, Albany Park. I had the best respect for Andy Frain Ushers, the vendors and score card sellers,Red Hots were grilled just for you cost 15 cents. Ten cents got you a bag or roasted  P-nuts . We were there for Openers, Double Headers and Holidays and special promotions Days.  I was there when they gave a new car to 3rd baseman Stan Hack,#6. With my brother the day that Jackie Robinson made his debut at Wrigley, over 47,000 on hand and almost everyone bought their ticket on the day of the game... and it was paid in cash! 

In the past few seasons, I've been to a couple of games ... believe me it's not the same except for the Ivy and chances are they will be selling advertising on each leaf in a matter of time. I walked out of the game last year when  2 sets of complete around the park waves happened in the first 3 innings. And last moth My brother Allen and his girl friend Joanne, and Kari as guest of Ari Kaplan. I've met  Ari at a 1991 MLB Winter Meeting. We all wore beanys.

This week, the Cubs have made tickets available for about 88 cents. It's a great Day in Chicago... but when you are as old as I am... it's not a bargain! Sadly, the Cubs Promotion Department should of given them to their Season Ticket holders to give away. Those season ticket holders showing up for the last few games knowing they paid Face Price will be sitting next to someone who paid 88 cents. However, that will not include me. I may have thought about it for a millisecond. I remember the look on my brothers face when he told me how much he paid for a hot dog and small bottle of water.  Over the years I've gone to many closing day game. Many years there were only a handful of fans in those cheap seats... when you got change back from your buck.

I recall in 1985,I brought my tape recorder to mark the last rites of the season. For some reason there was a  chorus  of voices coming from the left field corner shouting "JERRY SUCKS!JERRY SUCKS!  and I have it on tape. I asked what that was all about... it seems that on the screen just below the scoreboard there was a banner message.... of Thanks from the Cubs to me. Thus Jerry Sucks!  Over the years, there are fewer fans from the 1940s like myself and with each year... a fewer "Die-Hards to die off!

In the 1950s, the Cubs were cellar dwellers when there were only 8 teams in each league. The cheap seats cost a half a buck. That was a bargain... However 88 cents to watch the Cubs play the Astros.... those clubs players should of pitched in and bought everybody in the ballpark a hot dog.

Just one more question ... sorry a senior moment just popped up... just like most of the Cubs players this year!