Sign on Sheffield Ave. rooftop
Got to ballpark early Wednesday — not long after the gates opened at 11:20AM. Decided to walk the park, taking in the scene for the last time this year.
The Brewers were taking batting practice, so I watched a while from down close …
… and from up in the 200’s …
… and from WAY up in the upper deck …
Everyone there was especially friendly. Total strangers said hello and smiled, and not just the ushers. Speaking of which, I stopped and chatted with both Tom Reeves, who was working between the 100s and 200s down the right field line, and Margaret Wichmann, who was about as far down the left field line. By the time I write this on Friday, Tom is no doubt a grandfather for the first time! His daughter-in-law was due to deliver a baby girl even as we chatted in section 137. Congrats, Tom!
The PA announcer reminded us fans that all food and beverage, except beer, was 25% off until 12:20, so I made my way to the beef and brat stand on the terrace above the main gate.
The nice woman who took my order was very friendly and chatty, too! We talked about the cost of scorecards and how the Cubs ran out of their signature souvenir Cubs pencils weeks ago and instead of reordering they substituted stubby little, plain blue miniature golf pencils.
BOGUS! What kind of souvenir is that?! Maybe the money they saved will help pay Soriano’s salary … about 20 seconds worth.
There was no one else in line, but my brat was getting cold, and I was getting hungry just smelling the grilled onions, so we exchanged “Have a great day”s and I moved over to a table to eat. Yum!
I found a seat in 433 (although I bought a 533 ticket — shame on me!) with the intent of moving around a bit more. A guy behind me came with his own snacks, not even willing to save 25% before 12:20!
He had a plastic Jewel Foods bag full of stuff (you can see the bag at the very bottom of the photo above). There he sat, munching away, and I thought to myself, “Now there’s a stand-up fan! Comes to the park alone with his own can of Pringles.”
But then another guy arrived and sat next to him. The first guy reached into that Jewel bag and produced … another can of Pringles for his friend!
That’s being prepared for a ballgame!
It was Fan Appreciation Day. A Cub employee made the rounds of the stands with a big blue bag full of fresh new baseballs. He gave one to every kid he saw. My instinct was to throw myself on his mercy, as in “I’ve been coming to games since 1958 and have never snagged a ball, and twice almost died trying! Can’t I have just one …” But I stopped myself.
This family included three kids, each of whom received a ball.
Nice!
The Milwaukee TV announcers finished their pre-game show right below me …
… and the grounds crew finished laying the chalk lines, and raking and hosing the infield dirt. It was time to play ball for the last time at Wrigley Field for 2011.
And it was a great game, except for knuckleheaded baserunning and a couple of horrifying errors. The Cubs won 7-1, finally scoring some runs for Matt Garza, who went the distance.
And speaking of the grounds crew, they sang the seventh inning stretch, and did a bang-up job of it to wild cheering and applause.
A great time was had by all, except for the thousands of Brewers fans who made the trip down from Milwaukee.
When it was over, the Cubs congratulated each other on the field for the last time at home …
… as the crowd sang “Go Cubs Go.” But even after the song ended and the Cubs disappeared into the dugout, no one wanted to leave.
We all took one last, long look at the old ball yard and then shuffled off to the exits, counting the days ’til April 5, 2012 (opening day AND Wife of Admin’s birthday!).
Last photo of the ballpark for 2011.
Good stuff, Admin! Thanks for the insight.