Go: First

I was 5, both my grandfathers, uncle Joe and my older brother accompanied me to Wrigley. I remember driving through the neighborhoods of Chicago which I have never seen before. Big brother had been there before and was priming me up about the glory of it all. As we drove down waveland ave towards the park the edge of the score board became visible from a distance. As we got closer it got bigger and when we got to Clark street I could see the park in all it’s largess with all the street vendors hocking their junk and the smell of hotdogs in the air. We walked into the park and into the concourse below the stands, the field was just steps away. I could see the sunlight coming through the stairwells. I walked up the stair well, my brother was talking in my ear about how big the players are and how green the grass and vines are but his voice was so distant because I was memorized by the anticipation of it all, the sights of it all, the smells of it all, I was in slow motion and everyone around me seemed to vanish as I walked up the stairwell. There it was, my brother was right, I was standing in Wrigley Field just to the third base side of home plate. I got my first view of the bleachers, then I saw the green vines, the big players in their bright white uniforms, I was in awe, time stood still for the moment. Someone bumped me, bringing my attention back to my immediate surroundings, I looked up to find my elders, the were smiling ear to ear, all three of them had the same smile. I had rarely seen them smile like this let alone all at the same time. When I saw there smiles I knew they knew, they knew they were passing the greatest game onto me, they knew I would be hooked on the beauty of Wrigley Field, they knew. We proceeded to our seats where I continued to take it all in. I don’t remember who pitch, I don’t remember who won, I couldn’t tell you if anyone hit a home run all I can remember is my awe of it all, the beauty I saw and all the new things I had seen, heard and smell. Thirty two years later when I walked into Wrigley for the first time with my own two children I walked them up the stairwell just to the third base side of home plate, when we got to the top of the stairwell I saw their smiles as they saw Wrigley Field for the first time. They looked up at me and I couldn’t hold my smile back and the tear in my eye. I knew they now knew.

Oh come on, you made that up. How could a 5 year old be that encompassing in his memories. A 5 year old barely knows the difference between being memorized and mesmerized. 

That’s a true story, I remember it well. I remember all the anticipation very well and all my first time sights are forever ingrained in my memory. As I said, I don’t remember the game at all. Maybe it was because I had an older brother telling me about it for some time before I ever went. I was prep to be in awe of it all.

I was less than 10 years old. It was in the late 60′s also. My friend Steve, his dad, his two older sisters and I were going to see the Cubs.  I slept over the night before. This was to be the greatest day of my young life. But as we were loading the car the next day, the two sisters got in a big fight over who was going to sit in the front seat and the older one stormed back into the house. Their dad started yelling and cussing loudly. I was in the back seat of the station wagon scared to death and remember just wanting to go home.  Eventually they worked out their differences and we had a quiet and peaceful ride to Wrigley. We parked the car in somebody’s front yard and paid the guy 5 bucks. My friend’s dad complained all day about how much it cost to park. The tickets to the game were less than the parking. 

It was Billy Williams’ wife’s birthday that day. Her name is Shirley. We made a huge sign the night before and colored the letters with crayons that said: “Hey Billy. Hit it for Shirley.” We left the sign there after the game. The rest is much like Doc said – the scoreboard, the grass, the players – they were all bigger than life. I remember thinking that Jack and Lloyd and Lou and Vince (the tv and radio announcers) were telling us the truth – these players really did exist and play baseball everyday and Wrigley Field was the greatest place on earth.

I am still in awe every time I walk into that place. 

It was 1956 and I was 6 years old.  We went to a Sunday doubleheader against Baltimore in August.  I was excited as we went down Trumbell ave and you could see the light standards sticking up.  When the park came into view I was hooked for life.  It was still Briggs Stadium at that time.  When we walked up from the concourse to our seats the field of green spread out in front of me and I wished I could spend my whole life at that stadium.  I had the pleasure of taking all of my kids to their first baseball games there and when my son was 9 we did a Budweiser fantasy broadcast that I still have 20 years later.  The thoughst of the first time still bring goose bumps when I walked up the ramp and saw the green field and the flags and the smells.  The Tigers swept the Os that day it was a great day!

good old Budweiser.  Marketing to 9 year olds since 1876.

Six years old. Don’t remember the opponent, but it was the Cubs at Wrigley.  I went with my Uncle Mickey, who was not exactly a fine, upstanding citizen. When we got to Wrigley he stuffed a six-pack of Old Style into my backpack, saying “they don’t check kids’ bags”. Then, during the game, he drank them all and proceeded to drive me and my cousins home an hour and a half away. That’s the last time I got to go to a game with Uncle Mickey.

Uncle Mickey must of been a Sox fan with that kind of behavior.

The Polo grounds in 1921. Giants were hosting the Dodgers and Grandpa hated the Yankees, but he was getting up there and did not realize they played across town, so spent the game yelling “Ruth Sucks”. Uncle Adolphus snuck in some water and bread, so we were able to have a snack. Great guy, civil war vet. The grass was about 1 5/8 inches long in the infield, slightly longer in the outfield, which was a feat as they used goats to mow in that day. I remember it just like it was yesterday even though I was only 3 at the time. Good memory runs in the family, I guess. Giants won 3-2 on a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th. Snookie Armentrout scored on Aiden Benthorse’s perfectly placed knock between the pitcher and 1st sack person. That Benthorse could really rake the ball, and the outfield grass after the game. Wages were rotten in those days.. 

Sorry Katie

2003, Wrigley left field bleachers.  Long time coming for a WGN Cubbie fan.  It was great. 

Who were they playing, and did you heckle the other team’s left fielder? More importantly, were you sitting in section 304?

Miguel Cabrera was in left for the Fish, oddly enough.  A bunch of a-holes were taunting him about having to wash dishes at the Cubbie Bear after the game.  He stuck one in the basket a few guys down from me…I was about a finger’s length away from being able to toss back a future triple crown winner’s yard work.  

Regular season…day games.  The next game, Kid K fanned a ton of guys.  I’m thinking well over a dozen…he was on fire.  

Crazy…that looks like the game.  Thanks CAPS.