When in Chicago....

Do as the Cubs Fans do....So I did....

I am no Cub's fun, but no self respecting baseball fan in Chicago, with a spare three hours, would skip a chance to do Wrigley Field. It's one of those things that's been on my bucket list(if I had one) for most of my life. Fenway Park is the other ballpark I intend to take in before I grow too old.

But back to Wrigley. I'm in Chicago presenting the county's outcomes from a six year federal SAMHSA grant. They keep us pretty busy, but I slipped away tonight, caught the redline subway to Addison Ave, and managed to find a single ticket scalper--A nice older gentleman who had one seat for sale.

This was magic. I have watched many games on TV, broadcast from Wrigley. TV doesn't do it justice. The park is 97 years young, and it shows. It's part of the mystique, and the sultry weather and rabid fans enhance the experience. I sat there taking it in, thinking back to some of the great Cub's players I watched as a youth....Ron Santo, Don Kessinger, Ron Hundley, Billy Williams and Ferguson Jenkins. I can still see their baseball cards in my mind's eye.

I downed two bratwurts with onions and kraut, 32 ounces of Pepsi, and a whole lot of ice water. Jim Belushi, native Chicagoan, sang "Take me Out to the Ball Game", and no fans do it like Cub's fans. They all turn and watch the "leader", and sing loudly each word. It was nearly spiritual.

I stopped afterward and rubbed the toe of the Billy Williams statue that adorns the back side of the park. As a high school junior, I distinctly recall the day that a new classmate was introduced in our English class. Her name was Valerie Williams, just moved to Walnut Creek from Chicago. Being an avid A's fan, and fully knowing that the A's had just acquired the would be Hall of Famer, Billy Williams, I introduced myself and asked if she was his daughter. She answered affirmatively, and I thought this was pretty cool...Billy William's daughter was in our English class. She was a quiet and gracious young lady. She emulated her father, who was well regarded for his grace and manner as a player.

The trip was punctuated by a ride home on the subway, listening to a cute little Italian family converse in their native tongue about their Chicago vacation. Adorable! All in all, an incredible three hours. Thanks Cub's fans. Thanks Harry Carey. Thank you Abner Doubleday.