On March 4th, I had an appointment with a pulmonary doctor. I have had some difficulty walking, even with a walker, so Anne helped me down the curb at her car as we were leaving. Suddenly Anne was telling someone that he didn’t need to move his car. She said I could make it alright.

I looked over to see who she was talking to. It was an older man (not as old as me) sitting in his SUV at my side of the car with his window down. He said something to the effect that Cub fans needed to stick together. That got my attention.

He further explained his background. He was from Chicago. More than that, he and his family had the coffee machine concession at Wrigley Field, which as most everyone knows is the home of the Chicago Cubs Baseball Team. That meant he and his crew could enter the gate without paying. What a license to steal. He used that privilege whenever he wanted to see a game. All he had to do was carry a wrench, saying he had to service a machine, and he was in. Then it was just a short walk to watch the game.
Cubbie fans are a breed set apart. We must be dedicated fans to support a team that hadn’t won a pennant since 1908, a year before my mother was born. Our attitude always has been that next year will be the year. This is just a rebuilding year. Wait until next year and you will see a winner. Finally, that wish came true.

He continued to fill out his experiences at Wrigley Field. I also remembered that the new owners modernized the stands and environment. I mentioned the goat hex. That was the reason there were no pennant wins in all those intervening years. He didn’t buy into that. Instead, started talking about current players. He watches the spring training games on a TV baseball channel. I don’t have that channel so I will have to wait until the regular season.

How did he know I was a Cubs fan? Easy. I was wearing my special Cubs World’s Champion jacket. What an attention-getter! I run into Cub fans wherever I go, even in the grocery store. Why not! After all, Knoxville has a Cub franchise, the Smokies. This has to be God’s country to be so blessed.

For many years the WGN television station out of Chicago broadcasted all the Cub games. Then for some earth-shaking reason they stopped and did rerun television shows. Now for me to see a game, I have to catch it on a baseball channel that I can get.

No other team has a seventh inning stretch like the Cubbies. Harry Carey’s rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” had everyone in the stands standing and singing along. Me, too, in front of my television set. He last sang it on September 21, 1997, but it seems like yesterday. I hear Harry Carey singing it in my mind no matter who is giving the current rendition.

There were many famous players of the Cubbies over the years and some really bad trades, too. One of the better ones was George Bell for Chicago White Sox’s Sammy Sosa and somebody else. And, say, have you ever seen a better looking uniform? No way. I proudly wear my Cubbies jacket. Play ball!!