We were supposed to get a huge mug, but there was a several hour rain delay, the game was eventually called. I don’t know why (but I imagine with the impending rain they thought we might all throw giant mugs on the field- or the fact that giving us gigantic beverage receptacles made easy to disguise alcohol for minors and/or made it very likely that you could go up to the concessions for a few beers and fill your tankard up – skirting the two at a time rule) but they didn’t give us the mugs on the way into the park. Then after the game was called we were told we could line up outside for our mug, but then the line was 5,000 people long in a downpour, so it didn’t seem worthwhile. So, I’d have to say the mug I was never given on a day I didn’t see a game was the worst promo ever.

was actually being allowed onto the field before a game. I don’t remember the sponsor but before the game about 1,000 people were allowed onto the outfield grass. I got there super early and just made the cut, they stopped about 50 people behind me. The outfield grass is like carpet, real thick and deep. The Ivy is also very deep, I put my arm into it and touched the brick behind and it was like 18" deep. I have some really great pictures of the field I took that day hanging on my wall.

… had to be that guitar I won with a scratch & sniff card last year.

The worst? Keychains. I really do not need any more keychains.

My daughter was so disappointed when she did NOT win one of 100 exclusive limited-edition Cubs-branded Apple Inc.® iPod® nanos given out to random winners during last year’s April 14 game vs. Cincinnati Reds.

To this day, she talks about how she really wanted one of those. Who wouldn’t?

but… this summer I was majorly bummed to learn that my swag would be a golf club cover. Yeah, I know there are a lot of golfers in Chicagoland, but still…

Fortunately, ballhawk is one of them and he offered up a major league ballhawk ball in exchange. It was a summer highlight to a) meet him in person (!) and b) get a gen-u-ine ballhawk ball in return.

Shouldn’t confess this but… my #%$^ cat discovered the ball (ON TOP OF A BOOK CABINET DAMMIT) and sunk his foul kitty cat teeth into it. What cat finds a baseball fair territory???!!

I treasure it nonetheless.

….but the promotional giveaways have never been anything to get excited about. I would have to say the best was the American Girl giveaway, but unfortunately for me my 9 year isn’t much into dolls. My sister bought her an American Girl for Christmas and she played with it twice before banishing it to the back of her closet.

I won one of the autographed Zambrano photos a couple of years back, which was another scratch-off ticket prize. Despite the giant Van Kampen Investments logo, it’s one of my favourite decorations in my office.

We all know the worst promotional item ever was the EMPIRE CARPET GUY BOBBLEHEAD! I mean they could have AT LEAST threw a cubs sticker on it! It has nothing to do with baseball whatsoever!

My extra Fukudome Bobblehead netted me $58 × 2, and my Build a Bear from 2005 that my cousins didn’t want got me $60 × 2.

Also, in 2003 they gave out the “Precious Moments” figurines. Some lady set up a stand by the L stop that said “Buy your statue for $10”. Sold mine on Ebay for $45. I figure she netted at least $30 per statue.

A Cubs cap with ConEd down the side, in 1999.

They actually gave away replica jerseys to the first 10,000 or so kids under 13 sometime in the early 80s. Of course, they had some sponsor logo screened on the back.

Worst giveaway was a cheap crappy WGN-only radio that was supposed to clip on to your ear, but would never stay on and had weak reception.

Also, my parents still have in their kitchen cabinet a plastic blue mug sponsored by Dr. Pepper with photos of Fergie Jenkins, Leon Durham, Keith Moreland, and Lee Elia.

Earliest promo item I own: a 1980 team photo.

is why “the first 10K” or “the first 15K” get the promo item at Wrigley Why can’t everybody get the damn item??

Why be penalized if you can’t make it to the park 2 hours before the game and stand in line?

Using the Dodgers/Padres as examples……in literally all of their giveaways, EVERYBODY gets the trinket — unless it’s aimed at kids only. And, if it’s a kid item, (while supply lasts) ALL kids get the item. But, at Wrigley, why the ‘first 10K’ kids? Why not ALL kids?

Fans deserve the added value of the promo item, no matter what time they arrive. The items are already underwritten by a sponsor. Charge the sponsor a ‘few’ bucks more, give away 40K! This just seems like common sense to me.

The worst promo item I picked up at Wrigley was a blue home cap where the “Old Style” logo was bigger than the “C.” I like the beer, and all, but this was a bit….much.

that stupid sheep s