Third generation here. Grandfather and father grew up in Gary, Indiana, and before my grandfather passed, he gave me his Cubs hat and told me I had to see a World Series. That was enough for me. Hooked for life.

Dan

I saw a kid named Yellon playing catcher for the Wrigleyville Eagles yesterday up in Loyola Park. Any relation?
I live across the street and sometimes watch an inning or two.

I’m from the same era, and I didn’t become a Cub fan – I was born a Cub fan. I remember my Mom taking me every week during the summer to Friday "ladies day". She got in free, I was half price, we brought our lunch, usually the upper deck was closed, but the enthusiasm, even for terrible teams, was unforgettable.

When I started to go to games with my friends, and sit in the bleachers, it coincided with the fantastic ride in 1969. Looking back forty years, I remember that team not so much for the success and ultimate failure, but for the individuals. Not just the HOF’ers, but also Beckert and Kessinger, Hickman (he was my favorite that year), Selma (remember his signal to the bleachers) … so much more. There were no FA’s, no mercenaries, these were the guys we grew up with for a long period, and it created a bond that is hard to recreate in the current era.

Today, I can get mad, frustrated, and be critical; I think any fan that cares does that. But, never to the point of giving up, that part was locked in long ago.

BTW, I picked up the Maple St. Cubs Annual, and your 69 artticle was first rate. Really enjoyed it.

I read it every day – usually several times a day. I’m a long-time journalist and author and have written extensively about the Cubs. I made an initial comment here last off-season, suggesting the Cubs consider a deal for Jose Reyes. The response, if not overtly hostile or threatening, was smart-assed and snarky. To be honest, I’m never in the mood to be sniped at by anonymous types. I decided at that moment it wasn’t worth posting comments here. Too bad – I really, really want to engage in smart discussions with knowledgeable Cubs fans. I will keep reading, though. Keep up the great work!

What distinguishes this site is Al. Not only do you do such a better job than newspapers or other internet accounts of games, you bring your personal affair with the Cubs into consideration. You are not a faint of heart fan. I know if I personally go to a spring training game or a game in Chicago, I can find Al, share a conversation and usually get some information. I read this site every day, sometimes two or three times a day because I know if it happens, I’ll “hear” it here first. Being a couple of years older than Al, I like his perspective and knowledge because I normally agree with it. I like many posters opinions too! Al doesn’t take many days off….if any! I can count on this site being up to date and informative and we have one person to thank. As far as I’m concerned, let’s leave it that way. Follow the rules and follow the Cubs and let us know what you think. Al does this better than anyone.

Thanks, Al.

Its unfortunate that this is perhaps the 3rd or 4th posting you’ve made on etiquette and such so far this season, but its is always appreciative that the moderator takes a responsible role as parent and gaurdian to the rest of the family.

Also, there’s no question that the success of last year has led to high expectations and subsequent increased (f)analysis on this year. Its more than likely just been tough for the rest of us to express that disappointment in a civil way after last year’s success.

Ah well, the ups and downs are certainly a part of cubdom…onward and upward!!!

My mother raised me to be a baseball fan. 2003 made me a Cubs fan, although I’d been watching them for years before that.

BCB made me a Cubs fanatic. :D

This was nice to read. Refreshing. And you know what being a fan is just that, we throw everything that we have into this team, well everything that is left over from, kids, work, and other family things. Basically whatever life leaves for us we put into this team, and that is the fun part about it! That is what being a fan is all about. The Cubs lose a game, we lose our minds. The Cubs win a game we celebrate as if we are going to the world series. That is what makes it fun, and this site does too.

I think recently with all the success they’ve had in relatively recent years, it’s often to forget that most of us came into Cubs fandom when they Cubs were down. Being born in the 80s, I would argue that I’ve seen just as much success as my grandpa would have seen before he died after the 2003 season. That’s a sad, but also somewhat true as well and open to interpretation.

The point is that I came into this world a Cubs fan. I don’t remember my first Cubs game. Before 1998, it was all about the promotions with me. I liked keeping score with my batting helmet on my head, oversized baseball cards in my pocket, or my beanie baby on my lap. Before 1998, I don’t think I saw them win a game. I didn’t care though. Our family has only started going on vacations recently because I’ve been traveling to do marathons. Instead of blowing money to go to Disneyland, my dad would take us to where he could be a kid again: Wrigley Field. To this day my brother (mjk83) and I go to Wrigley with our dad and can see the transformation as we walk up to the gate. He remembers being brought to the games by our grandparents. Only difference now is that he’s the one dishing out the green for some dogs and soda. I stopped asking for the malt years ago (I pony up now). Win or lose though, for three hours our family goes back to when we were all younger. I still keep score at every Cubs game and still try to see if I can lose my voice during an exciting game. Win or lose though, our family still can at least enjoy a day at the ballpark.

I think we all have similar stories and have similar goals for the Cubs. There’s no reason to challenge people’s beliefs and fandom on here. Like Al, I’m not crazy about the numbers. I get confused by all the different stat lines. At the end of the day though, I’m just like everyone else: a Cubs fan.

My dad used to play trumpet at Wrigley Field – not every day but maybe once or twice a year – and I’d sit with the band behind home plate and watch the balls roll down the net over our heads. Almost every year my elementary school and my summer day camp (Portage Park) had a field trip to Wrigley and I spelled “Go Cubs” with paper cups in the fence on Waveland. Don Kessinger came to my cub scout meeting and signed autographs. WGN, Jack and later Harry were the soundtrack of my summers. As much as they drive me nuts – I still watch them or keep track of the score for every game. Its sick.

it was a good read, and nice to get a little bit of insight on how you became a fan. Thank you for all the time you spend on the site also, it’s my main hub for anything and everything Cubs related, and I really appreciate all the work you put into the site.

I feel like I’ve been in my own personal sophomore slump on BCB this year (my comment rate is definitely not where it was in 2008), not posting as frequently or appearing in game threads (coaching high school baseball is pretty time-consuming).

There have been days where I’ve missed popping into the threads, and days where I’ve definitely thought to myself “Boy, am I glad I’m not in there today,” and I find that kind of sad as being part of the Cubs’ fan community in good or bad times is truly fun.

Anyways, I’ll do my best to break out of this slump, and thanks for reminding me of why I became a Cubs fan and eventually joined this site, Al.

I’ve had my anti Cub friends all pestering me about, “what’s wrong with your boys”. I tell them 2009 will be for the Cubs like 2006 was for the Cards. As crappy as we’ve played, we’re right in it. Bring it on home in August and Sept, get in the playoffs, and then stand by. No magical season like last year, no insane pressure like last year, just get in and win. It’s too early for any negative stuff. My wife bought me an Aramis jersey for my birthday in May. I haven’t put it on yet cause he’s hurt. I can’t wait for Captain RBI to come back! Milton, you can come back too.

I’m not a huge poster, but I’ve been around the site for a few years now and I’ve been shocked recently more times than before at the over-the-top vitriol of some of the responses. There’d be a relatively innocuous post and then followed up with a hate filled diatribe from someone else. That level has to be tuned down.

As for my Cub fan past … I grew up down Addison. I can’t remember my first Cub game as I was problaby 2 or 3. My earliest Cub memory though was with my brother sitting with my back against the outfield wall on Sheffield waiting for the bleacher ticket sales to begin. I was reading the Sun-Times and the big news from the day before was the death of Elvis Presley. That would have been Aug 17, 1977. That day, Rick Reuschel, in a CG, beat Jim Rooker of the Pirates 4-2.

at about the same time. I grew up in southwest Michigan and every year our little league would sponser a trip to Wrigley. That trip was one of the best times of my childhood. We would ride on school buses and the whole bus was a madhouse the whole trip. I don’t see how the coaches made it. They weren’t allowed to drink beer and we usually went in July. I suspected they would grab on cold one on their “bathroom and smoke break”. I remember listening to Pat Piper announce the starting lineups and me scrambling to write down the names. My brother finally gave me the secret, just write down the numbers and then match them to the names on the back of the score cards. I thoght he was a genius.

We grew up listening to Jack on TV and listening to Lou and Lloyd on the radio. We would go crazy when Ernie or Billy or Santo would hit a home run. I loved to here Jack give his “Atta boy Ernie!” as he rounded the bases. We were die hard Cub fans from day one and would fight anyone who said the Cubs weren’t the best team in baseball. I was a fan from day one and my devotion has never wavered. I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

As far as I can remember — I have no actual proof, my first game was probably just a few weeks later , in 1963 — in a 3-game series against the Milwaukee Braves. I am pretty sure of the year….I have no idea of the outcome of the game, I remember we (father & brother) were in a field box behind 1B, and it was warm. Just too young for other details.

I probably had a Frostie Malt.

Great words, I wish I had the ability to do the same. Married to an English teacher for 25 years you would think it would help, no such luck.
 I have been frustrated this year more than the past, and it can show. I can’t stand the Bradley and Miles signings, however that does not take away from the fact I want them to perform at a high level and help this team win a World Series.
 The point you make about the “human side” of the game is a good one. Numbers, stats, OPS, OBP, SLG, WHIP, and the rest are useful and can be a good indicator. But who knows what goes on in 180 days and 162 games. It is a grind, and these players have lives beyond the field.
 Great post Al.

And, as someone already suggested, it would be great to frequently repost this to remind people of the importance of treating other. sometimes divergent opinions, with maturity and respect.

As for me, I’ve been passionately devoted to this team since I was eight years old in 1971. I didn’t choose to be this way; the Cubs were basically encoded in my DNA thanks to a Cubs crazy father and two equally passionate grandfathers.

Personally, I’d love to see empty buzzwords like “troll” and “ledgejumper” disappear completely from our lexicon. I can understand how excessive negaivity can be annoying but, at the same time, when a simple, non-confrontational post questioning a move the Cubs made, etc. is immediately met with comments like “You’re an idiot and ignorant about baseball” or “people like you should be banned from this site” it gets more than a little bit ridiculous. I might criticize but I also cheer (which is what I’d much rather be doing). Just because some of us might criticize something doesn’t mean we love it any less.

As the great Studs Terkel once said, “There’s no such thing as a cock-eyed opinion”.

the Sandberg, Dawson, Grace, Dunston, Domingo Ramez era… okay, maybe not so much Domingo Ramez.

I also have fond memories of watching the Cubs after school as a kid. I loved the Shawn-O-Meter.

This was a great post… I think that being a Cubs fan is as much about the memories growing up as it is about wanting them to win so badly today.

for the post and running this great site. I came across this site last November looking for some hot stove info for the Cubs and their off season. I was wowed by the intelligent conversation and the many learned fans that you have here. I decided to participate during the season. Occasionally this site does have it’s flareups, alot lately, but for the most part it is a great place to talk about our beloved Cubs and baseball in general.

I would only ask the posters that try to keep this site respectful, as the unofficial policemen of the site, that you would not only keep the posters that you disagree with civil but also the posters that you agree with civil.

Thanks Al, you do a great job here.

… started in Des Moines, where i grew up. My grandparents started taking me to Iowa Cubs games as a member of the Knothole Gang. Sec Taylor Stadium (Principal Park now, i guess) is amazing for a AAA park, and I was lucky enough to attend maybe a dozen or so of the games during the iCubs 1993 American Association Championship. I continued to attend during high school (my younger brother was also a Knothole Gang member, and i got to tag along), and even in to college when i returned home for vacations. I also was fortunate to see various members of the big Cubs (Corey Patterson, Carlos Zambrano, Kyle Farnsworth, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Derrek Lee, Daryle Ward, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Dempster) as they came up through the system or made rehab stops. My grandfather followed the cubs religiously on WGN, making sure every game was on in the barbershop he started after returning from WWII. Grandma was a bigger basketball fan, and loved the MJ / Pippen era Bulls, and i can truly thank them for my membership in these fan groups.

That made bringing them to their first game at Wrigley all the more special. My grandfather was beside himself, finally getting to see in person what he’d watched on TV for so many years. He wanted to circle the field, see it from every angle, take in everything he could, even though at well over 80, the stairs and the walking and the drunk kid dodging was stressful for him. He loved being there, he truly appreciated the chance to see it all.

And that is the frame of mind i try to keep as i root for the Cubs. This is something to enjoy. This is something that generations before me have loved without seeing a World Series. This is supposed to be fun, and the second i stop having fun with it (as a few posters here seem to have done), i’m out. I suspect that won’t ever happen in my case, but it breaks my heart to see those who it has. Ultimately, this is a game. One we are all invested in, sure. But a game none the less. And if this game, this contest of using a stick and leather glove to knock and toss around a tiny ball, become so horrible for you, such a detriment to your happiness, you should just step away. When you are to the point that you are belittling your fellow fan, literally ruining the fun others are having because you can’t have any yourself, you must step away, reevaluate, and consider why you are here at all.

It’s not really fanpost worthy…

Josh Fields. The White Sox just demoted him to bring up Beckham, and we could use a real fill-in while A-Ram is still out. Fields value has been lessened heavily by the demotion. Any chance we can deal equal spare parts with the Sox?

I mostly lunk, but post once in a while. But I’m here several times a day to check out the news. Great site.

and bad blood in the game threads here and mediocre play on the field that doesn’t meet our expectations, that this team that we care about and anguish over is only 1 game out of second place and 3 and a half out of first?

I like our chances this season boys and girls.

As that corny, overplayed cliche of a song goes, “Don’t stop believing!”

I’ve been coming on this site every day for about a year, at the suggestion of my die-hard Cubs fan father. I’m a relatively young fan (at 23), compared to many of the other members in this community, and I think that fact deters me from posting on here sometimes.

I really enjoyed reading your Cubs history, Al, as well as the several other stories your post inspired. My dad, the 3rd child born to an English war-bride and a GI of Italian descent, grew up on the North side of Chicago and spent many childhood days listening to and watching baseball games. He occasionally tells me the story of his initiation into CubFandom, and I can’t help but laugh. When he was 8 or 9 years old he followed the Cubs, the Sox and the Cards all pretty religiously, but that year he decided he needed to pick one team to follow. He turns 53 this year and has been a Cubs fan for over 4 decades. His biggest reason for becoming a Cubs fan? His dad.

I think that’s the best thing about being a Cubs fan. The history. My grandfather passed away in 1999 and almost all of my memories of him somehow involve the Cubs. I now have a 4-month old son who we are already priming for a long history of indigestion, heartbreak and overwhelming joy (he currently owns more Cubs paraphernalia than both my husband and myself). Now he gets to share Cubs wins and losses with his grandfather just like I did, and that’s the most important thing.