FanPost

A dream turned into a nightmare. Sorry Cub fans.



In June of 2014 I did something I had never done, visit Wrigley Field. Growing up in a small Virginia town, I like many of you watched the Cubs from a far on WGN. As an elementary school student In the late 90's, I would jump off the school bus to watch the final few innings of Steve Stone and Chip Caray's WGN broadcast. As a kid my dream wasn't to become a professional athlete, a firefighter, or a police officer. It was to visit what I believed to be the greatest place on earth, Wrigley Field. While many kids my age dreamed of visiting Disney World, Sea World, or theme parks, I dreamed of Waveland avenue and the ballpark in front of it. I dreamed of catching a homerun in the bleachers, until June 24th, 2014 when that dream became a nightmare. On Wednesday, June 17th I was driving home from work in Harrisonburg, Virginia when a crazy idea popped into my head. I decided enough was enough, I was going to Wrigley Field this Weekend. I booked my flight and that Saturday I flew from Charlottesville, VA to Chicago for four games. I did everything I had ever wanted to do in Chicago. Visited the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Grant Park, the magnificent mile, and consumed my first Old Style. It had been the greatest four days of my life, rooting for the cubs and walking every inch of Wrigleyville. I had accomplished a goal that evening of beating out the ballhawks for a BP homerun that will sit on my mantle forever. That ball would the first of two that evening, with the first being the only cherished moment I would take away from that night. With the Cubs leading 7-2 heading into the ninth and an early morning flight back to Virginia, I nearly left my seat in the bleachers to head for the "L". A decision that still haunts me a year and a half later. With one out in the inning Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco sent a blast down the left field line that I thought was headed for Waveland avenue. As the ball got closer I realized it was not going to make it to the street. I jumped from my section and ran to the section to my right where the ball hit a bleacher bench and rolled right towards me. I grabbed the ball from under someone's feet and walked to the top of the bleachers to throw the ball back. Now at this point, I was overcome with adrenaline. As I went to throw the ball back, two things popped into my head. One, Henry Rowengartner's throw to home plate in the film "Rookie of the Year" and two, do not embarress yourself and not get the throw onto the field. As I had my arm cocked back to throw the ball I heard a large cheer. The greatest thing that could ever happen to a long time cubs fan, to be cheered by the entire crowd at Wrigley Field. My life was complete. I had made it to Wrigley Field, I had caught a homerun, and I was being cheered by 30,000 cubs fans. Fast Forward 3 seconds, and I am being booed by the entire stadium, having beer cups thown on me, and even a pair of glasses thrown at me by an angry drunk Cubs female fan. I still remember the female security guard leading my down the back walkway, telling me to, "just keep walking and don't look up." To fill you in, the homerun was a reord tie-ing blast by Mesoraco and the the Reds wanted the ball back. I was bum rushed by three security guards coming from all directions on the back walkway of the bleachers, who were screaming at me not to throw the ball back. As I un-cocked my arm and walked along the back walkway in shame to jeers and loud booing, I remember fan's asking why I didnt throw it back. All I could tell these fans was, "they want the ball back." Everything I had ever dreamed of had turned into a nightmare within seconds. I thought, this must have been how Steve Bartman felt as he was lead out of the stadium. While not the same scenario as Bartman, I was lead by security to the same security office as he was. Once we walked up the back ramp and entered the office, they had more than 20 security tv's all reviewing my grab in the bleachers. I assume this was to ensure I did not switch out the ball and that Mesoraco was getting the actual ball he hit. I was lead to the clubhouse where I got to meet Devin and make a deal for the ball. I ended up with a signed baseball, a game used bat, and my personal favorite, about 10 ivy leaves and a handfully of the actual ivy from the outfield wall. I left Wrigley Field that night for what may be the last time. A 25 year old dream of mine, turned into a nightmare. A lifelong Cubs fan hit with curse words and drink cups. Walking the back of the bleachers for the for the final time with a security guard by my side, I looked back at the field one last time as I walked down the steps by the leftfield foul pole. I thought, is this it? Is this the last memory I will ever have at Wrigley Field? Being booed and jeered by the fans of my favorite team. Having cub fans throw object's and threaten me? What a nightmare. Now a year and a half later and 800 miles away from Chicago, I sit and wonder, why me? Why couldn't it have been just a normal night at the ballpark? Why did it have to happen on what could be the last game I ever attend at Wrigley Field? To Cubs fan that were there that night and watching on TV, you had every right to boo me for not fulling what I was suppose to do I tried, I really did. To Steve Bartman, I feel your pain of being booed by an entire stadium of Cub fans. It's not so much the fact of not throwing the ball back that will haunt me forever, as it was letting the entire crowd of Cubs fan's down. It was truely heart breaking, especially when I bleed cubbie blue. To Cubs fans, I am sorry for not coming through on the age old tradition. Enemy homerun's are not to be kept.

Sorry,

Josh

paperview21@yahoo.com

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