the cubs have won the pennant, the cubs have won the pennant.
12 x 18 hand painted photograph on canvas. photo from outside wrigley field, chicago, il
my grandfather grew up sweeping the bleachers for a ticket to the next day’s game. he took my dad. my dad took me. i went to wrigley field for the first time as a seven year old. we liked double headers because it was more chances to see them win i think. i chart my growth by the cubs line up card. from ivan dejesus, dave kingman, bill buckner, the penguin, shawon dunston and so on. i was at the park to see ryno hit his record breaking homerun for a secondbase man. i saw kerry wood hit a homerun on his first game back from tommy john surgery. i have sat in leftfield, right field, behind the plate, in the upper deck and along both base lines. i have even been able to sit and rest my drink on the dugout (until i was told not to). i saw many games through to the end when really i should have left.
i watched on wgn as a kid and even kept score.
i remember where i was when steve garvey hit the home run + dusty baker refused to visit mark prior on the mound (i don’t blame the other guy), i can name almost all of the line ups if you give me a year.
this year however. this year is finally – not next year.
