Happy 100th Birthday, Wrigley Field

April 23rd, 2014, marks the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field opening its doors to Chicago baseball fans. Many Americans have fond memories of visiting Wrigley over the past several decades, and Wrigley is still voted one of the best fields in baseball. To celebrate this occasion, I recently spoke with two of the longest tenured season-ticket holders at Wrigley Field.

Since 1958, Bill Irace has been a season-ticket holder at the corner of Clark and Addison. Now 95, Irace remembers watching Cubs all-stars such as Hack Wilson and Charlie Grimm grace the baseball diamond. Working for a family-owned electrical contractor, Irace would frequently take clients to Wrigley to enjoy a mid-summer game. “I remember when Hal Totten, radio play-by-play announcer, would blast out announcements through his megaphone. If there was a pitching change, Hal would shout out this information into the megaphone that could be heard in the outfield. In the 1940s, the standing-room-only section was in front of the outfield bleachers. If a baseball was hit into the crowd, it was ruled a HR. Roughly one hundred fans were able to fit into this section.” Children who attended the game with Bill were almost guaranteed to get a baseball.

Carol Haddon has been a Wrigley Field mainstay since 1970. Carol grew up on the South Side of Chicago; she remembers taking the “el” (Chicago’s elevated train) to Wrigley with her mother for “Ladies Day.” As a retired special-education teacher, Carol has fond memories of taking her special-ed students to the ballgame. Tickets were $3.25 for a box seat. (The same ticket now costs between $90 and $127.) Carol’s seats are in the first row atop the Cubs dugout. “Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game was one of the most memorable games,” she says. “The domination that Wood had over every batter was unbelievable. The Cubs were the NL Champs in 1984. It was their first postseason appearance since 1945. I remember manager Jim Frey taking the entire team and walking around the baseball diamond thanking the fans for being very supportive.”

Thanks to Bill and Carol for sharing their memories with me. Here’s hoping the Cubs return to the postseason in 2014!

Interview with Tom Ricketts, Owner of the Chicago Cubs

Sitting in the most important office in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, I couldn’t help but notice how unpretentious everything looked. I expected something lavish. This is not the case at Wrigley Field. But when I mentioned the low-key surroundings to Tom Ricketts, chairman and owner of the Chicago Cubs, he said, “Michael, we have hundreds of better ways to spend money. I don’t need a fancy office.”

This year, some of that saved money is going towards celebration. April 23rd 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field. There are ten home stands during the 2014 season specially designated to commemorate the ballpark’s rich 100 year history. Players will be wearing historic uniforms, fans can eat specialty food offerings, and retro toys will be given away to those lucky fans attending the games.

Mr. Ricketts was kind enough to answer some questions about Wrigley Field and the Cubs.

What are the best decisions you’ve made?
Keeping Crane [Kenney, the Cubs' President of Business Operations] and hiring Theo [Epstein, President of Baseball Operations, who won two World Series rings as general manager of the Boston Red Sox].

What was your proudest moment as owner of the Cubs?The investment in our spring training facility. We have the best spring training park in baseball.

How does the Cubs organization work with social media?We are continually obtaining feedback from fans in all aspects of the operation. We are very active in social media and always enjoy the real-time feedback. Much of the feedback is obtained in-game.

You are consistently engaging with your fans inside Wrigley. Why have you chosen to be a hands-on owner?
I walk around with 12 baseballs every game. Each baseball is uniquely stamped with the date of the ballgame. I don’t want to be trapped as an executive. I need to be engaging with fans and see what they are talking about. Additionally, the crowd lifts me up. They are very supportive.

Fans are always asking if the famous trough urinals in the men’s room will survive the renovation. What’s the verdict?
They are staying. They’re part of the history and allure of Wrigley Field. However, we do understand that we need shorter lines.

Why haven’t you sold the naming rights to Wrigley Field?I don’t want to fix something that is not broken. I want to be respectful of the park.

How do you measure if the club is moving in the right direction?According to numerous credible sources, the Cubs farm system is the second best in baseball.

How closely do you follow the minor league standings?I read every minor league box score and the baseball prospectus every morning.

It is borderline unaffordable for a family to attend major league baseball games. How do you intend to keep ticket prices down?
We have tiered pricing and special packages throughout the year. Also, bleacher prices are down in 2014. There are also a fixed number of $19.14 tickets that we will be selling to commemorate the 100-year anniversary.

Many thanks to Mr. Ricketts, and best of luck to the Cubs in 2014! 

What Does It Mean To "Win One For The Gipper?"

Collecting vintage sport cards and memorabilia has been a passion of mine for over 15 years. Some of my purchases are worth a hefty sum and some are important from a historical perspective. One item that I recently purchased falls into the “not super valuable” category—but it tells a story that’s priceless.

In general, paper items (tickets, stubs, and programs) are not worth lots of money. This is the case with the piece I just bought: a 1920 Notre Dame vs. Purdue program. The program has a few condition issues, such as mildew stains on some pages, and the binding is very loose. The hobby of sports collecting wasn’t really a big thing yet in 1920, and most of the game attendees did not leave the game with their program. It was simply left in the stadium for the grounds crew to throw away.

This program has character. I really enjoy the advertising from local professional service companies in the Indiana area. Dentists, attorneys, insurance salesmen—all advertised in the program for your business. Additionally, it was an election year, so many nominees advertised in the program for brand awareness purposes and to obtain votes.

George Gipp circa 1920. (Getty Images)

Beyond the sense it gives you of daily life in the ’20s, this program contains a remarkable piece of Notre Dame history. Notre Dame has been a storied franchise for over 100 years.Joe Theisman, Joe Montana, Paul Hornung, Johnny Lujack, and George Gipp are all Hall of Fame athletes that donned the gold and blue uniforms.

According to Bleacher Report, George “Gipper” Gipp was the second best Notre Dame football player in the school’s history. The Gipper originally enrolled at Notre Dame on a baseball scholarship. One day, legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne saw Gipp playing baseball and convinced him to take up football instead. Gipp obliged and quickly became a superb player.

Sadly, Gipp contracted strep throat near the end of the football season and died a few weeks later. The program from November 6th, 1920 is Gipp’s third to last game. Famously, as Gipp hovered near death, Rockne exhorted the team to “win one for the Gipper.” The story was later made into a film starring Ronald Reagan, who then adopted “The Gipper” as his nickname.

Interview with St.Louis Cardinals Owner Bill DeWitt, Jr

Bill DeWitt, Jr., is the chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals have won two World Series Championships under his leadership; tonight, they’re playing their first game of the 2013 post-season. Mr. DeWitt recently spoke with PARADE about the Cardinals and his family.

What is the best part of owning a MLB franchise?

I enjoy the everyday challenge of keeping the Cardinals a premier franchise. We do everything to maintain and enhance the franchise.

What is your favorite part of Busch Stadium?

I love the entire atmosphere and being at the ballpark in general. My father, Bill Sr., took me to ball games at Sportsman’s Park, and I just love the ballpark.

Why was Tony LaRussa such a great manager?

Tony possessed all the characteristics of greatness from the very first day of his tenure. He knew how to motivate the young athletes. He was an innovator. He developed the idea of a set-up man and a closer. Tony was also at the forefront of pitcher/hitter match-ups in late-inning situations. Additionally, he was very smart due to his legal background. His analytical abilities and his comprehension of the game far exceeded all his predecessors.

Do you collect or own any vintage Cardinals memorabilia?

Yes, I have a few things. Many significant and historical vintage items from the Cardinals organization will be publicly displayed at Ballpark Village, which is opening in 2014. Ballpark Village is a mixed-use retail and residential district that is situated on 10 acres just north of Busch Stadium. Many one-of-a-kind pieces of Cardinals memorabilia will be showcased at Ballpark Village. Some highlights include: A pristine home jersey of Dizzy Dean, and a 1926 World Series Grover Cleveland uniform.

A young Bill DeWitt, Jr. meets Babe Ruth.

Do you have long-term plans for the Cardinals to stay in the DeWitt family?

Yes, we plan to keep the Cardinals in the DeWitt family for future generations. My son, Bill III, is the President and is fully engaged.

Who was the greatest ballplayer you’ve ever watched play ball?

I saw Mantle, Mays, Musial, and many more in their prime. However, Stan Musial was the all-time greatest to play the game on the field and off the field. (Musial was a great ambassador for the game of baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals.)

Everybody has a mentor at one time in their life. Who was your mentor, and what did you learn from him?

My father, Bill Sr., was my mentor. He owned the Cincinnati Reds in the 1960s and I saw how he was able to be successful. I learned a lot about scouting and player development from my father. My father was such an interesting man. In 1916, he was looking for a job and got hired selling concessions at the ballpark. The legendary Branch Rickey [the baseball owner who signed Jackie Robinson] became a mentor to my father and encouraged him to finish his education. Branch trained my dad into the great success that he was.

My thanks to Bill DeWitt for his time and invaluable knowledge

What's It Like To Work For The Chicago White Sox?

William “Night Train” Veeck—known as “Train” to his friends—is the grandson of Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck. Bill was a promoter of Major League Baseball and also had ownership interests in the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Browns, and Cleveland Indians. I spoke with Train about his grandfather and his own work in baseball, working for the White Sox.

What was it like growing up in a baseball family? Besides your grandfather, your father Mike has ownership interests in several minor league teams?

Dinner table conversations were lots of fun. I learned a lot about the marketing strategies and front office operations. I started working at the ballpark when I was five years old. I would fill up sodas, and roll up hot dogs into aluminum foil. I even had a tip jar for people whom appreciated my hard work.

Why are you following the Veeck legacy and working in baseball?

I love baseball. It’s everything I have known and worked for. A very humbling experience for me is walking through the gates before a home game and knowing that the legacy in my family is still going strong. I am part of an organization that has done a lot for me and my family.

Your grandfather famously had a little person, Eddie Gaedel, pinch hit in a baseball game.

Yes, everybody knows the story. His jersey resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Many years ago, my sister held up the jersey and the experience was very enchanting.

What’s your primary job with the White Sox?

Group sales of 20 or more people. My favorite area of the ballpark is the patio in right field, which is run by the Bertucci Boys. For a fixed price, you have unlimited beer and the best food in Major League Baseball. The price also includes a game ticket. This is something to experience if you haven’t already done so.

Whether the Sox win or lose, how do you make sure the fans leave happy?

I can’t control the wins or losses, so we focus on customer service and customer engagement. Is the beer cold?  Hot dog hot? Being at the ballpark allows you to get away from work life for a few hours, so we need to make sure you are being taken care of.

The main goal for any ball club is to fill the seats. How is social media helping you do this?

We opened a social media lounge in June. Fans can stop in and charge their phones. They can congregate to interact both online and offline to work collaboratively. Via social media, we can respond to customer service inquiries. For example, if we have game issues or any information we need to disseminate to fans, we can do so in real-time. We also upgrade fans’ seats and sometimes bring free food to people who are engaging with us on Twitter.

Train Veeck with Michael Osacky.

What’s the biggest difference between working with the White Sox and working with a minor league team like the Charleston River Dogs?

Mobility of ideas. Ideas get out quicker in the minors. There’s a different mindset. We can get a little more “wild” in the minors. In MLB, people pay lots of money for a season ticket, so you don’t want to belittle the experience.

When the game ends, what is your wish for every fan exiting the building?

Make sure everybody had fun

Top Reasons Why Sportscards & Memorabilia Collections Are Liquidated

People frequently ask me why anyone would want to sell family heirlooms like vintage sports cards and memorabilia collections. I’ve found that very few people want to sell but they are forced to sell, often for the following reasons.

1. Death
When a person passes, the government has a vested interest in this person’s estate. If you do not have a living trust, the estate will end up in probate court. Probate court specializes in the administration of estates. A large percent of the total proceeds from the estate will be paid to the government. If a sports memorabilia collection is part of the estate, it will probably be sold to pay off any debts from the estate. Additionally, the representative from the estate may have no interest in the collection and would rather liquidate.

2. Divorce
When a couple gets divorced, a judge could force one to sell a collection to pay for alimony, child-support, or legal bills, etc. The memorabilia collection can often be the last thing one would want to part with since it likely took several years to amass and is a treasured possession.

3. Economic
The current economic recession has unearthed many unique vintage sports cards and memorabilia. These family heirlooms hold a strong sentimental connection to the families. However, when the breadwinner of the family loses his or her job and remains unemployed for an extended period of time, he or she must find a way to pay the bills. When forced with the tough decision of foreclosure, the decision to sell the sports memorabilia collection is a little easier.

4. Paying for College Tuition
It is no secret that college tuition is very expensive. Scholarships for superior athletes or exceptional geniuses are the exception to the norm. The ability to pay for room and board is not easy in this recession. Therefore, many families have decided to sell collectibles and finance their child’s education.

Very few people want to sell their prized memorabilia collection.  However, many people need to liquidate for the reasons listed above.  One of the benefits of liquidating is the opportunity for the buyer to seek enjoyment in the collection and be able to share all of the happiness just like the previous owner.

If you want to add others, please do so in the comments section.

Baseball Secrets of the Wrigley Field Dumpsters

Dumpster diving, antiquing, picking—whatever you call it, it’s something that many of us do each spring/summer as the weather breaks and the rain gives way to rising temperatures and sunny skies. One could argue that “antiquing” is a national pastime, as the majority of Americans have visited a garage sale, purchased an item from an antique store off the highway, or perhaps walked one of the numerous flea markets in the area. TV shows like American Pickers get us excited to see what treasures are still buried in attics, garages, and barns.

I recently met with a woman, Sarah, who told me that she started “picking” before television was even around. Sarah was born and raised in Chicago and was a huge Chicago Cubs fan. She lived close to Wrigley Field and even though she didn’t always have money to purchase a ticket to the ballgame, she would frequent the area just to share in the excitement of thousands of fans cheering on their team to victory.

One late afternoon during the hot summer of 1962, Sarah was walking down Waveland Ave. and noticed several items being tossed into the dumpsters. She stopped and asked the security guards what was being thrown away. The guards didn’t know or care; it was trash. Sarah started to befriend the guards, and after about 15-20 minutes of chatting, she asked if she could “dumpster dive” and see what was inside.

The security guards laughed and then let her climb into the dumpsters. At the very top of the pile were two large and heavy albums. Sarah didn’t open the albums to see what was inside, but she figured they could be something good. Reluctantly, the security guards allowed her to take them with her.

When Sarah got home, she quickly realized that the albums were old scouting reports filled out by the Cubs’ advance scouting teams. Advance scouts are paid to scout the opponents to try and gain the upper hand during a live ball game. It’s always important to know how your competition is hitting, fielding, pitching, and stealing bases. The scouts “rate” every weakness and strength for each player and document the findings in albums.

So Sarah found a very interesting piece of sports memorabilia and something that she has treasured for decades. But good luck trying to scale the fence at Wrigley Field today—let alone persuade the security guards to let you leave with anything!