Future Cubs Up Close?

One of the highlights of my spring training experience was Fitch Park, known for years to me as the "minor league camp" but with no idea of how much could be learned and seen at the camp. Four teams -- Iowa (AAA), Tennessee (AA), Daytona (A) and Peoria (A) -- work out at 9:00 AM on four diamonds,with all the backstops together. Well over 120 players are there, sometimes staying on an assigned diamond and sometimes moving in groups from place to place as the practice runs through its schedule. Each diamond eventually moves into batting practice and then breaks for lunch after 11:30.

Most days the two fields to the north will then feature minor league games at 1:00. Basically, the AAA & AA stay home while the two A teams travel or vice-versa. On Thursday, the Cubs sent the older teams to the Angels complex and the two A teams hosted the Angels. For a fan used to major league games in major league parks, the ability to get up close is unprecedented. It is easy to see the great plays and the errors, the tough pitches and the candy pitches, the great swings and the awkward swings. From right up close.

I already have plans to go to see the Kane County Cougars when they host the Peoria Chiefs this summer. Two prospects I was quite impressed with should be playing here on their way to the major leagues. Trades happen and prospects sometimes don't work out, but I think these two will look great in Cub uniforms in two years. Everyone knows the name Josh Vitters, first round pick third baseman who was rumored to be headed to San Diego in a proposed Peavy trade. He looks to be the real thing and has a major league swing. Catcher Mike Brenly, son of color announcer Bob Brenly, is about 6'3" and looks solid behind the plate, strong throwing, and a major league potential batter. It was great to see these stars up close and playing hard. Best of luck to them and to their teammates.

Next post on a neat museum in Mesa, longtime spring home of the Cubs.

Making a Mark on the Ballfield

One of the all-time Hall-of-Famers in Fergie's group is Harmon Killebrew, who was a Washington Senators third baseman in the late 50s and went to Minnesota when his team became the Minnesota Twins. When he retired, he had the third highest home run total of any right-handed batter, and he was a solid all-star. As a Cub fan, I never saw too much of him but I always respected him. Now that I have met him, I really like him as well. Soft-spoken, friendly, a man with a solid handshake: I was very pleased to have a moment to talk with him, a man who made his mark on baseball.

Shortly after my moments with Harmon Killebrew, I moved into center field (I did spend most of my playing days in center field or left field) and spotted a potential self-portrait. Here you see me making my mark on the Ho Ho Kam Stadium outfield.

Next post will be a look at a minor league practice, which was a surprisingly enjoyable part of my spring training trip.

A Meadowlark Sighting

Among Fergie's friends were people who were not baseball people. While not able to attend, former Chicago Bear Gayle Sayers was on the Hall-of-Fame list; Sayers and Jenkins were stars in Chicago during the same years and came into contact often. But among the biggest of Hall-of-Fame stars was basketball magician Meadowlark Lemon, longtime heart and soul of the Harlem Globetrotters.

In great shape for a senior citizen (and I can say that, being one myself), Meadowlark laughed and talked and shook hands and posed with hundreds of fans and he looked in fine enough shape that he might have been able to demonstrate some flashy Trotter moves.

In speaking with several Cub fans, I posed the question as to why Meadowlark Lemon was present. All answered that he must have been a friend of Fergie. But pushed again with another question -- why? how? when? -- not one knew what I knew. Back in the 1960s, major league players made good salaries, but few made enough to take the entire offseason as a vacation. Fergie Jenkins played with the Harlem Globetrotters for three winters and was Lemon's teammate. It was another enjoyable nugget in a great evening of entertainment. I met the Clown Prince of Basketball.

One more post from the Fergie and Friends baseball night.

Fergie & Friends For Charity

It was a perfect night for a baseball game, any kind of a baseball game. But the event that had convinced me to head out to Arizona, the Fergie & Friends Annual All-Star Game, was an event to remember. Great music as mentioned in the previous post, lots of nice people to talk to. But the real highlight was the 30 minutes we were allowed down on the field to "Meet and Greet" the All-Stars and Old-Timers. All the former ballplayers were friendly, shaking hands and having pictures taken one after another. Fergie Jenkins, certainly the most successful Cub pitcher of my lifetime with six straight 20-win seasons, was affable and organized. Billy Williams, seen with me in the other photo, spent the entire time smiling and laughing with people. That half-hour, by the way, stretched out to me being on the field for two and a half hours, talking baseball, listening to music, taking pictures, and just loving life and baseball.

Besides Jenkins and Williams, we met Ron Santo, Jody Davis, Bob Dernier, Glenn Beckert, Randy Hundley, Steve Trout and Jay Johnstone among other former Cubs. We also met several Hall-of-Famers including Harmon Killebrew, Bob Feller, and Rollie Fingers. It was a wonderful night all the way around.

My friend Terry, a Mesa-area resident I had just met, spent some time taking photos of each other with the ballplayers and just on the field. "This is baseball heaven," he said, ninety minutes after the fun had started. What else could I answer? "Amen."

The next post will feature another hall of fame ballplayer, but one who played with a much larger ball.

Country Music at the Ballyard

Just about the time I noticed the previous post's jersey FINALLY!, a country singer began a concert on a low stage behind home plate. Clearly a part of the party atmosphere, I anticipated being too busy to pay attention, but as a photographer I had to snap a few photographs. Cindy Standage had sung Take Me Out to the Ballgame the day before, so I knew she could sing. It turned out that I bought a CD and plan to add her music to my iPod collection.

A Scottsdale/Phoenix area singer with a great, tight band and a high-power personality to match, Cindy plays guitar and belts out a wide variety of songs. Plenty talented, this band is entertaining and enjoyable. Since the group travels all over the country, you might notice her name on a concert poster. Be there and you will become a fan. That's exactly what happened to me!

In case you prefer not to wait for a poster notice, you could look up www.cindystandage.com to see upcoming dates.

Jersey Name and Number?

Hall-of-Famer Fergie Jenkins hosted his second annual Fergie & Friends baseball game, featuring several baseball greats in a game against Phoenix-area TV and Radio personalities. With a VIP ticket, we were invited down on the field for pictures and a chance to talk to Billy Williams (who got a hit in the game; I had not seen him get one in 35 years!), Ron Santo, Harmon Killebrew, Juan Marichal -- and Meadowlark Lemon, who was Fergie's teammate for three winters on the Harlem Globetrotters. We were on the field for nearly three hours.

Unless there is a young man named FINALLY! including the exclamation point, the jersey seen here was a comment on this year's Cub team ending the 101-year drought of World Championships.

HOPEFULLY!

Wrigley Field Dreams

Back at the Gilbert Arizona softball complex, which gave us a photo in "Yankee Stadium" in the last post, here are two from the scale-model "Wrigley Field." One shows how the bleachers are painted on a panel above the wall, with the famed rooftops across the street included. The paintings are good if not exact and they are not highly detailed. But the idea of building the general atmosphere of the ballpark is excellent. The Wrigley wall is indeed brick with the familiar ivy planted before it. Since this park is only about 15 months old, the ivy planted against the walls has not had time to grow in as yet. My guess is that it will grow in completely and will only make the fine facility better.

Another blog-from-the-road post is scheduled tomorrow. Now is the time for a little rest so more on-the-run fun will be possible tomorrow.