Back to the Cubs Convention after a four-year break. I went in 2020, just before Covid. There were no conventions in 2021 or 2022 (because of stupid Covid), and then I had a little issue last year. So, it took a while, but I am finally up to 30 Conventions (out of 37; I missed the first four, then 2005, 2017, and last year).
It was a lot different this year than it had been recently, but that was fine – and great – because Tad and Ruth were coming (along with Ross and Emily, of course).
We watched Friday night’s Opening Ceremonies and “Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster” on Marquee at home. It was easier and cheaper (didn’t have to drive; didn’t have to pay to park). Plus you had a really good view and you did not have to sit/stand for an hour or more before the Opening Ceremonies started. Wayne Messmer sang the Anthem, which is great!
The photo and autograph sessions (in the Season Ticket Holder lounges) were well run and the lines were not too long. We got photos with Fergie and Manny Trillo and got an autograph from Jody. I asked Jody if he was still living in Georgia. He said he was now living in southern Indiana, across the river from Owensboro. When I thanked Manny Trillo, I mentioned the “great teams of 1977 and ’78.” You could tell that he sort of questioned them being great, but he did appreciate it when I said there were lots of good memories.
We watched the panels on 2016 and 1984. The former was interesting. Pat Hughes was emceeing the 2016 panel. They had Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, Miguel Montero, Pedro Stop, and Ben Zobrist. Pat asked about Miggie getting that hit in the top of the tenth [of Game 7, or course]. Miggie wanted to talk about catching the bottom of the ninth, when the World Series was on the line and it was the first time he had caught in the whole World Series. (Which is the same thing he said at the 2020 Convention.)
The 1984 panel, with Sutcliffe, Dernier, Jody, and the Sarge was good, but 1984 panels are getting repetitious. They ought to try panels on 1989 and 1998.
They didn’t have many vendors. Of the minor league teams, just South Bend and Myrtle Beach showed up. Tennessee was not scheduled to come, and Iowa got snowed out (or is it snowed in?).
Overall, it was an okay Convention. You want to go, but I would prefer more panels and more vendors. Still, it was good to go. It is, after all, the unofficial opening of the season.
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