Returned a few hours ago from the Cubs Convention. Now that the NFL Playoffs are over, it's time to post.
The convention moved from its longtime home at the Hilton and headed to the Sheraton. It turned out to be a much better location in terms of restaurants, etc. in the area. The hotel is just a block or so off Michigan Avenue and is only a few blocks from the shopping district, which thrilled my wife and daughter. Dinner Saturday night meant Harry Caray's at Navy Pier, only a three block walk. Lunch was a trip to the Billy Goat Tavern, just two blocks away, made famous by a Saturday Night Live bit. When I worked in the Tribune Building, I went there every Thursday after getting paid, and the place hasn't changed since then (1988).
Lots of changes with the new venue. Much easier check in. The convention opened at 1:00 instead of 3. However, there weren't as many vendors. In fact, there were none when it came to memorabilia, older material and such. Fergie Jenkins was there with his booth featuring both Gaylord Perry and Rollie Fingers, along with Jody Davis and Lee Smith. For a $20 donation to JDRF you could get any of their autographs.
My good friend Dan Knoll was there and his collection was on display in the Cubs Archives room. Among the items were display cases featuring the 69, 84, and 89 teams replete with jerseys, bats, etc. that Dan has collected over the years. Other display cases featured the 1930's teams and earlier (some of the material was Dan's, some belonged to other collectors). One very interesting piece was a baseball used in the last game of the 1907 World Series that came from the estate of Detroit manager Hughie Jennings. The Cubs used the room to plug their efforts to get fans to donate to their archive, although I doubt many, if any, fans would be willing to give up their prime material.
Opening ceremonies at 5pm, although I didn't attend. I camped out in the vendor area waiting for the autograph hunt which would take place at 6pm. The autograph hunt was very disappointing. Only #1 prospect Javier Baez was of interest, and pretty much all of the booths were manned by minor leaguers and no-name players. With the autograph hunt, you don't know who is going to show up. It's a crap-shoot. Some years there have been awesome signers, such as the year when Andre Dawson showed up. The last couple of years have been bad.
Skipped bingo, since it's usually really crowded and I never win anyway.
Saturday was a full day. Started by lining up with my son at 7:30 hoping to secure an Anthony Rizzo autograph at 10am. We got it. The team went to a voucher system on autographs this year, handing out 125 tickets for each player. I thought the system worked well, even though it meant standing in lines for a long time. In the past, you could stand in line and never know who you might get once you got to the front of the line. This was better, though not perfect. While my son waited for Rizzo, I made my way downstairs and got in line for Fergie Jenkins, signing for free at 9:00. Under the new system, top players such as Rizzo, Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro and Alfonso Soriano signed for free, along with hall of famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Jenkins and if you were willing to get there early and wait in line, you got your autograph. Recent years meant a scratch off card system for the prime players, and if you weren't a winner, you didn't have a chance.
We went to sessions featuring players involved in Jeopardy and Family Feud. Both were entertaining. Also, caught most of the session featuring team owners, the Ricketts family. Later in the afternoon, the Cubs introduced a $300 million renovation of Wrigley Field at one of the sessions. If they're able to pull it off, it will be very nice.
Sunday meant waiting in line for a Castro autograph and, surprisingly, the lines were huge Sunday morning. In most years, few people stayed until Sunday. However, the year the signers on Sunday included Rizzo (kids only), Barney, Castro, Banks and Williams. As I have dozens of pieces autographed by Banks and Williams, I decided not to stand in line and instead went upstairs and packed for the trip home.
All in all, a very good experience.
Autographs procured:
Rizzo, Castro and Barney on baseballs. Got Barney Thursday night as he walked through the lobby.
Jenkins, 8x10
Ian Stewart, 8x10, He and my son converse on Twitter.
Cards of Jeff Samardzija, Matt Garza, Lee Smith, Bob Dernier, Todd Walker, Josh Vitters (2), Glenn Beckert, Scott Sanderson, Randy Hundley
Could have had much more but didn't have any cards of some of the younger guys, who all signed Thursday night in the hotel lobby. Going to have to start trading for the younger players.
The convention moved from its longtime home at the Hilton and headed to the Sheraton. It turned out to be a much better location in terms of restaurants, etc. in the area. The hotel is just a block or so off Michigan Avenue and is only a few blocks from the shopping district, which thrilled my wife and daughter. Dinner Saturday night meant Harry Caray's at Navy Pier, only a three block walk. Lunch was a trip to the Billy Goat Tavern, just two blocks away, made famous by a Saturday Night Live bit. When I worked in the Tribune Building, I went there every Thursday after getting paid, and the place hasn't changed since then (1988).
Lots of changes with the new venue. Much easier check in. The convention opened at 1:00 instead of 3. However, there weren't as many vendors. In fact, there were none when it came to memorabilia, older material and such. Fergie Jenkins was there with his booth featuring both Gaylord Perry and Rollie Fingers, along with Jody Davis and Lee Smith. For a $20 donation to JDRF you could get any of their autographs.
My good friend Dan Knoll was there and his collection was on display in the Cubs Archives room. Among the items were display cases featuring the 69, 84, and 89 teams replete with jerseys, bats, etc. that Dan has collected over the years. Other display cases featured the 1930's teams and earlier (some of the material was Dan's, some belonged to other collectors). One very interesting piece was a baseball used in the last game of the 1907 World Series that came from the estate of Detroit manager Hughie Jennings. The Cubs used the room to plug their efforts to get fans to donate to their archive, although I doubt many, if any, fans would be willing to give up their prime material.
Opening ceremonies at 5pm, although I didn't attend. I camped out in the vendor area waiting for the autograph hunt which would take place at 6pm. The autograph hunt was very disappointing. Only #1 prospect Javier Baez was of interest, and pretty much all of the booths were manned by minor leaguers and no-name players. With the autograph hunt, you don't know who is going to show up. It's a crap-shoot. Some years there have been awesome signers, such as the year when Andre Dawson showed up. The last couple of years have been bad.
Skipped bingo, since it's usually really crowded and I never win anyway.
Saturday was a full day. Started by lining up with my son at 7:30 hoping to secure an Anthony Rizzo autograph at 10am. We got it. The team went to a voucher system on autographs this year, handing out 125 tickets for each player. I thought the system worked well, even though it meant standing in lines for a long time. In the past, you could stand in line and never know who you might get once you got to the front of the line. This was better, though not perfect. While my son waited for Rizzo, I made my way downstairs and got in line for Fergie Jenkins, signing for free at 9:00. Under the new system, top players such as Rizzo, Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro and Alfonso Soriano signed for free, along with hall of famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Jenkins and if you were willing to get there early and wait in line, you got your autograph. Recent years meant a scratch off card system for the prime players, and if you weren't a winner, you didn't have a chance.
We went to sessions featuring players involved in Jeopardy and Family Feud. Both were entertaining. Also, caught most of the session featuring team owners, the Ricketts family. Later in the afternoon, the Cubs introduced a $300 million renovation of Wrigley Field at one of the sessions. If they're able to pull it off, it will be very nice.
Sunday meant waiting in line for a Castro autograph and, surprisingly, the lines were huge Sunday morning. In most years, few people stayed until Sunday. However, the year the signers on Sunday included Rizzo (kids only), Barney, Castro, Banks and Williams. As I have dozens of pieces autographed by Banks and Williams, I decided not to stand in line and instead went upstairs and packed for the trip home.
All in all, a very good experience.
Autographs procured:
Rizzo, Castro and Barney on baseballs. Got Barney Thursday night as he walked through the lobby.
Jenkins, 8x10
Ian Stewart, 8x10, He and my son converse on Twitter.
Cards of Jeff Samardzija, Matt Garza, Lee Smith, Bob Dernier, Todd Walker, Josh Vitters (2), Glenn Beckert, Scott Sanderson, Randy Hundley
Could have had much more but didn't have any cards of some of the younger guys, who all signed Thursday night in the hotel lobby. Going to have to start trading for the younger players.
