Chicago Cubs: There’s nothing like a day in the Wrigley Field bleachers

I’ve seen countless Chicago Cubs games from the Wrigley Field bleachers. But one day stands out above the rest – for a multitude of reasons.

With spring definitely in the air here in Chicagoland, I’ve officially got the itch – bad. I need baseball in my life. That being said, we all need to continue doing our parts to support our first responders and healthcare professionals as they wage battle against COVID-19.

But as I was sitting here, daydreaming about ice cold Bud Light in the Wrigley Field bleachers, one particular series of events stands out in my memory. Now, everyone has that one day they can’t forget – and it doesn’t always have to be a critical game. Especially in Wrigleyville, where the entire community comes alive on game day – those seemingly ‘forgettable’ dates on the schedule have the potential to stand out.

Let me set the stage for you.

August 16, 2016. The Chicago Cubs were rolling at 73-43 on the year, clearly destined for October. I had the day off work so, despite the fact it was a Tuesday, I had tickets for both ends of that day’s day-night doubleheader, ready to watch the Cubs take on the Milwaukee Brewers.

The day started with me working my way into the city from the suburbs to meet up at my friend Zach’s apartment on the North Side. Naturally, we had to get things started with some cinnamon rolls and The Show (I mean, you need a solid foundation for a double-dip in the bleachers). And that’s when the first moment took place.

Chicago Cubs: Calling his shot – sending the fans home happy

We’re hyped. As diehard baseball fans, we’re staring at not one, but two games in the eye. So we’re going head-to-head on The Show. Now, both of us are incredibly competitive. It’s down to the wire. Ninth inning – he’s playing as the Cubs at Wrigley. I don’t even remember who I was using – it didn’t much matter at the end. Here’s why.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

He digs in with Kyle Schwarber. Looks over at me sitting next to him and goes, “Walk-off. Dead center.” I roll my eyes because this is the type of thing he says all the time – it’s just how he is. I brush it off and deliver the pitch.

Crack.

An absolute missile. To dead center. Game over.

He’s running circles around his apartment, screaming and jumping up and down. To this day, every time we’re a few beers deep, I get reminded about this humbling defeat. Thankfully, his girlfriend Gretchen showed up a few minutes later and spared me any further embarrassment.

We walked the couple miles to the Friendly Confines for the opener. Trevor ‘Big Country’ Cahill was on the bump for Chicago (a nickname Zach and I lovingly gave him before the game). Dude was dealing. He turned in five shutout frames, looking like the team’s trio of aces in Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta.