Cubs Convention 2013
Cubs Convention
Sheraton Towers, Chicago, Illinois
January 18-20, 2013
As an adolescent, whether on the ball field, in the backyard, or in my room, I used to visualize being at bat with two out in the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, three runs down and hitting the grand slam that won the game. I envisioned running through every defender on my way for an eighty-yard touchdown on the last play of the game. And though it wasn’t my best sport, I imagined the ecstasy in knocking down the winning jumper as the clock expired. But never, ever, in my wildest dreams, did I see myself promoting my debut novel in a vendor’s booth at a Cubs Convention. Through high school, college and beyond, I accomplished many of the athletic feats my mind had created as a child, but none could compare or were as satisfying as what transpired this past weekend in Chicago.
In mid-November, I had contacted Kaitlyn August, Entertainment & Events planner for the Chicago Cubs for the express purpose of becoming a vendor at the Cubs Convention. I had doubts, however, that my request would be considered. After all, The Cubs Convention is about showering Cubs fans with love, and my book, The Chicago Cap Murders, was killing fans! Kaitlyn explained that the novel had to be vetted before I could be approved as a vendor, so I next-day aired a copy to her. Late afternoon, on the same day she received the copy, I received a phone call confirming that a) the novel was passed around the front office and b) I had been approved as a vendor for the convention!
The weather on January 18, 2013 was unseasonable for Chicago; sunny, forty-five degrees with little wind. We were told the Cubs were expecting eight thousand fans. As my wife Geri & I set up our convention booth we figured the balmy weather would bring a larger crowd, and we were right. We shared our booth with Jeremy Deckard, author of “Capitol City Cubbie: Tales and Travels from a Kansas Cub fan.” Other vendors included minor league affiliates of the Cubs, memorabilia resellers, Wrigley rooftop clubs, restaurants and charity autograph tables. There were also stages for player signings and an auction stage for autographed merchandise; and this was just the ballroom on the river level! Players, coaches and owners talked to the fans forum style; an archive room was set up for fans to donate memorabilia back to the club; fan participation events like broadcast booths and batting cages as well as other activities were staged on the three floors above ours.
The electrically charged atmosphere sparked as the doors opened and fans poured in. The vendor’s exhibition floor was open for a total of twenty-two hours over the three-day weekend, and our booth, thankfully, saw plenty of action.
I could not capture it all from my vantage point in the booth, but what I did see was amazing;
The Fans
In a visit to Wrigley Field two years ago as I gathered research for my novel, I witnessed the most dedicated fans in all of baseball. The Cubs were twenty games out of first place yet the stands were packed; thirty-five thousand strong inside with another five to ten thousand outside the ballpark. I soon found that a ticket to Wrigley is more than a ticket to a game; it’s a ticket to a party; a dating service; a bonding experience; membership to Cubs sisterhood and brotherhood; an adventure.
The Cubs Convention was no different. The attendees from multiple generations were all children at heart. One octogenarian said her father made her watch Cubs ballgames as a child by his side, and it was the best gift he ever gave her. Fan apparel was Halloween-like, except the only costume was full Cubs attire. Earrings, pajamas, robes, slippers, jerseys, shirts and pants, sweats, caps- you name it, it had a Cubs logo or name on it. Some came with family, others with friends; still others alone. But inside the walls of the Sheraton, just like in the Friendly Confines, they were one. And after three days of star gazing and shopping, you would have thought they’d been exhausted. Instead, they were re-energized and ready for the season.
Ball Players
I was able to speak to two Hall-Of-Fame pitchers from my two favorite teams; Gaylord Perry of the Cleveland Indians, who won the Cy Young in Cleveland in 1972, and Ferguson Jenkins of the Cubbies, seven time twenty game winner. Both gentlemen were kind and approachable, sharing a few stories of their past as if they had not just talked to hundreds of fans before me.
Pat Hughes
We are unable to get the Cubs games on Cleveland radio, so I knew little about Pat other than what I had read on the internet prior to the convention. Having an adjoining booth for three days, I soon learned what every fan with a radio already knew, and why they visited his table in droves with starry-eyed adoration. This is one of the nicest and most respected guys you could ever hope to meet. Never an unkind word and always with a sincere smile, watching him interact with his fans was a special treat I could not have anticipated.
The Cubs Organization
Ushers, ambassadors and security roamed the convention halls and ballrooms, helping to answer fan and vendor questions. They were very accommodating and loyal. Those I met represented the Cubs with tremendous pride, and each spoke of glowing admiration for the club owners, the Ricketts family. One ambassador was eight-four years old. I applaud the Cubs organization for allowing these lifelong Cubs supporters and employees to work as long as they wished instead of forcing them into retirement. Their job at the park gives them purpose, self-worth and an ability to interact with people instead of four walls at home. From the front office, in addition to Kaitlyn August whom I mentioned earlier, Bryan Robinson, Vice-President of Human Resources made a point of stopping by our booth to say hello which was greatly appreciated. He is a pleasant young man and a great addition to the organization.
The Vendors
We had an opportunity to interact with a number of the vendors. Michael Patterson Senior Director of ticketing with the Class-A Affiliate Kane County Cougars was engaging, and handed me four vouchers for an upcoming game this summer. Brad Doyle, General Manager of Harry Caray’s Restaurant held a table for us on Saturday at 8pm and treated us to a couple of their special hors d’oeurves before we downed a delicious steak dinner. Lauren Chesney, Director of Community Relations for the Cubs Double-A Affiliate Tennessee Smokies discussed the Murder Mystery Dinner they were planning for an evening game and wondered how I might be able to participate.
Media
Only one booth visitor dressed me down about the book’s subject matter. “Why did you do this?” the young man asked. He pointed to his chest and said, “You’re hurting my heart!” After a brief discussion of where I was coming from and only after he knew my love for the Cubs did he reveal himself to be Jack Silverstein, a reporter for Redeye, a Tribune Newspaper website. After toying with me at the booth, Jack wrote a nice review of the book for his online site, for which I am very grateful.
Friends and Family
Niece Lauren Shorr and her husband Jeremy Joseph had dinner with us Thursday night at Quartino’s, Carolina Kaufman McGinnis, my brother and sister-in-law’s niece spent an hour with us on Friday, and my oldest and dearest friend Loren Kabb spent part of his day on Saturday and Sunday straying through the convention ballrooms, helped my wife replace a damaged phone at the Apple store, ate with us at Harry Caray’s, and managed to talk a few nice folks into purchasing my book in the booth.
I may have arrived to the 28th Cubs Convention physically and psychologically intact, but now, safely home in Cleveland, I realize the Cubs have stolen my heart.
Sheraton Towers, Chicago, Illinois
January 18-20, 2013
As an adolescent, whether on the ball field, in the backyard, or in my room, I used to visualize being at bat with two out in the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, three runs down and hitting the grand slam that won the game. I envisioned running through every defender on my way for an eighty-yard touchdown on the last play of the game. And though it wasn’t my best sport, I imagined the ecstasy in knocking down the winning jumper as the clock expired. But never, ever, in my wildest dreams, did I see myself promoting my debut novel in a vendor’s booth at a Cubs Convention. Through high school, college and beyond, I accomplished many of the athletic feats my mind had created as a child, but none could compare or were as satisfying as what transpired this past weekend in Chicago.
In mid-November, I had contacted Kaitlyn August, Entertainment & Events planner for the Chicago Cubs for the express purpose of becoming a vendor at the Cubs Convention. I had doubts, however, that my request would be considered. After all, The Cubs Convention is about showering Cubs fans with love, and my book, The Chicago Cap Murders, was killing fans! Kaitlyn explained that the novel had to be vetted before I could be approved as a vendor, so I next-day aired a copy to her. Late afternoon, on the same day she received the copy, I received a phone call confirming that a) the novel was passed around the front office and b) I had been approved as a vendor for the convention!
The weather on January 18, 2013 was unseasonable for Chicago; sunny, forty-five degrees with little wind. We were told the Cubs were expecting eight thousand fans. As my wife Geri & I set up our convention booth we figured the balmy weather would bring a larger crowd, and we were right. We shared our booth with Jeremy Deckard, author of “Capitol City Cubbie: Tales and Travels from a Kansas Cub fan.” Other vendors included minor league affiliates of the Cubs, memorabilia resellers, Wrigley rooftop clubs, restaurants and charity autograph tables. There were also stages for player signings and an auction stage for autographed merchandise; and this was just the ballroom on the river level! Players, coaches and owners talked to the fans forum style; an archive room was set up for fans to donate memorabilia back to the club; fan participation events like broadcast booths and batting cages as well as other activities were staged on the three floors above ours.
The electrically charged atmosphere sparked as the doors opened and fans poured in. The vendor’s exhibition floor was open for a total of twenty-two hours over the three-day weekend, and our booth, thankfully, saw plenty of action.
I could not capture it all from my vantage point in the booth, but what I did see was amazing;
The Fans
In a visit to Wrigley Field two years ago as I gathered research for my novel, I witnessed the most dedicated fans in all of baseball. The Cubs were twenty games out of first place yet the stands were packed; thirty-five thousand strong inside with another five to ten thousand outside the ballpark. I soon found that a ticket to Wrigley is more than a ticket to a game; it’s a ticket to a party; a dating service; a bonding experience; membership to Cubs sisterhood and brotherhood; an adventure.
The Cubs Convention was no different. The attendees from multiple generations were all children at heart. One octogenarian said her father made her watch Cubs ballgames as a child by his side, and it was the best gift he ever gave her. Fan apparel was Halloween-like, except the only costume was full Cubs attire. Earrings, pajamas, robes, slippers, jerseys, shirts and pants, sweats, caps- you name it, it had a Cubs logo or name on it. Some came with family, others with friends; still others alone. But inside the walls of the Sheraton, just like in the Friendly Confines, they were one. And after three days of star gazing and shopping, you would have thought they’d been exhausted. Instead, they were re-energized and ready for the season.
Ball Players
I was able to speak to two Hall-Of-Fame pitchers from my two favorite teams; Gaylord Perry of the Cleveland Indians, who won the Cy Young in Cleveland in 1972, and Ferguson Jenkins of the Cubbies, seven time twenty game winner. Both gentlemen were kind and approachable, sharing a few stories of their past as if they had not just talked to hundreds of fans before me.
Pat Hughes
We are unable to get the Cubs games on Cleveland radio, so I knew little about Pat other than what I had read on the internet prior to the convention. Having an adjoining booth for three days, I soon learned what every fan with a radio already knew, and why they visited his table in droves with starry-eyed adoration. This is one of the nicest and most respected guys you could ever hope to meet. Never an unkind word and always with a sincere smile, watching him interact with his fans was a special treat I could not have anticipated.
The Cubs Organization
Ushers, ambassadors and security roamed the convention halls and ballrooms, helping to answer fan and vendor questions. They were very accommodating and loyal. Those I met represented the Cubs with tremendous pride, and each spoke of glowing admiration for the club owners, the Ricketts family. One ambassador was eight-four years old. I applaud the Cubs organization for allowing these lifelong Cubs supporters and employees to work as long as they wished instead of forcing them into retirement. Their job at the park gives them purpose, self-worth and an ability to interact with people instead of four walls at home. From the front office, in addition to Kaitlyn August whom I mentioned earlier, Bryan Robinson, Vice-President of Human Resources made a point of stopping by our booth to say hello which was greatly appreciated. He is a pleasant young man and a great addition to the organization.
The Vendors
We had an opportunity to interact with a number of the vendors. Michael Patterson Senior Director of ticketing with the Class-A Affiliate Kane County Cougars was engaging, and handed me four vouchers for an upcoming game this summer. Brad Doyle, General Manager of Harry Caray’s Restaurant held a table for us on Saturday at 8pm and treated us to a couple of their special hors d’oeurves before we downed a delicious steak dinner. Lauren Chesney, Director of Community Relations for the Cubs Double-A Affiliate Tennessee Smokies discussed the Murder Mystery Dinner they were planning for an evening game and wondered how I might be able to participate.
Media
Only one booth visitor dressed me down about the book’s subject matter. “Why did you do this?” the young man asked. He pointed to his chest and said, “You’re hurting my heart!” After a brief discussion of where I was coming from and only after he knew my love for the Cubs did he reveal himself to be Jack Silverstein, a reporter for Redeye, a Tribune Newspaper website. After toying with me at the booth, Jack wrote a nice review of the book for his online site, for which I am very grateful.
Friends and Family
Niece Lauren Shorr and her husband Jeremy Joseph had dinner with us Thursday night at Quartino’s, Carolina Kaufman McGinnis, my brother and sister-in-law’s niece spent an hour with us on Friday, and my oldest and dearest friend Loren Kabb spent part of his day on Saturday and Sunday straying through the convention ballrooms, helped my wife replace a damaged phone at the Apple store, ate with us at Harry Caray’s, and managed to talk a few nice folks into purchasing my book in the booth.
I may have arrived to the 28th Cubs Convention physically and psychologically intact, but now, safely home in Cleveland, I realize the Cubs have stolen my heart.
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