Sunday night's Nick Digilio Show covered the topic of movies and records that make you feel old when you realize they came out 30 years ago, and it sparked a memory for me.
Friday was the 30th anniversary of my first Cubs game, a 14-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The first Cub runner I saw score was Steve Macko, driven in on one of four hits by Bill Buckner after the Giants had opened up a 9-0 lead. My neighbor Chris had had his glove signed by Macko in blue Sharpie, and Chris was instrumental to my becoming a baseball fan and memorabilia collector, so I guess that's appropriate.
Macko played just four more games, succumbing to cancer the following year at age 27. Manager Preston Gomez was fired either that day or the off-day that followed, and spent the rest of his long career as a coach. Buckner won the batting title that year, was traded in 1984 and made one of baseball history's most famous miscues in 1986.
All in all, thirty years down the road it's still a fair representation of my life as a Cub fan.
1 comment:
Wrigley Field is a special place.
Post a Comment