Time for another first of the summer. A minor league game in a major league park. Although with the way the Cubs have fallen off the map and the number of guys called up from triple A, some might argue the Cubs are playing minor league ball already at Wrigley.
2009 Road to Wrigley. This is the second year that Wrigley Field has hosted one of the Cubs farm teams for a game. Last year, the single A Peoria Chiefs, this year, the triple A Iowa Cubs.
The Iowa Cubs are obviously an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and once you look at the uniforms, one would assume the Las Vegas 51s are a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, but they actually justed switched affiliation to the Toronto Blue Jays and have not yet changed their branding and uniforms. That change will come for next season and will be the result of a fan naming contest. The 51s are rumored to be no more after this season.
The players line up for the national anthem under the blazing sun. One of the few days this summer that saw temperatures above 90 degrees out. I really picked a great weekend for the Marks boys to taken in a coupe of baseball games. The night before we caught the Chicago White Sox hosting the Cleveland Indians.
Looks like the Cubs on the mound, however close examination shows the added Iowa in the logos.
The Dodgers, I mean 51s at bat. Full extension and some early hits for the visitors.
As this game was kind of a big deal, they pulled out some extra stops. First extra was the appearance of Birdzerk. This was my second Birdzerk sighting of the summer.
51's taking the bump.
Recently demoted Micah Hoffpaiur at the plate. Sadly for Micah there just was not room on the big league roster at this point. I am sure he will be back up for September call-ups though.
Iowa Cubs scoring early.
Not sure what B-Bops is, but it must mean something to those die-hard Iowa Cubs fans. The B-Bop Burger race is the poor man's Sausage race.
Rounding second base on a home run trot.
Time to hit the showers.
Besides Birdzerk, Harry Canary joined the game for the 7th inning stretch. There was also a Clammy Sosa sighting between innings.
Final Score - Iowa Cubs 5 Las Vegas 51's 4. Iowa Cubs Win, Iowa Cubs Win, Iowa Cubs Win.
The Marks boys at our now 3rd annual baseball game. Kevin Marks, Andy Morris, Dan Marks, John Marks.
For those keeping score at home this was only the second game I have not gotten a hat. The first was the Frontier League All-Star game because they had not specific hat. This game however, I looked all over the stadium and could not find an Iowa Cubs hat. May have to end up buying one online to complete the eventual display of hats when I decide what to do with them all.
1 comments:
I love the minor league gimmicks! Looks like you had a great time.
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