HOW TO GET CHICAGO CUBS AUTOGRAPHS

What follows is some experienced advise on how to obtain YOUR OWN Chicago Cubs Autographs. All it takes is a little work and a little luck. I have divided this into 5 sections:

• Mailing to Spring Training

• Mailing To Wrigley Field

• Going To Wrigley Field (including VISITING TEAM AUTOGRAPHS)

• Misc. Player Appearances

• The Cubs Convention

MAILING TO SPRING TRAINING

The Chicago Cubs have Spring Training at HoHoKam Park in Mesa Arizona from mid-February to March. In general, players are more lax and excited to get the season started, and in turn may be more prone to answering their fan mail. In 2003 & 2004 I wrote to Mark Prior and in one months's time got an autographed card back in the mail !! Kerry Wood was a complete bust.. Even though this information is for the Chicago Cubs specifically, YOU CAN APPLY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ANY OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS (simply Google their Spring Training site).Here's what to do:

1. Obtain TWO envelopes, one smaller than the other. Two stamps. One or Two baseball cards of the player (or 3 x 5 index card or whatever small flat item you want signed. Don't get greedy and mail out five !!).
2. Address the large envelope to:  (The Player's Name / CHICAGO CUBS ) , c/o HO HO KAM PARK, 1235 North Center ,  Mesa, Arizona 85201. Place a stamp on the envelope
3. On the smaller envelope, address it to YOURSELF. Also, please place a STAMP on it. (this is important. Do not expect the player to pay for the return envelope).
4. Write a very brief letter to the player, telling them why you want their autograph or wishing them luck in the season or telling them why they are great!
5. Put the letter, small envelope, and protected baseball card(s) into the large envelope and mail it out.
6. After a few weeks time start running to your mailbox every day to see if you have successes. Keep in mind this is no guarantee and it could take several months. For instance over the years Sandberg, Sosa, & Kerry Wood never ever responded (to me), while I've gotten Mark Prior with no problem several years in a row (see below). Rookies are good to obtain in Spring Training, as they are usually successes. This year I recommend trying Ronny Cedeno & Matt Murton
    

 my 1st Prior autograph - 2003 Spring Training success.

MAILING TO WRIGLEY FIELD

Once the season starts, follow the steps above , but mail to the player c/o WRIGLEY FIELD, 1060 W. Addison St. , Chicago, Illinois 60613

FYI - Several years ago I also wrote to Ron Santo c/o Wrigley Field, however I got back a stamped signature (not a real one)

GOING TO WRIGLEY FIELD (INCLUDING VISITING TEAM PLAYERS)

I can pretty much say that I have never been totally shut out when I've gone to Wrigley and have committed to trying to get an autograph. It's easier, however to obtain VISITING TEAM autographs than Cubs players. YOU MUST GO TO WRIGLEY ~ 4 HOURS BEFORE GAME TIME. Visiting teams enter at the corner of Sheffield and Addison. Players have the option of taking cabs to Wrigley or waiting for the team bus. You'd be surprised how many players take cabs. If you hang out at the corner I just mentioned you will eventually get an opportunity to ask a player for an autograph (along with about 30 other people!). Some turn you down, some sign for just a few people, a few guys stand there and sign for everyone. Back when I was going, I must say that Jeff Bagwell and Tom Glavine would sign for EVERYONE. I also remember getting Ozzie Smith, Bobby Bonilla, Dale Murphy, John Smoltz, Paul Molitor & Robin Yount (exhibition game actually!) just to name a few. If you bring cards to sign, you must be able to recognize the player and quickly get his card out to try and autograph.... if your a novice, it's easier to bring a baseball.. this way you won't have to worry about not recognizing which player you have walking your way !

The Cubs come in on the other side of the park on Waveland, across from the Firehouse. They drive in and park in a small parking lot, which is pretty much all penned in now (years ago, we had access to all sides of this fence, & I actually got Ryne Sandberg & Rick Sutcliffe on the same day that way) Today, you are at the mercy of them exiting there car and coming to the fence... not very successful pre-game. You can also try AFTER the game.

The ballpark opens TWO HOURS before game time. Once the gates open, the visiting team batting practice should still be going on. Rush to some strategic areas along the first base (CUBS) or third base (Visiting Team) walls and once in a while you will get lucky. I remember getting SAMMY SOSA this way back > 10 years ago (see below)). Try to get to the first row near the dugouts. The elderly Andy Frain's will let you stay there up until 45 minutes before game time (maybe 1 hour, I don't remember). Once that time hits, they turn into badgers and start snarling at you to leave. Another area you may want to hang out is near the bullpen practice mounds near the outfield sides.

Believe it or not, Sammy used to come out before game time and sign!

Every year at the Convention there is a raffle to win the right to get a high profile player. Here is my Ernie Banks autograph obtained by me on a Sunday of a Cubs Convention ~ 6 years ago. NOT FOR SALE. I have not won a raffle since, but I'm not complaining !

Since the Convention has just passed, I have decided to not delve into this much more for now and will update this after the 2006 season.

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