Memories of your first Cubs game

[Irrelevant Dude]

I am watching the Cardinals/Dbacks game on MLB.tv and Fox Sports Arizona was doing some sort of Twitter chat for memories of attending your first baseball game. This made me think back to the first game I can remember attending (although I can't remember for sure if this was truly my first). What does everyone remember about their first game?

 

My first game was a Cubs/Dodgers doubleheader that my parents took me to on 7/14/1988. Without having looked the box score up on the Internet, I couldn't have told you whether the Cubs won or lost, but the thing I clearly remember most is that Dave Martinez was traded for Mitch Webster after the game. I remember listening to the radio in the car on the way home from the game and hearing the trade announced. I was a pretty disappointed 8 year old because Dave Martinez was one of my favorite players.

 

I was slightly less disappointed when he was traded again in 2000.

[Andy]

My mom took me to a game at old Cleveland Municipal in June 1987 when I was a baby. The Tigers beat the Indians 13-3.

 

The first game of my conscious memory was May 5, 2000, Pirates @ Cubs. The Cubs lost 4-2 and Sammy Sosa and Eric Young each hit a home run (at that point, all I was really looking for from that team).

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't remember the details of the game, but I remember clear as the day the first time I walked out of one of the tunnels and saw the field. Pretty great and amazing.

[pccubfan]

First game was 8/16/77. Cubs jumped out ahead of the Pirates and lost the lead late. Came back with a run in the bottom of the ninth to take to extra innings against Goose Gossage. The Cubs won it in like the 15th inning. Got out of the game and got on the bus to head back home and heard that Elvis Presley had died.

[rocket]

I don't remember the details of the game, but I remember clear as the day the first time I walked out of one of the tunnels and saw the field. Pretty great and amazing.

 

same here. i remember being at wrigley for the first time and how at awe i was. other than that, not a whole lot. i know they faced the pirates and i'm pretty sure the cubs won, that's about it.

[ConstableRabbit]

I didn't know a lot about baseball and I don't remember the specifics of the game. However, I remember standing up and sitting down a lot and not knowing why. At the end of the game, the guy behind me started yelling "GET HIM, RANDY!" and I hoped he wasn't talking to me.

 

It must have been 1993 given how old I was and it must've been Randy Myers.

[minnesotacubsfan]

mid 80's, I want to say 1985. My older sister took my twin brother and I. I don't remember much other then the Cubs won and it was really really fun.

[Sammys Boombox]

My first Cubs game was 8/5/95 at Busch. I was 7. Cubs won 1-0. I vividly remember Scott Servais' HR landing in the LF bullpen as I was sitting in the front row of the LF bleachers.

 

My first game at Wrigley was 5/13/96. I remember walking up the ramp to the upper deck on the first base side of home and getting my first view of the field. Both my brother and I said, "Whoa!" I'll never forget that. This was also the game I learned to keep score. Brian Hunter lead off the game with a double down the third base line (I think past a diving Kevin Orie). My dad turned to me and said, "Well, there goes the no-hitter!" Steve Trachsel then proceeded to record 27 outs without giving up another hit. Grace drove in Sandberg in the bottom of the first. Cubs won 6-0. Sosa hit a HR. McRae caught the last out of the game. Also, I think Luis Gonzalez hit a HR too. These are my memories.

 

OK, Gonzalez did hit a HR. I just checked the Baseball Reference page:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199605130.shtml

[WrigleyField 22]

My sister was the honorary bat girl. It was when Montgomery Wards was a Cubs sponsor and they sponsored a honorary bat girl/boy each game. My uncle worked for them and hooked us up. She got to go on the field before and meet a bunch of players, get autographs, etc. Would have been mid 90s, but I dont think Ryne was playing, so must have been 95. Though I could be wrong.

 

I think they played the Mets and got killed.

Probably this:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199507180.shtml?mobile=false

 

My second game fared much better

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200105050.shtml?mobile=false

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited August 17, 2012 by WrigleyField 22

[erik316wttn]

It was sometime in 1992, and I think Lloyd McClendon hit a walkoff, bases-loaded double to win the game. Andre Dawson also singled that day. It was pretty much the best day ever. I'll never forget seeing the ivy in person for the very first time coming up from the concourse. It literally took my breath away. I sang with Harry Caray during the 7th inning and my dad bought me a t-shirt from one of the vendors outside after the game. On the way home we stopped somewhere for a steak dinner and got home about 1030 at night.

 

Did I mention best day ever?

[Soul]

I remember it was the '70s. And I remember that we lost.

 

Come to think of it, this explains much.

[mookie]

2007 in Miami. Ted Lilly on the bump, and the Cubs got nickel and dimed. There was a little rain during the game producing a double rainbow. I was there with my ex. It was actually pretty awesome. I still haven't seen them win a game in person.

[Derwood]

May of 1993. Reds scored 1 in the top of the 1st. Cubs scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th. It was a pleasant day (upper 70's) so I wore shorts and a tee shirt, but our seats were in the shade, where it was windy and cold.

[Guest]

May of 1994. Derrick May hit a home run. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199405220.shtml

 

My first baseball game was a double header in sept 93 at (new) Comiskey. White Sox clinched the playoffs, IIRC. Bo Jackson ran away from a bee at home plate in the middle of an AB. He also hit a HR.

[Derwood]

My first game ever was at the Vet to see Tom Seaver pitch. Must've been in '78 or '79. I barely remember it at all

[hawkeyecub]

8/8/88. I was 4.5 and only remember being told how big of a deal the night game was going to be and then needing the help of an usher to get back to my parents after the skies opened up.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I was recently talking about this with my kids, and I don't really remember the first time I walked into Wrigley. The first game I remember is watching the California Angels in the Metrodome when they had Rod Carew and Reggie Jackson. Carew hit a foul ball that landed about 3 rows behind us, and that's still by far the closest I've come to catching a ball at any professional game at any level.

[Sosa21MVP]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198706080.shtml

 

June 8, 1987. Cubs beat the Mets 4-2 on a walk off HR by Manny freaking Trillo. \:D/

[Magnetic Curses]

Cubs lost to the Expos but my dad spotted Harry Caray coming up the stairs and stepped out in front of him and I got to shake Harry's hand.

[Tracer Bullet]

Cubs lost to the Expos but my dad spotted Harry Caray coming up the stairs and stepped out in front of him and I got to shake Harry's hand.

 

And a love of cubs and whiskey was born

[biittner77]

Like a lot of people, my first game was a blur. The oldest real memories I have are more about the fans around us than the actual game. I vividly remember these 2 guys behind me filling out the old scan tron all star ballots:

 

This was from 1977

Guy #1: "would youze vote Mercer for all stars?"

Guy #2: "I wouldn't vote him bat boy"

 

I remember being at a game where Chuck Rainey took a no hitter into like the top of the 8th or 9th inning.

edit: It was August 24th, 1983 8 2/3 broken up by Eddie Milner

[C.C.]

I still remember going through the tunnels and seeing Wrigley live for the first time. It was almost surreal how different and small it looked compared to TV. I got chills...

[evv98]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198706080.shtml

 

June 8, 1987. Cubs beat the Mets 4-2 on a walk off HR by Manny freaking Trillo. \:D/

 

Manny Trillo played in my first game too, but it was 12 years earlier.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197505300.shtml

 

The Cubs were actually in first place to start the day, but this loss sent them back into second place. Andre Thornton was my favorite Cub for some reason.

 

All I really remember from the game was being excited about the Cubs being in first place and asking my father if he thought they could win the World Series. His reply was "Nope. They always find a way to screw it up.". He was right then and in every season since.

[biittner77]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198706080.shtml

 

June 8, 1987. Cubs beat the Mets 4-2 on a walk off HR by Manny freaking Trillo. \:D/

 

Manny Trillo played in my first game too, but it was 12 years earlier.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197505300.shtml

 

The Cubs were actually in first place to start the day, but this loss sent them back into second place. Andre Thornton was my favorite Cub for some reason.

 

All I really remember from the game was being excited about the Cubs being in first place and asking my father if he thought they could win the World Series. His reply was "Nope. They always find a way to screw it up.". He was right then and in every season since.

 

Andre Thornton was traded for Larry Biittner.

[bhogg]

My folks surprised me in March of 1989 with tickets to games that August. I was 12 and baseball was my world. Sandberg had been my favorite player since his rookie year. the cubs were supposed to be terrible that year --- spring training was terrible.

 

I finish up my baseball season in July and was anxiously awaiting the trip to Chicago.

 

We see them play the expos on 8/8/89. The expos had a one game lead on the Cubs. Sandberg homered that game (it was during his 5 game homer streak), Maddux pitched a CG, and the cubs went into a tie for first --- they never fell out of first place after that day.

 

We also watched the next day --- Cubs beat them again. Walton lead off the game with a HR, Sandberg homered again.

 

I think Grace hit homers in both games, too.

 

 

As long as I live, I'll never forget walking up the steps to the grand stands. . . . . the scoreboard, ivy, and bright green outfield grass come into view.