Article: Friday Fan Feature - Cubs Fan Cave of the Week - Juan Robles

[CandidCubs]

From Bulls to Cubs, a Fan Cave can take many shapes. However, this week's feature's memories are driven by the family he made them with. Meet Juan Robles, this week's featured Cubs fan. 

Image courtesy of Juan Robles

Inspiration is a powerful thing. I don’t think any of us really know where it comes from, but I am sure we respect its ability to come from virtually anywhere. For me, I can remember what I was doing when I had an idea to meet more Cub fans and share their stories. 

This past summer, I received an invite from Juan Robles (not the ballplayer linked here, but go learn about a guy if you want!), Cubs fan and South Sider, to the Cubs Man Cave Facebook group. I felt the invite was exactly what I was looking for at the time: a community of fans that had manifested spaces in their homes to pray to the altar of all things Cub. I will admit, it is not likely as dramatic as I have made it sound. However, it was Robles’s inspiration for the group. 

I more formally met Juan (formal by modern standards, via video call) this week, to get a better view of his Cubs Man Cave, or C.M.C., as his Facebook page calls it. I was eager to get different angles of the space that has many a time inspired my own. 

 

I was not prepared for how incredible the space was. From corner to corner, relics of 2016, the 1990s, and more stretched in a meticulous arrangement. The walls were highlighted with beautiful framed jerseys, with signatures of Cub heroes of yesteryear. Like all the spaces I have seen thus far, this one dripped with personal touches, along with commonalities that make being a diehard for this team so special. 

 

 

Cub Fan Origin Story
Juan told me about his family moving to Chicago back in the 1940s and their work at the Leaf Candy Factory. He recalled how Leaf used to issue baseball cards in their gum and candies, naturally giving them some access to baseball tickets. On Sundays, Leaf would share tickets to families to attend games at Wrigley. A family tradition and adoration was born. 

Juan and I joked about our “cradle Cubs fan” upbringing. He remembered going to games in the 1970s was a family affair. I enjoyed hearing Juan talk about the excitement of the teams in the late 1980s. It reminded me of talks in my own Cubs family about the few competitive teams that popped up prior to the most recent run of Cubs success. Juan’s grandfather was well-known for sporting his Cubs hats and memorabilia down to visit family in México, helping spread the good news that is Chicago Cubs baseball. 

Top Cubs Memory
One thing that became so apparent in my talk with Juan was his love of his family, and how the passion for the Cubs grew as more of his kids and relatives partook in his passion. Juan smartly married into another Cubs fan family, which helped them raise five Cubs fan children. Robles had so many memories come to mind in search of the pinnacle moment, but they all tied back to the people and family with whom he shared them. 

In the 1980s, he recalled going to a game in the bleachers with his father, a friend of his father, an uncle, and his sister. It was Hispanic Heritage Night at the ballpark and Juan’s father sported a sombrero along with his Cubs paraphernalia. While they were seated, a gentleman came over and asked if he could borrow the sombrero in exchange for some cold Budweisers when he brought it back. Juan’s father agreed, and watched from afar as this man ran around dancing and taking pictures in the hat. True to his word, the gentlemen returned the hat with Budweiser for the group. The gentleman was Harry Caray. Juan’s father is now in his 90s, but can recall the details of this particular story when asked to this day. 

 

 

Cub Cave Origin

 

Not all Cubs Caves start the same. For Juan, his original space was dedicated to the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. He recalled setting up shop in the basement in his home to start a space in the early 1990s. Everyone in Chicago had Bulls fever, including Robles and his family. He shared stories of Bulls memorabilia and signatures he collected while Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were making basketball history. We chuckled about how far from those days the Bulls may be now. 

Juan is a regular at memorabilia trade shows and Fanatics-sponsored events. He has always loved collecting things. It wasn’t overnight, but as he began collecting Cubs stuff, the basement lost its reds and began to match the blue in his blood. Juan’s framed jerseys were a highlight for me, sharing where he had gotten deals and pieces done. 

 

 

Favorite Cub Item

 

 

When this came up, there was a pause followed by a camera repositioning to show me the piece: A custom, World Series patched, “Bryzzo” jersey. Juan had combined the letters “B-R-Y” and a '1' from a Kris Bryant jersey with the “Z-Z-O” and a '4' from an Anthony Rizzo jersey. He got to attend a Fanatics fan event and show Bryant and Rizzo the jersey, along with getting each of them to sign it. He beamed as he recalled how cool Bryant and Rizzo thought the jersey was as well. 

Dream Item
As I have come to painfully learn, it is hard to ever be done curating your collection. We all have ideas and items we pursue, but can find something we didn’t even know we wanted to fit until we see that next thing. Robles next move is to make a replica Wrigley Field marquee, highlighted with LEDs. That is a project he anticipates working on soon. 

I really enjoyed my time meeting Juan, and his patience for my laser focus on my phone notifications. We chuckled when I alarmingly grabbed my phone when the word “Ohtani” and the Cubs insignia lit up my iPhone via an MLB app push. It turned out to be an announcement of him winning yet another award, much to my hearts dismay. Much like the collectors in us, we are both eager to see what the Cubs do next. 

You can find Juan Robles on Facebook, running the Cubs Man Cave Facebook group. 

Do you have a space or fun memorabilia you want to share? Want to share your Cub fan story? Send me an email at Candidcubs@gmail.com and you could be featured next!

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