On Thursday, March 9, 2017, the Chicago Cubs Trophy Tour, presented by State Farm, traveled to Decatur, and Peoria, IL, before arriving in Sterling, IL. It honors the 2016 World Series Championship won by the National League team. The last Cubs World Series victory was 108 years ago, in 1908. Challand Middle School, 1700 6th Avenue, Sterling, hosted a VIP and Press visit prior to the public viewing from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Doors were opened somewhere in the 4:00 hour, allowing people to secure a place in line along the hallways and to shelter from the 45° temperatures. Seen in the left photo, I spotted three Morrison, IL, Osborn residents: Marian, third from left, son Roger, and grandson Nathan (backs to the camera.) Marian has been a Cubs fan for 70 of her 84 years and used to walk to Wrigley Field to see games. She met players along the way, including Ernie Banks, when he visited Morrison.
Much farther down the line, in the school entry, a DVD of the World Series games entertained. There were no grumpy folks, here; they knew the wait would be gratifying. How many years had Cubs fans waited for such a momentous victory?
“All my life–78 years!” replied Herb Hayen, right. One of his sons, Dale, left, brought the Sterling resident to the viewing. The men were first in line for awhile, due to Herb’s wheelchair. Philadelphia, PA, son Ronald is a Cubs season ticket holder. He took Herb to Game 4 of the World Series, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. The Cleveland Indians beat the Cubs 7 to 2. “I sat five rows behind the Indians’ dugout,” noted Herb. “That was the best seat in the house!” He wore a lanyard with that game ticket in a plastic sleeve; a commemorative, silver-tone pin was attached. “Last year [October 13, 2015,] I saw the Playoffs, when the Cubs beat the [Philadelphia] Cardinals.” Who is his favorite Cubbie? “Ben Zobrist. He was MVP for the World Series.” Like many others, father and son wore sweatshirts and caps for the occasion.
A group of nearly 20 Challand students waited quietly on the floor, using tablets or smartphones to occupy themselves. They became animated when I said they would be featured on my newspaper. Some photographed my business card, so they could find this article. In the final photo, the young man on the far right attends Sterling High School.
Inside the gymnasium, I met the youngest attendee and his Sterling parents, Martha and Weston Henry. Beckett, born September 2016, is five months old. He has grown enough to wear a piece of “contraband” Cubs sports attire. Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, presented Cubs onesies, to all babies born in October 2016. During the playoffs, Beckett’s Godmother, a hospital employee, acquired one for the tiny fan. Martha teaches at Washington Elementary; Weston is Choral Director at Challand Middle School and Sterling High School. He prepared a crowd-pleasing playlist for the VIP and public photo sessions: “Go Cubs Go,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and “Glory Days” were included.
Reminiscent of Glinda the Good Witch’s crown from “The Wizard of Oz,” the glittering trophy was displayed on a pedestal in the school’s gymnasium. State Farm supplied an attractive, themed backdrop for photos and a plexiglass-protected case. Guests could opt for a volunteer to take their photo beside the trophy, using the visitor’s cell phone. To do that, each individual or a group member needed to wear a wristband, so volunteers could identify them, put their coats/purses on a safe table, and snap the souvenir shot.
Middle School Dean of Students Mark Morris was charged with distributing up to 500 paper bands. It was no trouble; he oversees 772 students in grades six-through-eight.
How did this Whiteside County city secure a stop on the Chicago Cubs Trophy Tour? Brian Garza is a 1987 graduate of Sterling High School. He works as Chicago Cubs Director of Ticketing and lives in Itasca, IL. He called Sterling Mayor Skip Lee to determine interest in hosting the event.
Challand Principal Matt Birdsley received a conference call from the Cubs Organization, discussing how to set the stage and market the viewing.
Local support was given by
- Sterling Main Street Director Janna Groharing
- Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kris Noble
- Executive Director of Greater Sterling Development Corporation Heather Sotello.
Garza’s daughter, Ava, age 5, brought her American Girl doll, wearing a blue Cubs sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. Her brother is three-year-old Jacob.
Below, Brian Garza, front row, second from the left, posed with a group of friends.
He remarked, “It’s my pleasure to bring [ the trophy] here. I would love to have another one to go with it! We’ve hired [about] 100 people so far.”
The 2017 baseball season will be much anticipated.
I brought home a photograph to mark an exciting, long-awaited experience. If only Harry Caray could have shared it.
