I've been a Cubs fan for the past fifty seasons. On September 7, 1958 , I watched my first game at Wrigley from the upper deck grandstand with my father. On that great day, Walt "Moose" Moryn hit two home runs onto Sheffield Avenue against Willie Mays and the San Francisco Giants. In the second game, Ernie banks hit his 44th home run as the Cubs swept the doubleheader. I still have the two scorecards my father kept that day, one for each game. From that day on I fell in love with the Cubs.

Though I have many memories at Wrigley Field, one of the more vivid involves an encounter with Rogers Hornsby after a game in 1959. I was waiting near the players clubhouse under the grandstand hoping to get an autograph when Mr. Hornsby appeared. He was apparently working as a batting instructor for the Cubs. I asked him to sign my score card but was told get out of the way as he quickly brushed past me. An older guy standing next to me called him a jerk. Fortunately, a few minutes later, Ernie Banks appeared and signed my scorecard. The Cubs had lost that day 11 to 4 to Warren Spahn and the Milwaukee Braves. Banks had knocked in all four runs with a grand slam. It is my favorite Wrigley Field memory.

Other great memories include getting Ken Hubbs autograph before a Dodger game when he won the Rookie of the Year in 1962. I also remember seeing Stan Musial's last at bat at Wrigley in 1963. In 1967, along with a few dozen other beacher bums, I climbed down the left field wall and stormed the field as the Cubs moved into first place for the first time that season. Not long after that "the basket" was installed to discourage this activity from ever occurring again. Great times and great memories, but the '58 Cubs will always be my favorite team.

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