3 min read Cubs Photos

Cubs Fans Rule!

Chicago Cubs fans are simply a phenomenon!

By Tim Sheridan
Photography by John Antonoff
March 20, 2018

The Cubs have the day off today, but the start of the regular season looms only nine days away! During those nine days, the Cubs play eight remaining spring games before opening the season in Miami against the Marlins on March 29. Only two of those remaining eight spring games are at Sloan Park -this Friday and Saturday.

Mark the beer guy and me
Mark the beer guy and me – St. Patrick’s Day 2018

Over the past five days the Cubs played seven games…two of those in Las Vegas, three at Sloan Park, one at Camelback Ranch and the other in Goodyear. Below are photos from the three games played at Sloan Park, which includes Saturday’s game on St. Patrick’s Day. The Cubs three game total attendance for those contests at Sloan Park – 46,855!

Three spring games, 46,855 fans, which is really amazing when you think about it. For example the Arizona Coyotes played three regular season NHL home hockey games during that same time frame, their three game total – 41,550. The New York Yankees over in the Grapefruit League totaled 29,893 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Florida during their last three home games. Of course most of us know this but, the Chicago Cubs (and fans) are simply a phenomenon!

While writing that attendance number, it occurred to me that because the Cubs are the #1 spring training draw and have been (give or take) for the past 30 plus years, I’ve likely talked over the public address microphone to more spring training baseball fans than anyone in history. Sure, that might be a small claim to fame, but it’s pretty cool nevertheless. Writer Jim Walsh of the East Valley Tribune came out to Sloan Park and hung out with me for a game, he wrote this article.  

Kyle Schwarber shakes the hand of a serviceman
Kyle Schwarber shakes the hand of serviceman

As the Cubs time in the Cactus League winds down, I ponder the end of another spring training. When I first started doing the spring public address announcing for the Cubs back in 1984, I never envisioned that I’d still be doing it 35 years later. I love baseball, it’s a fantastic game, but for me what makes this time of year so incredibly special is all the great people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made. Life doesn’t always go as planned, but sometimes you get lucky and it ends up even better than you imagined!

Enjoy the photos from John Antonoff!

Mike Montgomery
Mike Montgomery
Bijan Radamacker and Fernando Kelli avoid injury on collision
Bijan Rademacher and Fernando Kelli avoid injury on collision
Willson Contreras with a monster smash
Willson Contreras with a monster smash
Tyler Chatwood
Tyler Chatwood
La Stella pulls up
La Stella pulls up on Baez catch
Z fives
Z fives
Zobrist goes yard
Zobrist goes yard
Terry Yazzie beer vendor
Terry Yazzie beer vendor
Slim Schwarb
Slim Schwarb
Kyle Schwarber triple, showing off his new wheels
Kyle Schwarber triple, showing off his new wheels
ST18-schwarber-15-12x15-72
Ian Happ
Ian Happ
Drone over Sloan
Drone over Sloan
Eddie Butler
Eddie Butler
Javy Baez
Javy Baez
Javy Baez
Javy Baez
Schwarber hitting .385 this spring
Schwarber hitting .385 this spring
Kyle Ryan
Kyle Ryan
Jay Hey
Jay Hey
Jason Heyward with a HR
Jason Heyward with a HR
Kyle Hendricks
Kyle Hendricks
Kyle Hendricks
Kyle Hendricks
Ryan Court airborne
Ryan Court airborne
KB
KB
Kris Bryant with a hit
Kris Bryant with a hit
Cubs minor leaguers having fun
Cubs minor leaguers having fun

 

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