2nd ANNUAL WEST SIDE ROOTERS BALL
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Only days until opening day!
Calling All West Side Rooters...
SPRING TRAINING RALLY!
Monday, March 1st, 5am – 9am and 7:40pm
Harry Caray’s Tavern, Navy Pier
Near the main entrance to the Pier
Join Ernie Banks, Bill Kurtis, Dutchie Caray and other celebrities to kick-off the 12th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray and the Grand Opening of Harry Caray’s Tavern, Navy Pier.
Autographed Baseballs
This is a Rooters-Only Opportunity!
The first 50 people to arrive will receive a baseball autographed by Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto, Randy Wells, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Marmol or John Grabow. The baseballs will be distributed at random to winners at 8am.
Raffle Prizes Every 30 Minutes
Great raffle prizes, including Cubs opening day tickets, will be awarded every 30 minutes from 5am – 9am.
Mascot Photo Ops
Have your photo taken with mascots from the Blackhawks, White Sox, Wolves, Fire, Ice Girls, Chicago Adrenaline Rush Dancers and more.
Free Parking
Free Navy Pier parking from 5am - 10am.
Validation tickets will be provided for all attendees.
Free Breakfast
Click here to RSVP for you and your friends. We will email you a coupon for a free continental breakfast ($5 without coupon).
Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray
Join us again at 7:40pm as celebs toast Harry. Rockstar Energy Drink will blast fireworks over the lake in honor of the 12th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray! HOLYCOW!
Click here to read about more activities throughout the day.
OFFSEASON ROOTERS ACTIVITIES
The West Side Rooters Meet Tom Ricketts
at the 2010 Chicago Cubs Convention
Grant DePorter, President of the West Side Rooters Social Club and Beth Heller, Director of Marketing of Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group pose with Chicago Cubs new owner, Tom Ricketts at the 2010 Chicago Cubs Convention. We are excited to welcome the Ricketts family!
Cubs players were seen dining at Harry Caray’s throughout the Convention, including pitchers Carlos Zambrano, Carlos Silva and John Grabow, Rooters Secretary Ryne Sandberg and ex-Cubbies Lee Smith, Bobby Dernier and Randy Myers.
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3rd Annual Cubs Caravan Luncheon
Rooters had a chance to dine with Chicago Cubs players, coaches and VIP’s at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse downtown on Wednesday, January 13th during the 3rd Annual Cubs Caravan Luncheon. Players and VIPs in attendance included WGN sportscasters, Len and Bob, Laura Ricketts, Rooters Chairman Ernie Banks, Jeff Samardzja, Lou Piniella, Koyie Hill, Micah Hoffpauir, Randy Wells and many others. Additionally, Lou Piniella spoke about the upcoming season and answered questions from the audience. All proceeds from the lunch benefited Chicago Cubs Charities.
THE 1908 BASEBALL FEVER EPIDEMIC
For Cubs fans, the long wait during the offseason is similar to the 1908 fans’ experience. Click here to see the cartoon from March 27, 1908 entitled “Progress of Baseball Fever.” The cartoon reads, “The patient [fan] afflicted with chronic baseballitis has a gloomy, despondent appearence during the winter months.”
A LETTER FROM ERNIE
Dear Cub Fans,
I was lucky enough to play every day of my baseball career for the best fans in the world - Cub fans. It’s my love of the game, the Cubs and the fans that led me to accept the position of Chairman of the West Side Rooters Social Club. The West Side Rooters, founded in 1908, was the first official fan club of the Chicago Cubs. Members took their job seriously - they engaged in “scientific rooting” and other activities all geared toward helping the Cubs win a World Series. And win they did. However, following the 1908 World Series win, the Club was disbanded.
Now, 100 years later, we’ve brought it back and we want loyal Cub fans everywhere to be a part of it. That’s why it’s absolutely free to join. So join me, Ryne Sandberg, Dutchie Caray and Grant DePorter and fans around the world as we work together to bring back the spirit of the West Side Rooters Social Club. And remember, Let’s play two!
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Oof Wah, Ernie Banks, Hall of Fame Cub and Present West Side Rooters Social Club Chairman |