Cubs Convention Kicks Off Chicago Baseball Season for 25th Straight Year

Baseball is a game by the fans, for the fans, and it is full of wonderful traditions that bring teams and their maniacal supporters closer together. Among these, however, there may be none more delightfully contemporary and enjoyable than the annual Cubs Convention, kicking off tomorrow at the Chicago Hilton and Towers for the 25th consecutive time. 

John McDonough, arguably the modern era's greatest sports marketing guru, first conceived the Convention in the fall of 1984. Chicago was coming off its first postseason appearance since 1945, and had seen an overwhelming swell in fan support that summer.

Ryne Sandberg was the reigning National League MVP, Rick Sutcliffe held tight to the Cy Young award and the team looked poised to dominate the NL East for years to come.

In order to capitalize on Chicago's rediscovered baseball frenzy, McDonough and Cubs brass agreed to fly players in for a weekend of pure, unadulterated fan interaction, all going to benefit the foundling Cubs Care charities. Fans could take pictures with players, get autographs, or attend group question-and-answer sessions, all in the name of letting Cubs Nation get closer to its royalty.

McDonough has moved to greener pastures, guiding the thriving Chicago Blackhawks and orchestrating another sport's revival in the city's cultural conscience.

The Cubs Convention, however, continues unabated, and has grown exponentially over its quarter-century of development. This year, over 50 Cubs players, coaches and broadcasters of yesterday and today will attend the sold-out Convention.

For two full days, fans and players mill about the hotel. Rod Beck once sat in one of the Hilton's bars and talked baseball while signing autographs for more than two hours. Those players fortunate enough not to be mobbed whenever they are recognized gladly converse with the few fans who do. 

On a personal note, this will be my seventh Convention in eight years. It is always fun, and there is never a dull moment. Don't believe me? Check out the picture that accompanies this piece.

Pictured, from left, are the following: Mel Gunn, the best usher in all of Wrigley Field in the summers and a seasoned security presence at the Convention; Tom Nurse, founder and owner of liftingcubs.com  (shameless plug); Todd Trueblood, my father and designated primary weight-bearer for the Lifting Cubs crew; Vance Law, an All-Star for the Cubs in 1988 and the starting third baseman on the Division-winning club the following season; Jose Cardenal, long-time Cub and the patron saint of the effort (lying across our arms); and yours truly, though a considerably younger version.

Law, it will be noted, isn't helping much. Don't hold it against him; he was a good sport, but had one arm in a sling. Also, a big congrats to Mel, whose 16-inch softball crew won the national championship in that sport this summer.

I have not intended, however, to make this article about us, so let me return to the central thesis: the Cubs Convention kicks off tomorrow, and even if you can't make it, that's a darn good reason to get excited about baseball season.

The Convention creates and maintains a meaningful bond between the Cubs and their fans, and it continues to strengthen that bond each year. Teams across all major sports have copied McDonough's old initiative, but the Cubs Convention remains head and shoulders above the rest.

Happy Convention weekend, one and all.