and the other in commemoration of the Ricketts family’s commitment to the preservation of the iconic ballpark

The Ricketts family is giving themselves an award for heroically preserving the park. I suppose they want to get that one in under the wire before the Wrigley Field sportsbook addition opens its doors.

Wow, they're obtuse.

Also set to be revealed at the stadium are two new plaques, one in honor of the Friendly Confines being designated as a National Historic Landmark and the other in commemoration of the Ricketts family’s commitment to the preservation of the iconic ballpark.

The plaques will be 10x10 feet, half of which will be the logo of Sloan, proud water efficiency partner of the Chicago Cubs.

Wow, they're obtuse.

They really have managed to piss away much of the goodwill of 2016, haven't they? I don't think you can attribute that to unreasonable fans, either.

Well, it's not like they were going to get a plaque in commemoration of their family's commitment to the preservation of the iconic baseball team.

Were there other potential owners of the team who were like, "Yeah, the first thing we need to do is tear down Wrigley Field"?

So are they gonna let Sammy into the Cubs Hall of Fame? I suppose probably not, which is dumb.

So are they gonna let Sammy into the Cubs Hall of Fame? I suppose probably not, which is dumb.

If that happens I would agree, the Cardinal fans voted McGwire into their hof in 2017, long after the roids became more than "rumor".

Like most Halls of Fame, the idea is to turn it into money. So they are not going to induct EVERYONE they could in the first year.

On that basis, if they are doing it right, I would not expect Sammy Sosa to be in the inaugural class.

Players like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg are more likely first year inductees.

What odds will the sportsbook give on Cap Anson being inducted?

The guys with retired numbers (add Maddux) will be first in I assume although I suppose they'll need to add a Hartnett or Brown for balance. I will guess the Ricketts' commendation is from the City Council or maybe some Historic Trust ... always easy to find an organization to commend a billionaire or corporation for the generous act of not spending some of their wealth on coats made from puppies.

While nobody was gonna tear down Wrigley, it was in need of an upgrade. I don't know how good of a job the Ricketts did** but they did pour a substantial amount of money into it ... and no doubt have gotten a fine return on that investment. Anyway, my point is it wasn't guaranteed that other owners would have refurbished or would have done so to that extent, especially if those other owners would have been cash-strapped.

** I only get to judge from TV and I hate the extra scoreboards but maybe the rest of the refurbish was good.

What odds will the sportsbook give on Cap Anson being inducted?

Were 1910's Cubs star Heinie Zimmerman still alive, he might wish to inquire, on behalf of a friend, where one might place a friendly wager on the day's games.

Like most Halls of Fame, the idea is to turn it into money. So they are not going to induct EVERYONE they could in the first year.

On that basis, if they are doing it right, I would not expect Sammy Sosa to be in the inaugural class.

Players like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg are more likely first year inductees.

Absolutely, you don't vote everyone deserving in in the first year, you put in your dead retired numbers and your living legends the first time around and the first few years you should be able to add a couple of no-brainers enough that you can make it ceremony worthy for 5 to 10 years, after that though you might need to slow down. The only "weak" person in the Cardinals hall of fame is Isringhausen and maybe Vince Coleman, but it's getting to the point that they are putting in too many. This is 7 years into this thing. And Matt Morris is probably the best name available (Carlton has more war as a Cardinal but 101 vs 77 wins gives Morris the clear edge)

Of course this is a money thing, and it's a way to celebrate your past and cash in on it etc... but from a fan perspective, it's great to see the team giving "Leon Durham" a bobblehead and a day. A day where the parent can talk with the kid about why he liked that guy so much even if the numbers don't show it.

If you had asked me to guess who was in the Cardinals Hall of Fame, I would have thrown out a hundred names before coming up with "Jason Isringhausen." Maybe a thousand names.

"Jason Isringhausen.

He was their closer for seven seasons---few teams have a guy who can say that---and is their all-time leader in saves, with 57 more than Lee Smith. Through his first six Cardinal seasons he had a cumulative 2.66 ERA before farting out with a 5.70 in 2008, at 35.

He was their closer for seven seasons---few teams have a guy who can say that---and is their all-time leader in saves, with 57 more than Lee Smith. Through his first six Cardinal seasons he had a cumulative 2.66 ERA before farting out with a 5.70 in 2008, at 35.

That's a perfectly good reason to induct someone into a team HOF and I agree he's deserving as far as it goes ... but even when you describe this his accomplishments, I still have no memory of Jason Isringhausen being a prominent closer.

I don't know how good of a job the Ricketts did**

Honestly they did a good job overall. I don't love moving the bullpens out of sight and I don't love turning the sections under the press box into a restricted-entry club. But those things aside, the upper deck concourse is genuinely brilliant and the lower concourse remodel is really nice too. And the triangle park where the parking lot used to be is really nice too, and a fairly decent community space on off-days. And while I was skeptical of the new scoreboards before they were installed, in truth I have to say that I like having them there.

Of course all this came with a lot more advertising but it is what it is. And it's not like having advertising plastered everywhere is a new development in baseball.

it's not like having advertising plastered everywhere is a new development in baseball.

Well sure, until you get the Portillo's Cubs baseball team of Chicago!

am going to see the Mets retire Jerry Koosman's number later this month.

48-28 from 1968-70 with a 146 ERA+, then up and down after that and 140-137 and a 113 ERA+ overall for Mets.
2nd in CYA in 1976, also for Mets.

and 82-72 with other teams, final results of 222-209 and 110 ERA+. won 21, 20, and 19 games for his MLB career bests.

oh, and he won two games for the 1969 Miracle Mets over the dynastic Orioles including a CG in the finale.
4-0 in 6 postseason starts for the Mets.

The team hall of fames are a great idea. There are a ton of players for each team who belong. With The cardinals election each year it is always fun to look at the names up for election. I think they have quite a long way to go yet. Keith Hernandez just got in - he was a great cardinal and he’s been super happy about it. I listened to him on the Mets broadcast a couple nights right after he was inducted and he was over the moon happy.

There are plenty of recent names that will go in at some point. Matt Holliday, Chris Carpenter, Matt Carpenter, Adam wainwright, ray lankford, Edmonds. The fans love it.

Most WAR with Cubs, position players:

Anson
Santo
Sandberg
Banks
Billy Williams
Sosa
Hack
Hartnett
Chance
Tinker

Anthony Rizzo is 15th.

Most WAR with Cubs, pitchers, post-1900:

Jenkins
Reuschel
Brown
Pete Alexander (60 with Philly, 41 with the Cubs, 15 with the Cardinals)
Vaughn
Root
Zambrano
Maddux
Rush
Passeau

Kyle Hendricks is 16th and, presuming he stays effective and on the Cubs, has a good chance of reaching the top 10. Kerry Wood is 15th.

Attendees will be able to watch the documentary on the Wrigley Field videoboard and tour the new Hall of Fame.

They're spending lots of money on this, but not on getting good middle infielders.

In other words, millions for tribute, but not one penny for the defense.