100 Things Cubs Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Jimmy Greenfield Page A

office, and yes, owners of major league ballclubs themselves.”
    “Baseball has become considered America’s favorite pastime. Now let’s make this sport that reflects the true spirit of our great country and nation that more than 200 years ago was dedicated to the proposition that all men, all men are created equal. Yes, plans and words can be transformed into actions and deeds.
    “We ask for nothing less but we seek what is just. I know the experience I’ve had over the past years as a coach have helped me to prepare myself for the days when I’d be considered for managerial or executive position with a major league ballclub.”
    Williams never became a big-league manager, but he paved the way for others. His call for justice was similar to how he played the game, with a quiet dignity and an uncanny ability to know just when to speak up.

25. Go to Murphy’s Before and Bernie’s After
    Or, if you prefer, go to Bernie’s before and Murphy’s after. Either way, you’ll be spending time at an authentic Cubs bar right across from Wrigley Field that will quickly establish your street cred as a Cubs fan. As long as you don’t use the expression “street cred.”
    There are so many great places to choose from in Wrigleyville—The Cubby Bear, Merkle’s, Slugger’s, and the rebuilt Sports Corner bar at the corner of Sheffield and Addison, come to mind—it’s hard to choose just a couple. In fact, try them all and see which one suits you best.
    But Murphy’s Bleachers and Bernie’s Tap & Grill stand out for a combination of their history, family ownership, and awesome beer gardens. Bernie’s, at 3664 N. Clark St., doesn’t have as long of a history as Murphy’s, but it’s been around a lot longer than any of the generic bars in Wrigleyville and has a reputation for smart Cubs fans who wouldn’t squeal if Mark Grace walked in the door.
    The bar, originally known as Bernie’s Tavern, was opened in the 1950s by Bernie Dillman, and it has been in the family ever since. It’s currently owned and operated by Linda Dillman, Bernie’s daughter-in-law, and her two sons. Dillman was once Ron Santo’s personal secretary, and the two remained close friends until his death in 2010.
    Unlike Bernie’s, Murphy’s has changed family ownership several times over the years as evidenced by its name changes. When it was founded in the 1930s by Ernie Pareti it was known as Ernie’s Bleachers and then it became Ray’s Bleachers when he sold to Ray Meyer before Jim Murphy bought the bar in 1980 and kept up the tradition by giving it his family’s name.
    Murphy was a vocal community leader and rooftop owner whose fight with the Tribune Co. against the Wrigley Field bleacher expansion helped fashion the groundbreaking partnership years later. He passed away in 2003 and his wife, Beth, now owns and operates Murphy’s with her two sons.
    Like Bernie’s, Murphy’s has been renovated over the years yet somehow manages to seamlessly combine its modern features and old bar charm. Another reason to head over to Murphy’s is you never know who you’ll find there. Every Thursday is open mic night at Murphy’s, and in late June 2011 an old Cubs fan stepped up and belted out a couple of tunes.
    The fan’s name? Eddie Vedder.

26. P.K. Wrigley: The Man Who Invented the Cubs
    The Cubs were founded in 1876 and experienced their glory years around the turn of the 20 th century, but the franchise as it’s known today wasn’t invented until many years later.
    Philip Knight Wrigley was a tinkerer who would purchase expensive automobiles and immediately take them to his busy workshop where he would take them apart just for the pleasure of trying to make them better. Among his inventions was a non-slippable screwdriver, which he created on purpose, and the Cubs as lovable losers, which he created by accident and never came close to perfecting despite many years of tinkering.
    “What is the combination? Why are we losing?” he once