The Cubs Come to Camp Carrying a Cache

MESA, Ariz. — It’s supposed to be a training camp, but it’s beginning to resemble a convention. Some days, there are 1,500 phone calls and cars with license plates from 20 different states.

The Chicago Cubs may not own the title of America’s Team yet, but they’ve got plenty of people in these parts thinking that way.

“I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t think we were prepared for it, but I’m tickled pink. I love it,” said General Manager Dallas Green. “Sure, it’s a carryover from last year, but everybody’s dying for a little baseball.

“I’m not knocking other sports, but people are tired of the USFL (United States Football League), basketball and hockey,” Green continued. “They want to see somebody shag fly balls.”

When Bob Ibach, the club’s public relations director, arrived at HoHoKam Park, he found a huge satellite dish already waiting.

“I figured it was one Chicago television station and I pictured three others doing the same and making the place look like Disneyland,” he said.

Ibach’s fears diminished when he learned it was a co-operative effort by the Chicago stations, who were relaying live reports even before spring training camp opened.

“It’s like still being in the (National League) playoffs,” he said. “Like the season never ended.”

Fan response has been overwhelming here at Fitch Park, where the Cubs have been working before going to HoHoKam for intrasquad and exhibition games.

It’s not unusual to find a few thousand people milling around and watching the Cubs do nothing more strenuous than play catch. In the parking lot the other day were cars with licenses from 23 different states.

The Cubs have fans all over the country because superstation WGN-TV’s signal is carried over cable systems in 48 states.

“It’s the enthusiasm of 1984 all over again,” said Ibach. “Another thing, a lot of people see Cub fans having a lot of fun so others want to do the same . . .

“Go up the road where the Angels are training and you’re lucky to even see 200 people,” he added.

The Cubs encourage the fans by providing free stickers, schedules and rosters while the players give out autographs and pose for pictures. And the ballplayers are expected to be just as accessible to the media.

The radio requests were “unbelievable,” according to Ibach. He has set up “hot lines” for radio stations and fans, who can dial in and hear Ibach interviewing players.

“We have installed five lines and in one 24-hour period we have had as many as 1,500 calls,” said Ibach. “It has worked out real well. We have a sponsor for it and Cub fans all over the country are calling.”

Years ago, there would be three or four writers in camp.

“This year there are days where I have counted 20 to 25 and I’m sure there are some out there that I don’t even know about,” said Ibach.

HoHoKam has added 2,000 extra seats this year for a capacity of about 8,000. So far, all box seats have been sold at $4 a pop for the 16 home games and the $3.50 grandstand seats have been sold out for five of them.

There are also some 2,000 unreserved seats that the Cubs will not sell ahead of time so tourists passing through will get a chance to see games.

“It’s a product of winning last year,” said Steve Stone, a former pitcher and now a member of the Cubs’ broadcasting crew. “I’ve never seen so many people come out to watch some guys play catch and hold meetings around second base.

“I’ve been with some great teams, like Baltimore. We were in the World Series and the next year the only guy you saw in camp was the trainer. I never saw anything like it before,” he concluded, “but I think it’s wonderful.”