Episode 135 — Jeremy Bever: A Voicemail from Pat Hughes, Seeing the Cubs at all 30 Parks, & Suiting Up on Gameday

[00:00:42] Anna: What’s up bucketheads? Thanks for tuning in and welcome to episode number 135 of the baseball bucket list podcast. I’m your host Anna DiTommaso, and each week on the show I speak with a different baseball fan about their favorite memories, what’s left on their baseball bucket list, and what the game of baseball means to them. 

Anna: This week, I got to sit down with Jeremy Bever from Indiana. He is a life long Cubs fan and if you’ve seen the guy I’m about to describe out at Wrigley Field or another ballpark you’ve met Jeremy! Several years ago while shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, he stumbled across a gaudy Cubs suit – those are his words, not mine – and decided to pair it with a Cubs fedora and sneakers, and that became his game day outfit. The good news is you can find some photos of Jeremy in his suit on the shownotes page for the episode, so be sure to hit that link in the episode description. 

Anna: Jeremy and his wife are also on the tail end of seeing the Cubs play at all 30 ballparks, with just 5 parks left to go, so we discuss what got them started on that journey. We also hear about the first time Jeremy stepped foot into a ballpark wearing the suit. You heard in the intro it was not Wrigley Field, how folks react when they bump into him, and we hear a hilarious story involving Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Hughes and Jeremy’s mom. 

Anna: This interview was awesome, Jeremy was a ton of fun and had so many great stories, so let’s get right to it. Now, without further ado. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some baseball banter with Jeremy Bever.

 

[00:02:05] Anna: Jeremy, thank you so much for joining us today on the Baseball Bucket List. How are things in Indiana?

[00:02:11] Jeremy: Uh, good, cold, too cold, I think, but, uh, ready for spring and for the season to start, but I can’t complain. It’s home.

[00:02:20] Anna: yeah, you guys get some some brutal winters up there and even even in quote unquote spring It can still be quite cold. So, you know as a as someone who spent the majority of their life in Texas and Florida I cannot relate.

[00:02:33] Jeremy: Yes. Uh, you know, Wrigley Field opening days, usually in the low forties. So,

[00:02:39] Anna: Yeah

[00:02:40] Jeremy: yeah,

[00:02:40] Anna: So the first question I always ask everybody is how is it that you fell in love with the game of baseball?

[00:02:46] Jeremy: well, I get, I guess I have two answers. Um, you know, number one is, um, My family, my dad, he played, um, played basically softball, you know, as we were small children, he was playing softball, and the whole family would go to the games, you know, my little sisters, they had like cheerleading outfits and I had a complete uniform like my dad, my, you know, and all the families knew each other, you know, and every weekend, you know, we had a softball tournament, You know, then that leads into playing the league and, , but then I wanted to answer, so I fell in love with the Cubs.

[00:03:26] Jeremy: you know, 1984, I was 12. Turned 13 that summer, and where we lived, we didn’t get cable TV, you know, we just had the antenna, we lived out in the country, but the local station out of Fort Wayne would pick up the WGN broadcast on Sundays, and so started to watch the Cubs on that, and of course 1984 was a great year to watch the Cubs because they actually won the division that year, um, but I just fell in love with Harry Carey, the announcers, the seventh innings dredge Wrigley Field, you know, all the players.

[00:04:05] Jeremy: Um, and I would even go as far as my grandparents lived in a small town, and they got the cable TV. So the Cubs played on the West Coast. Maybe during the week, it starts at 10 o’clock, nine o’clock our time, I would go there to watch the game, you know? Um, well, of course, they went to bed and left me there watching, but I didn’t.

[00:04:27] Jeremy: That’s all I had. So But I just became pretty much addicted to them at that time.

[00:04:34] Anna: Yeah, well, you’re, I mean, you’re, you’re close to Wrigleyville kind of, you know, relatively speaking. 

[00:04:40] Jeremy: three hours.

[00:04:41] Anna: I mean, you’re in, you’re definitely in the TV market for it, right? 

[00:04:45] Jeremy: Yes, correct.

[00:04:46] Anna: I talk to a lot of people who are, they’re, they’re either Cubs fans who are just kind of scattered across the country or they’re Braves fans and it’s because of those two major WGN, TBS deals.

[00:04:57] Anna: And even me growing up here in Texas. Got to watch the Cubs every once in a while on WGN and, um, Sammy Sosa was my guy. I couldn’t have told you another player on that team, but I was obsessed with Sammy Sosa.

[00:05:14] Anna: So, 

[00:05:14] Jeremy: Yeah, same.

[00:05:16] Anna: yeah,

[00:05:17] Jeremy: No doubt. No,

[00:05:18] Anna: sure. 

[00:05:18] Jeremy: I’m just glad you mentioned WGN and TBS because now as I’ve gotten older, wife and I, we’re trying to see the Cubs play a game in every stadium and The Cubs travel so well. You know, it doesn’t matter if you’re in Dodgers, you’re in Cincinnati or wherever there are Cubs fans there.

[00:05:39] Jeremy: And I know that’s because of W. G. N. Um, because they had access to the games. It’s just a shame that it’s not that way now. I don’t think it’s a positive for the game of baseball that much. So

[00:05:52] Jeremy: it’s my opinion. 

[00:05:52] Anna: they don’t seem to be very concerned with you know Giving fans the opportunity to watch games, especially locally. I mean, that’s the part that’s most shocking. I think is that part?

[00:06:03] Jeremy: It seems very backwards.

[00:06:05] Anna: for sure and to speak to the way that Cubs fans travel you’re absolutely right because you know, I I am a Rays fan and went to a game at the TROP and of course the TROP is never, you know, it’s never record setting attendance to begin with, but that was the year after, so it was 2017, the year after The, uh, the big World Series title, and, uh, man, if there wasn’t nothing but Cubby Blue in the trop, I, I was, I was shocked, but also not 

[00:06:41] Jeremy: If I’m not mistaken, I was probably there at that series as well. My wife and I went to the prop, yeah. They did a tribute to Joe Madden on the, uh,

[00:06:48] Anna: Exactly. Yeah, because it was his first time back. Yeah. 

[00:06:51] Jeremy: Yes, I was there.

[00:06:52] Anna: Yeah, that’s cool. I wonder if we were at the same game. I’d have to pull the ticket stuff to see which one it

[00:06:57] Jeremy: Probably a good chance of it, I would say.

[00:07:00] Anna: I just have to segue for a second because of a story. While I was sitting at that game, I was in right field and we were sitting next to, as I mentioned, some folks who were from the Chicago area and, one of them got up to get beers or something. And, One of the Cubs outfielders threw a ball up into the stands to the guy sitting next to me.

[00:07:21] Anna: And when his friend came back, he said, how’d you get that? And he goes, Oh, did you miss the home run? I caught it. And just like lied to his face, obviously,

[00:07:29] Jeremy: Right? Right.

[00:07:31] Anna: that poor guy’s face was just, you know, he thought he 

[00:07:34] Anna: had 

[00:07:34] Jeremy: could I miss that, you

[00:07:35] Anna: my goodness. Yeah. So I think about that all the time. I had, I mean, a really good time just sitting next to those folks.

[00:07:41] Anna: I think Cubs fans in general are pretty good, good people and fun to be with.

[00:07:46] Jeremy: Well, I’d like to think so, but most of the fans I’ve dealt with, you know, wearing a suit is kind of a conversation starter and that’s what I love about it.

[00:07:55] Anna: Yeah,

[00:07:57] Jeremy: Everybody has always been fantastic, you know, I wore this to Yankee Stadium and people were like, Oh, watch out for Yankees fans, you know, you might get beaten up or whatever.

[00:08:05] Jeremy: They’re just fantastic. Everybody goes, you know, and they just want to talk baseball and that’s what it’s all about.

[00:08:10] Anna: yeah, for sure, for sure. So I have to set the scene a little bit here because, you know, we’re audio only and folks can’t see but you’re dressed to the nines. I’ll say that. You’ve got, I’m assuming a custom suit I don’t know how how one comes, you know into owning one of these but it’s it’s a very nice suit You’ve got a red dress shirt on A Cubs tie and then it’s just a, it’s like a pattern of all the different assorted Cubs logos kind of, you know, placed next to each other, almost like a step and repeat on the, on the suit jacket.

[00:08:45] Jeremy: Yeah, correct. It’s very loud and gaudy. But, uh, actually I, I bought the tie, the jacket and the pants. I bought them in Chicago at the cub store on Michigan Avenue. Then I just added the red shirt and my fedora. I don’t know if you can see my fedora, but there was actually a giveaway in the bleachers one night at a cub game.

[00:09:05] Jeremy: So I thought, well, I’d look neat with it. So I wear it too. I wear it as well.

[00:09:09] Anna: It completes the outfit for sure. So 

[00:09:12] Jeremy: That’s what I thought.

[00:09:14] Anna: Most people go to a game and they’re wearing like a t shirt or a ball cap or, you know, like maybe they’re in a jersey or something like that, but what made you, I mean, you were just on Michigan Ave doing some shopping and you saw this and you were like, that’s gonna be my game day outfit.

[00:09:29] Jeremy: Yes. actually, I think we were in Chicago is around Christmas. Went to Lincoln Park to see the Christmas lights. Of course, we had to go to the cub store and my wife and my sister here with me and my wife’s the one that found it. And she’s like, Oh, you have to get this, you know? So of course I tried on and you know, it doesn’t fit real well.

[00:09:51] Jeremy: It’s not made to fit real well, but I’m like, yeah, I’m getting it. So it’s in the wintertime, right? So I’ve got it. Well, I can’t really wear it because it’s in the wintertime. So it was 2019, the Cubs opened in Arlington against the Rangers. And that’s the first time I wore it. And believe me, it was hard to come out of the hotel at first.

[00:10:12] Jeremy: Just nervous and like, oh, this thing is so loud, you know. But when I got over to the ballpark, You know, and you get in there and you mix with the fans and everything. People love it. You know, I have people coming up to me, Rangers fans want pictures and everything. And it’s just, like I said, I’ve met so many people, you know, some, I still stay in contact with social media and stuff and just talk to baseball with, and it’s just, it’s such a good time and it just adds such, I don’t know, so much more fun than my, my fan experience.

[00:10:45] Jeremy: So

[00:10:45] Anna: I imagine you, you’re probably much more approachable that way, you know, like there’s just something about it that says like, hey, come have a conversation with me and it’s probably a really good icebreaker.

[00:10:55] Jeremy: yeah, it is. I’ve never thought about. Actually, me being more approachable. But yeah, I would say, obviously, you know, and, you know, as I walk by people, you know, some people don’t say anything, but they sure got an expression on their face, you know, one way or another, you know, like, Oh, my God, I would never wear that.

[00:11:14] Jeremy: Or look at that cool suit, you know?

[00:11:16] Anna: that’s cool. I love it. It’s so unique and I bet I bet you’re the only guy at Wrigley who’s dressed like that.

[00:11:21] Jeremy: yes, I have never seen one exactly like mine. I’ve seen guys have the suit jacket, 

[00:11:27] Anna: Mm hmm.

[00:11:28] Jeremy: Um, and I’ve seen guys have a different shirt, you know, but never exactly like mine.

[00:11:35] Anna: That’s cool What do you do in the summertime? I mean, I know it’s not like Texas scorching heat up there, but it does get warm

[00:11:42] Jeremy: Yeah, and I wear it, and I roast, um, my kids, like, a lot of times I’ll take my adult kids to the game with me, and they’re like, are you wearing that today? It’s 95 degrees, and I’m like, I’m wearing it. So, it’s just kind of become my thing, you know. So, I wear it, and I suffer through, so.

[00:12:02] Anna: Very nice. Very nice You mentioned earlier that you and your wife are trying to see the Cubs at all 30 ballparks and you’ve you kind of clipped your way through 25 already now Before we get into the story behind that, I have to ask, will you only go see a new ballpark if the Cubbies are playing?

[00:12:23] Jeremy: Yes,

[00:12:25] Anna: Okay.

[00:12:26] Jeremy: that’s my to see the Cubs play in every stadium and at first when I started, they were only going to the American League. Every three years or so, you know, now the schedule is different. They play each other, you know, so it’ll be easier to finish. But yeah, I just, you know, I’ve listened to some of your other podcasts, um, about people that enjoy the minor leagues and this and that.

[00:12:58] Jeremy: And I just don’t, you know, I like the Cubs. You know, and I like major league baseball, you know, but it is, it’s been my goal to see them play a game in every stadium. So,

[00:13:11] Anna: I love that. That’s really cool. I have a friend, he’s been on the show, his name’s Derek, and he has the same goal of trying to see the Cubs play in every ballpark. And I’ve

[00:13:21] Jeremy: oh, wow. 

[00:13:21] Anna: I, I know I’ve run into like a handful of people who have this idea in their head and for some reason they all seem to be Cubs fans.

[00:13:29] Anna: Like that’s, that’s just a special type I think.

[00:13:34] Jeremy: Yeah, yeah,

[00:13:35] Anna: That’s cool. I’d love to do that though. Like after, you know, cause. Often, I think people, they want to hit all 30 ballparks and then they kind of, they finish that up and they’re like, okay, now what? And so, I feel like that’s kind of a good thing to, to maybe consider doing is like go see your favorite team at every ballpark after that.

[00:13:56] Jeremy: true. Yeah. And kind of with me, you know, like, unless she’s not a huge baseball fan, so we try to incorporate. Other things with it, you know, you know, we go to Colorado, we’re going to go to speak for a day and hit a game, you know, make it make it kind of a vacation other than just a ballgame. And

[00:14:14] Anna: Yeah.

[00:14:14] Jeremy: we’re fortunate enough that our kids are gone.

[00:14:17] Jeremy: And we can we can do that sort of thing. So

[00:14:19] Anna: It’s good advice to, to mix in some non baseball, otherwise it’d be, it’d be tough to get her along for the ride.

[00:14:26] Jeremy: yeah, it has to be fun for everybody.

[00:14:27] Jeremy: So 

[00:14:28] Anna: exactly. Exactly. So. You’re at 25 ballparks. When did this journey kind of start? Like when, when did you guys say, Hey, let’s go see the Cubs everywhere.

[00:14:38] Jeremy: well, it’s something that that I wanted to do for a while. I mean, back when I was younger, much younger. But the means weren’t really there. You know, in 2014 I met my wife, you know, we’ve been married since 2015. And like I said, our kids were grown and we had means to it. So actually we’re. We’re at we’re at a casino in Indiana, and I’m looking on my phone and like, Hey, the Cubs play here and here and here.

[00:15:11] Jeremy: So we just decided we’re gonna drive to Philadelphia. So we went to Citizens Bank Park. We drove from here we ended up seeing a game of Philadelphia in 2014. And then we went to Atlantic City. And then we came home. And that’s kind of what started it. And that’s the only one I did that year. And then in 2015, it really got started more.

[00:15:31] Jeremy: So yeah,

[00:15:32] Anna: Yeah, so it’s not been, I mean, that’s 10 years, right? Like that’s not a tremendous amount of time.

[00:15:36] Jeremy: and I have five to go.

[00:15:38] Anna: Yeah. And as you kind of alluded to before, the way the schedule was prior to kind of the reorg, it was very difficult to see them play, especially at American League ballparks, which is why we were at the same game at the drop.

[00:15:51] Jeremy: Sure. That’s right. Yeah.

[00:15:53] Anna: Your chances 

[00:15:54] Jeremy: But I, I concentrated on that at first. I tried to do all the American Lakes parks first. So, and I, I have all of them completed except for Seattle.

[00:16:04] Anna: Okay. So Seattle’s the final American League Park. What are the other four that you’re missing?

[00:16:11] Jeremy: Okay, so, be the Rockies, Colorado, which we’re planning this fall. Comes together in September. Arizona, San Diego. Atlanta. Is that five?

[00:16:24] Anna: I think so. I think so

[00:16:26] Jeremy: That’s it. Yes, I believe so.

[00:16:28] Anna: Yeah, so what do you think are you just kind of gonna leave it up to the powers that be in the way the schedule Shakes out as to like what the final stop is gonna be or do you have something that you would like to finish up with?

[00:16:41] Jeremy: I don’t like this year. They play Seattle,

[00:16:44] Anna: Okay

[00:16:45] Jeremy: but if we go to Seattle, that’s a long way from 

[00:16:48] Anna: Mm hmm.

[00:16:49] Jeremy: and they play there in April and I’m not really too big on going there in April. You know, we want to go to Mount Rainier. We want to do this. We want to do that. So, you know, maybe Seattle will be the last one, maybe not, but I don’t have I don’t have any schedule this year with it.

[00:17:05] Jeremy: I know Atlanta this year is during the week. so we’ve kind of decided this year, Colorado in September, so.

[00:17:11] Anna: When were you in Texas? When did you, I guess my question is did you, did you see the old ballpark and the new ballpark or just one?

[00:17:20] Jeremy: No, I was there for the last year of the old 

[00:17:24] Anna: Okay, yeah. Okay.

[00:17:25] Jeremy: Yeah, and that was opening It’s late March. It’s 2019. And they were building the new one. So yeah, so now I guess I have to come back to Arlington. So, I do believe the Cubs open there this 

[00:17:39] Jeremy: year 

[00:17:39] Jeremy: as 

[00:17:39] Anna: do and I’ll be there. I’ll be there. Yeah, and 

[00:17:42] Jeremy: Will you? 

[00:17:43] Anna: actually Chicago Derek is gonna fly in and and I think we’re gonna end up catching a game together finally, so 

[00:17:48] Jeremy: Okay. All right. 

[00:17:49] Anna: That’s cool, let’s chat 2016 briefly because I mean, I know that’s got to be a fond year for you.

[00:17:57] Anna: You’re talking about being a Cubs fan from the time you were just a little kid, um, you know, sneaking over to grandma and grandpa’s to watch cable games and, and stuff like that. did you think it was going to happen and what did it feel like when it did? Hmm.

[00:18:13] Jeremy: so 1984, course, you have to have a perspective when you’re a kid. But 1984, of course, I watched the heartbreak, you know, the ball go through the under, I’m losing three in a row in San Diego, and, you know, there’s my dad saying, you know, you gotta be used to this, you know, because he’s seen it more than me, you know, so there’s great heartbreak there. And then there’s not really a lot of hope. Of course, there was 2003 when we were five hours away, but until then. You know, there hadn’t there hadn’t been that much hope. of course, the whole, you know, the whole fiasco, Steve Bartman and stuff in 2003, which that poor guy, you know, it wasn’t his fault.

[00:18:57] Jeremy: Of course, there’s more disappointment. I guess that’s my point. 2003. but the 2018 is the team that I could not get past. They, they really, they really disappointed me. I’m just like, this isn’t going to happen, you know, they were in first place. They were dominant the entire season. They’re good. They were stacked, but, you know, and they get in the playoffs against the Dodgers and they don’t even win a game and score like three, you know, and I’m at that point in 2008, I’m just like, okay, you know, it’s not going to happen, you know, 2016, I think, I think in 15 when Joe came. the whole atmosphere changed, you know, um, and the fans, the fans started to believe again, and that group just made it different. You know, I think they didn’t let it bother him that the pressure of the 108 years or whatever it was. it was just fantastic.

[00:20:07] Jeremy: You know, as Cub fans would say, just one before I die, you know. Well, you know, I was fortunate enough to get my one. Of course, now I want more. But, but, um, those, that group of players just is always going to be just special to me. 

[00:20:25] Anna: That was really like the first world series that I did not have a rooting interest in going into that I kind of just felt, you know, got a feel for the two teams and found myself pulling for Chicago more than, I mean, I wanted Joma to win a ring. I wanted Ben Zobris to get a ring.

[00:20:46] Anna: But just watching those guys and, and it was a team I wasn’t super familiar with. I hadn’t watched a lot of the Cubs over the course of that year, but, um, you could tell the, the chemistry was real and it was just, it was so fun to watch and the, the ups and downs of, of the whole series and everything was just incredible.

[00:21:02] Anna: It was, it really was like one for the books, I think.

[00:21:06] Jeremy: yeah. And the game seven, of course, it’s one of the best baseball games ever played, in my opinion, um, with all the drama and the rain delay and the home run tie late and all of that, it was just, it was just incredible, but it was during the week and, you know, I had to work. So during all those playoff runs, we would get together at my dad’s house or my house, uh, as a family and we watched the games.

[00:21:32] Jeremy: Um, and that night we were at my house. But it starts getting late and it starts rain delaying. And so, you know, my family was leaving and I even went and laid in the bedroom, cause I had to get up early and We have TV in there. Don’t get me wrong. Um, you know, but, you know, some people say, Oh, you gave up on?

[00:21:52] Jeremy: No, I didn’t. I didn’t. I wasn’t going to sleep or anything. Yeah. So, and you know, when it happens, I’m up running around the bedroom, you know, and hugging my wife. And it’s just, it was just unbelievable to see, you know, just this fantastic.

[00:22:07] Anna: That’s really cool. I think that, you know, I always wondered. They had Rizzo and David Ross kind of miced up in the dugout for that, that final game seven, and they just seemed, they said they were nervous, but they just seemed so relaxed, and I feel like when you’re 108 years of just like not doing anything, that it’s almost like the pressure is alleviated, right?

[00:22:31] Anna: It’s, it’s kind of released from you because you got to wonder if those guys were like, nobody’s expecting us to do anything anyway, so like, let’s prove them wrong. You know, but it’s, it’s not like the Dodgers who just signed, a small country’s worth of GDP to their team. So

[00:22:48] Jeremy: Yep. Yep. Well, I think there had to be some of that. And plus, those guys are so young, you know, They haven’t waited 108 years, you know, and they can listen to all this chatter about everybody, but I think that helped to, you know, just young kids, you know, and I’m not saying they didn’t know the history because they obviously did, but I think that helped as well, alleviate some of the pressure, you know, but I think it’s just the right group of guys at the right time, you know,

[00:23:18] Anna: For sure. Well, that’s cool. I’m glad that that happened. It’s, it’s one of my favorite stories. You know, just kind of in terms of baseball on a grand scheme of things. So I love the reverse the curse and the curse of the Billy Goat. And, you know, when you get these teams that long suffering fan bases where, where they finally break through, it’s always good to see.

[00:23:38] Anna: So that’s neat. What comes to mind if I ask you what your favorite baseball memory is? I hope I didn’t just Burn through it.

[00:23:48] Jeremy: well, yeah, I mean, obviously, it’s 2016 World Series. That’s my favorite baseball memory. But the 1998 games. Great. One game playoff with the San Francisco Giants is the only playoff game per se that I’ve attended. and, um, we, you know, the Cubs lost the day prior and we found out there was going to be a game. And my sister, she’s like, let’s go. You know, I’m like, we don’t even have tickets. How are we going to go? Whatever. You know, so we all, my two sisters and I, we arranged it so we could go. And we went, we went early and we never done anything like this before.

[00:24:26] Jeremy: We had to scout tickets. You know, so we ended up spending way more money than we should have on these, on these tickets. And then the bleachers are first come, first serve. And it’s two hours before the game, and there’s already a huge line to get in the bleachers. So we paid a guy, who I’m sure was his business, to get a spot in line.

[00:24:49] Jeremy: So we’re up closer, and anyway, we end up getting in right field behind Sammy Sosa. You know, first, second row of the bleachers, and we just had it. fantastic time. Um, after the game, Sammy came out and spray champagne on my sister, you know, and it just was and the first home run, Gary got hit a home run, but give the Cubs lead and the whole stadium was just rocking.

[00:25:13] Jeremy: You know, you could just feel it moving. And that’s the only time I’ve ever experienced that at Wrigley. You know, I didn’t get to go in the World Series games. But that was, that was incredible atmosphere for that, for that game. So that’s definitely one of my favorite memories.

[00:25:28] Anna: Yeah, I could see why. That’s a really cool story. Good choice of the seats behind Sosa. That would have been my first choice too.

[00:25:36] Jeremy: of course.

[00:25:37] Anna: That’s awesome. What a fun

[00:25:39] Anna: story. 

[00:25:39] Jeremy: you had to run up the, uh, concourse when, when they opened the gates, everyone just takes off running to get their good seats.

[00:25:45] Anna: Yeah, Mad Dash, right? Yeah. Yeah. good on your sister for suggesting that y’all make it to that because that’s one of those once in a lifetime opportunities you’ll, you’ll always remember.

[00:25:56] Jeremy: yeah, we sure, we still talk about 

[00:25:58] Anna: That’s cool. That’s cool. So I know the plan is to wrap up the last five ballparks, see the Cubs play at all 30, but is there something else that’s kind of at the top of the baseball bucket list?

[00:26:12] Anna: Maybe in conjunction with that, maybe it’s a person you got to meet a place you want to go or something you’d like to see.

[00:26:19] Jeremy: yeah, my wife just asked me that question before we came on here. And it’s really up there. but I would like to sing Seventh Inning Stretch at Rotary Feet. I mean, I know they give it to celebrities, you know, and everything, but that would be so fun, so much fun. And I don’t even know how you would ever be able to go about trying to even get in the running, but if I would ever get the opportunity to do that, it would be so special.

[00:26:48] Anna: Yeah, That’s a really good one. 

[00:26:50] Jeremy: You know, reach high.

[00:26:51] Anna: Yeah, exactly, right? I mean, there’s no There’s nothing that says it has to happen, you know So but I mean I think I think going to games dressed in a cubsuit is like a pretty good start to that You’re you know, like you might be on your way

[00:27:06] Jeremy: Sure. I’m hoping, you know,

[00:27:09] Anna: Now, are you a singer? Like, do you, do you like singing or is this just like, I want to do it for the heck of it?

[00:27:16] Jeremy: Oh no, I can’t say, but neither could Harry care.

[00:27:20] Jeremy: So there you go. You know,

[00:27:24] Anna: I love that. Um, well I’m hoping that after we hang up here, you’ll, you’ll email me a photo of the suit so that we can put it with the show notes so everyone can kind of get a actual idea as to, you know, who I’m talking to right now.

[00:27:40] Jeremy: I do that. Yes. I have a Pat Hughes story.

[00:27:45] Jeremy: I didn’t, you know who Pat Hughes is. He’s the radio announcer just made the whole thing. My mom bought some merchandise off of Pat Hughes’s website for my sister for Christmas. So I don’t know if it’s November, what time of year it is, whatever it is. But I go over to my parents one day and I walk in the house and sitting there we’re talking and mom goes, Pat Hughes called the other night. And my mouth just dropped open. First of all, I didn’t know she really even knew who Pat Hughes was. And I kind of look at my dad and he’s kind of smiling. She goes, I hung up on him. And I go, What? And she goes, Well, I bought these things for your sister. And the other night, the phone rang, and we get all kinds of spam calls.

[00:28:42] Jeremy: And so they still have a landline. Okay, so it’s not a cell phone. And so they get all these telemarketing calls. And my mom doesn’t. Answer them or she hangs up. So it said Hughes comma on her caller ID. And she goes, Tom, do you know a Pat Hughes? And dad goes, I don’t know who that is. So she hangs up the phone, just clicks it off. Pat calls right back. And my mom this time thinking, well, maybe I should answer. She answers. She’s still leery. And Pat says, Hello, this is You know, so and so is, is Barbara there, and she goes, no, that’s her, that’s my mom.

[00:29:28] Anna: Right.

[00:29:29] Jeremy: And he, Pat, goes, okay, is Gina there? That’s my sister, that’s who she bought the stuff for.

[00:29:34] Jeremy: And she goes, no, this is, this is Carolyn, and that’s my mom’s middle name. For whatever reason, she’s trying, she still thinks Pat’s not Pat. And, uh. he said, Well, I see that Barbara’s purchased this, and I just wondered before I send it out if you would like me to autograph it. So at that point, she realizes this is legit.

[00:29:58] Jeremy: And Pat did sign the merchandise and send it out. And, and I am just sitting here and I’m listening and my mouth is, and I’m thinking, Pat Hughes called my parents house. You know, this is awesome. You know, he never called my house, you know, so anyway, and plus, and then I’m thinking, Hey, He does that himself.

[00:30:18] Jeremy: He doesn’t have someone do that for him, you know, this kind of thing, but he genuinely did. So, and I told my mom, because I have been to signings, Pat Hughes signings before, and he signed the back of my suit. I waited for his next signing, which just happened to be a little bit before Christmas. And he was offering for, you know, a little bit of money, you could record his voice.

[00:30:39] Jeremy: For your, you know, your answering machine, whatever. So I wrote out a little paragraph to Pat, hoping that he would do it for me. And I, when I, I’m waiting in line and I told him the story that I just told you, and I said, yeah, they hung up on you, Pat. And he goes, well, it happens, you know, and he’s, he’s really good about it.

[00:30:59] Jeremy: And I showed him the, uh, paragraph that I’d written. And, and he goes, well, I can’t memorize this, but I’d be happy to read it for you if you want to read for it. And, and he did. And I had told my mom, I was going to tell him, um, so I get this recording of Pat Hughes’s paragraph. And for Christmas, then we put it on the TV. Um, for my mom to watch and, and now it’s still kind of a joke, you know, because since Pat Hughes called, you know, we’re like, yeah, sure, mom, you guys got something going on there, you know, so we always give her, give her devil about Pat Hughes now, but it was, he was so gracious to do that for me, so, and that’s, that’s a good memory,

[00:31:42] Anna: Yeah. That’s awesome. How fun. 

[00:31:44] Alright, I’m gonna pause this story here for a second because, Jeremy was actually able to track down that audio recording and I’m going to place it in here because it’s pretty funny.

[00:31:56] Hi, this is pat Hughes radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs. Hello to Barb or Carolyn or whatever your name is. Uh, please don’t hang up the way you did in the past. I just want to wish you and Tom, a very Merry Christmas. And I hope you aren’t on the naughty list for lying to a hall of fame broadcaster. 

[00:32:19] Anna: I,

[00:32:20] Anna: I can totally understand why, why she would have been so hesitant to believe that that was who was actually calling. But you think she would have recognized his voice.

[00:32:27] Jeremy: Um, no, she doesn’t listen to the

[00:32:30] Anna: Okay, well then, there you go,

[00:32:32] Jeremy: she doesn’t. My dad does, but she, no, she wouldn’t recognize us.

[00:32:37] Anna: That’s really neat. I love that story. That’s fun. Jeremy, I’ve so enjoyed talking with you. Can’t wait to keep, you know, following along with you and watch you clip off those last five ballparks. Um, now, now whenever I watch a game at Wrigley, you know, I’ll be, I’ll be, it’ll be a game of like, where’s Waldo?

[00:32:57] Anna: But it’ll be, where’s Jeremy?

[00:33:00] Jeremy: Sometimes I get on a big screen or they’ll find me pregame so you might see me on there.

[00:33:04] Jeremy: Ha, ha, ha. 

[00:33:06] Anna: not for one minute. That’s awesome. is there any place online that, uh, we should send folks, you know, do you want to share your social medias or anything? 

[00:33:15] Jeremy: I’m on Twitter. Crazy cub guy. It’s kind of my handle. So it’s also on Instagram and Facebook. It’s the same. 

[00:33:24] Jeremy: You know, I have been collecting eight by 10 photos with Cubs players and personalities in my suit. I’ve kind of made that a thing. And I have about 25 of them now. So I’ve got them on my wall, you know, but I put that on social media all my travel, I met Joe Madden two or three times. So

[00:33:44] Anna: he’s my favorite still still 

[00:33:46] Anna: to this day. yeah, 

[00:33:48] Jeremy: I told him, I said, Joe, you ever think about managing a suit? And he looked at me, he says, not in your life. So

[00:33:57] Anna: No, I think yeah, you know, he’s kind of the Bill Belichick of Major League Baseball They kind of had to make rules over what managers had to wear just because of Joe Maddon, I think

[00:34:08] Jeremy: Maybe, 

[00:34:09] Anna: Always in a sweatshirt.

[00:34:11] Jeremy: Dress code, yeah. Yeah, he always had a hoodie on.

[00:34:13] Anna: Yep, yep, yep. well Jeremy, I’ve so enjoyed this. I can’t thank you enough for making time to do it and I just, uh, really enjoyed our time together.

[00:34:23] Jeremy: Yeah, um, thank you much. Um, I really like what you’re doing. It’s very interesting. you know, I’m glad you just, you picked me. So.

[0:34:31] Anna: And that will wrap up this episode of The Baseball Bucket List Podcast. Special thanks to Jeremy Bever for joining us today and sharing those stories and memories. I was  super excited to get that  recording from Pat Hughes because that just made the story all that much better. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, if you think you think you might like to be a guest on the show, head to baseballbucketlist.com/podcast and fill out an application. I’d absolutely love to hear from you. While you’re there make sure to spend some time on the site. Sign up for a free membership, build your own baseball bucket list, track your ballpark journey, and connect with other fans just like you. That’s it for this week. Thanks so much for listening. We’ll see you next episode.