The Chicago Cubs will remember and honor Ernie Banks throughout the 2015 season, and it will start on Opening Night when Mr. Cub’s sons, Joey and Jerry, will throw out the first pitch after Banks is honored in a pre-game ceremony. Banks’ sons will also sing the 7th inning stretch, the team announced.
Players will wear a commemorative number 14 patch this season, and fans will receive a number 14 pin at Opening Night. The bases will be adorned with Ernie Banks tribute base jewels, and this CBS report indicates that the unfinished bleachers will be covered with large pictures celebrating the life of Ernie Banks. I’m disappointed about the bleacher delay, but this is a pretty great way to honor Mr. Cub and simultaneously make the best of the construction situation. Just thinking about seeing it. I’m getting chills.
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Unrelated to Banks, the Cubs also announced, among other things about the initial home stand, that there’s a new sandwich at the ballpark this year:
The “Joe Maddon Italian Hoagie” makes its Wrigley Field debut on the same day as its namesake new Cubs manager. The sandwich is a time-honored recipe straight from the skipper’s family vault, featuring ham, salami, white American cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, spicy peppers and olive oil, served on fresh hoagie roll.