Glen Ellyn man recalls 25 years behind scenes with Cubs

Growing up on Chicago's South Side, Jimmy William Farrell was a White Sox fan, but his mother took him to Cubs games too.

“I'd cheer for both teams,” he said.

Little did Farrell know after military service and a career working for the Chicago Public Schools, he would become one of the Cubs' biggest boosters as their umpire coordinator for 25 years.

“It was a great run,” said Farrell, 89, now a resident of the Meadows of Glen Ellyn retirement community. “We had more fun together.”

Farrell, who retired from his job with the Cubs three years ago, has written a memoir of his life, “Mr. Jimmy Farrell: My Life Story,” which includes many pictures and memories of his Cubs days, as well as family photos.

“It's great hearing all those wonderful stories. Very inspiring,” said Donna Giuseffi, who helped Farrell put his memoir together as an employee of My Way Village/Connected Living, a company that teaches senior citizens how to use computers.

Farrell said he wrote the memoir for family and friends at Giuseffi's urging. “If it wasn't for her, there would be no book,” he said.

Basketball to Cubs

Farrell always loved baseball, but his prowess at basketball dominated his high school career. He attended St. Leo High School in Chicago on a basketball scholarship and led the school to a National Catholic School Championship in his senior year. His accomplishments on the basketball court recently were recognized when he was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame.

Farrell entered Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, on another basketball scholarship with the intention of becoming a priest. Then he met Eleanor, a farm girl from the Dubuque area, and heard her sing.

“Priesthood went out of my mind,” he said.

The couple married 67 years ago. By that time, Farrell had left college to join the Army during World War II and served stateside. Several years after his military service, he returned to Chicago and worked for the board of education for 29 years. He retired as a custodian engineer in 1980.

That's when Eleanor told him he needed to find something to do.

“I was in her way all the time. That's how it all started,” he said.

A friend knew someone who had gotten a job with the Chicago Cubs and suggested Farrell apply. He didn't really expect to hear from the Cubs but they called him two days after he turned in the application. He spent the next 25 years at Wrigley Field during the baseball season looking after the needs of the umpires, making sure players' uniforms were ready, dropping the first-pitch ball on the mound, and providing food and drink to players and umpires.

Farrell became a fixture at Wrigley Field and a special friend to some of the players. Former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg invited Farrell to his wedding and mentioned him in his speech when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“He was there every single day of my career and did a great job,” Sandberg said in a telephone interview with the Daily Herald. “He was the biggest Cubs fan. He pulled for the players just about as hard as anybody.”

Sandberg remembered a game in 1984 when Farrell wanted to encourage former Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. Farrell placed a rabbit's foot on the pitcher's mound. Sutcliffe picked up the good luck charm, put it in his back pocket and pitched a great game, Sandberg said.

Farrell also took Sandberg on a surprise visit to a convent where Farrell did maintenance work in the off-season. The nuns impressed Sandberg with their baseball knowledge, Farrell said.

“They were big Cubs fans,” Sandberg recalled. “They were all fired up to come (see a game).”

Farrell said he became a father figure to many of the players. He took their good-natured ribbing and gave it in return.

“Most of those players are like everyone else,” Farrell said. “They were a bunch of great guys.”

During his long baseball career, Farrell met many famous people, including Bill Cosby, Jay Leno and Michael Jordan. He was photographed with President Ronald Reagan and got an autograph from Hillary Clinton.

Farrell himself became a local celebrity. He often was recognized when he walked the streets of Chicago, and was featured in newspaper articles and on TV. Farrell is spotlighted in the books “Cubs Nation” and “Cubs Forever.”

A life meant to be

While Farrell was placing a ball on the field or leaning against the dugout railing, Eleanor was in the stands. She became famous for the hats she wore. A member of the barbershop musical group Sweet Adelines, Eleanor sang with them when they brought their four-part harmony to Wrigley Field. Not surprisingly, the Farrells celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary within the Friendly Confines.

Farrell figures it must have been God's plan for him to meet and marry a girl from Iowa.

“There was no way in the world for me, being from Canaryville, South Side, rough neighborhood, to marry a farm girl (but) it happened,” he said. “Our life was meant to be.”

The couple, who have four children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, moved to the Meadows in Glen Ellyn just over a year ago. Their apartment is filled with photos and souvenirs of Farrell's Cubs days and he still goes to some games. But Farrell has moved on to a new phase of his life.

“You can never go back once you retire,” he said.

To read Jimmy Farrell's memoir, go to connectedliving.mem.com and search for Farrell.