Cubs World Series tickets already on sale

Folks already are lining up to hawk tickets in case the Cubs see Game 5 of the World Series.

For just $20,000, you too can sit in row 14 of the upper deck at Wrigley Field.

Not close enough?

Then pick up a seat in Game 1 of the Series near the first base line -- also in the upper deck -- this time in row 12, section 228 for just a tad more at $75,000. Per ticket.

Listers at StubHub.com are nothing if not optimistic and fine purveyors of the free market system. The willingness of folks to so reluctantly part with their prized tickets at such, um, low-ball prices might help explain this week's warning from the Illinois Attorney General office.

It seems some folks aren't playing fair.

At least one person has already bought tickets for the opening playoff games in Arizona only to later find out the seats didn't exist.

"During this exciting playoff series, there are con artists out there looking to exploit fans who just want to show support for their team,"Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a written statement.

Hmm, go figure.

She suggests checking out any ticket broker with the National Association of Ticket Brokers, www.natb.org, and the Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org. Buyers also can contact the Illinois Secretary of State's Index Department to make sure the broker's properly registered.

Oh, and don't pay cash -- stick to credit cards or other secure payments.

If you're still looking to pick up some tickets for Saturday night's game at Wrigley, StubHub still had seats behind home plate listed for around $1,500 each as of Thursday night.