Cougars at Wrigley a big-league opportunity

Laurie Krook had seen a Kane County Cougars game before Tuesday.

She just had never had to pay $30 for parking at a game.

What made it easier to tolerate, however, was that for $40, the Grayslake resident and her husband, Patrick, could take their two children, 8-year-old Josie and 5-year-old Jackson, to see Wrigley Field.

"It just makes it a lot easier to take them," she said. "The price is perfect."

The Cougars and the Peoria Chiefs played in what was believed to be the first minor league game ever played in the Friendly Confines on Tuesday night - and it didn't end. In the bottom of the 9th with the score tied at 6 and the Chiefs threatening with 1 out, the game was suspended after a 29-minute rain delay.

So the 32,103 fans won't get to see who wins unless they got tickets to Wednesday's game in Peoria; the two teams will finish their first game there before the second game of the series.

The Wrigley fan count was more than double the previous Midwest League record of 14,492, set by the same two teams Aug. 11, 2007.

The Krooks attended the game primarily so their the kids could run the bases after the game.

"That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Laurie said.

But that opportunity was spoiled when lightning came during the rain delay and the base-running was called off, too.

Although tickets were inexpensive, concession prices still remained the same.

Bottled water cost $4, cotton candy cost $5 and the price of a beer was $5.75.

For the Bimlers of South Elgin, a Cougars game on a summer evening has become a regular thing, albeit not at Wrigley Field.

Kim Bimler said she and her husband Kurt have followed the team since its inception in 1991.

"It's good baseball," she said. "You can watch it and see players on their way up."

Kim said they have seen Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett and Tigers left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis, both of whom came up through the Florida Marlins minor-league system when the Cougars were an affiliate of the team.

For at least one fan, Tuesday represented a chance to see her namesake up close.

Tristan Ryne Bryan, 9, of downstate Champaign was named after former Cubs second baseman and Peoria Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg.

Chuck and Kim Bryan brought Tristan, along with her three siblings, to the game.

"It's exciting," Chuck said. "Usually, you'll spend $500-600 to come to a game. We're here for about $50."

Sandberg attracted a large number of fans.

The Hall of Famer said the minor leagues' lower prices allowed several fans to experience the field he used to call home.

"There might be some people here who have never had a chance to come to Wrigley Field, but under these circumstances, this is a great opportunity for them," he said. "That's what minor league baseball is all about."

One of those first-timers was Cameron Toppel of Round Lake.

The 7-year-old Cubs fan had never been to the Friendly Confines until Tuesday night.

Cameron's father, Chad, said the reduced prices made it easy for him to decide to take his son.

"He's always wanted to go to Wrigley Field, but the price is just too high," he said. "We saw it took 10 bucks and couldn't pass up the opportunity."

Opportunity: Kids have chance to run the bases