Players' field of dreams is Wrigley

The historic minor league game Tuesday night between the Peoria Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars at Wrigley Field was billed as "The Road to Wrigley."

The players hope that all of their games are part of the road to the major leagues.

But the unique opportunity of playing in a historic ballpark considered a shrine by local fans as well as baseball aficionados across the nation did not escape the players.

"It's a privilege to be using the same locker room as Babe Ruth, and to be in the same outfield that Sammy Sosa played in," Jason Glushon, 23, a relief pitcher for the Cougars, said before Tuesday's game, which was called in the bottom of the ninth inning because of rain with the score 6-6.

Ruth played in the American League his entire career, but it was during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field that he hit his famous "called shot" home run after making a pointing gesture toward center field. He homered on the next pitch.

"I did my research about Ruth," Glushon added. "And to be part of the first minor league game ever played here is humbling."

"It was almost like a fantasy," said Cougars relief pitcher Adam Klein, 24, of Los Angeles. "I couldn't grasp it until I was getting on the bus (to come to the park). It's pretty much of a dream come true and it's an honor to be playing in front of so many fans." The game drew a minor-league record crowd of 32,103, including Klein's parents, Terry and Jim, who traveled from L.A. to see their son play at a major league ballpark.

"Hopefully, it will encourage all of us to work harder to get to play in a major league ballpark everyday," said D.J. Hollingsworth, 23, who started in left field for the Cougars and batted second. "I grew up five minutes from the old Oakland Coliseum but it's the first time I've been to Wrigley."

There was excitement among the Peoria Chiefs, too. The team is a Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (the Cougars are an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics) and the Chiefs are managed by former Cub great and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

Russ Stewart of Oblong, Ill., drove the Chiefs to Wrigley in a chartered bus.

"Our bus was due to leave at 11:30 this morning and they were on the bus by 11," Stewart said. "There was no last-second stuff. And it was the first time they were all ready on time."