Imrem: Ricketts stays true to his word on Chicago Cubs

As the Chicago Cubs come home Monday night as World Series champions, it's a good time to salute the man most responsible for their success.

Tom Ricketts, that is.

Shortly before closing on the purchase of the club in 2009, the Cubs' chairman met in Wrigley Field with three of us from the Daily Herald.

Let's review a few of Ricketts' remarks from that conversation.

Q. Will you be hands-on?

A. Hands-on, yes, from the standpoint of being out in the stands talking to folks, being a part of the game from the fan perspective. Hands-off to the extent that player decisions have to be made by people you've hired to make player decisions.

Update: Ricketts has interacted with fans in Wrigley Field during bad times and now good times while permitting his baseball department to function.

Q. What's the long-term viability of the ballpark?

A. The good news about Wrigley Field is that the infrastructure, the kind of "bones" of the stadium, are in good shape. It is 100 percent the intention of me and the family to preserve and improve Wrigley Field … I don't think you'll see us move, ever.

Update: Ownership stuck to that vow despite conflicts with the city, local residents and rooftop owners across Waveland and Sheffield.

Q. Will we notice a difference in Wrigley Field in five years?

A. Even if you come back every Opening Day and look around and say, "Oh, there's something new that wasn't here last year" … that's the really big challenge from the ownership chair, prioritizing those things, seeing what the stadium looks like in five to seven years and figure out a way to really execute (the renovation plan).

Update: Something new could be seen at Wrigley Field each of the past couple of years, from expanded bleachers to additional advertising signage to the relocated bullpens, with more to come.

Q. Is a Jumbotron coming to Wrigley Field?

A. If we can figure out a way to get a little more electronic with fans in the stadium, we'll look at that. … We think we can maintain competitiveness of the team without a Jumbotron and huge in-stadium signage.

Update: Videoboards hover over the left-field and right-field walls.

Q. Will the name of the ballpark change?

A. We're not looking at any naming-rights things right now … Down the line, I won't say that it will never happen, that we won't look at some extra sponsorship around the name.

Update: Sarcastically speaking, the White Sox beat the Cubs to "Guaranteed Rate Field."

Q. Do you have plans to hire a "baseball man"?

A. There are no plans for that.

Update: Then along came Theo Epstein.

Q. Will you improve working conditions for players?

A. In the context of a larger redesign, yes, there is stuff that can be done … One of the things I think is important is you want to have a place where players want to play.

Update: Cubs players love their new disco clubhouse with a party room where the Kardashians would feel comfortable unwinding.

Q. Can you picture yourself as the owner when the Cubs win the World Series?

A. I'm not sure I've pictured myself there yet.

Update: All Ricketts had to do was take a selfie with the World Series trophy last autumn.

Overall, Tom Ricketts' has been (mostly) true to his 2009 word.

mimrem@dailyherald.com