I know I don't have this but I'm just curious who has been dealing with all this the longest.

I started in 1976. My older brother wouldn't let me watch Sesame Street so I became a Jose Cardenal fan.

So 39 years for this guy.

Let's hear some stories.

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You know me like that.

- Mom sold Jose's house in Northbrook. First Cub I was a fan of!
-Kingman became very good friends and busy partners with my cousin. Still have many Kingman items to this day. If you even went to Kingmans Landing Ice Cream Parlor, that was their place.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I can vividly remember the Sandber game in 84 even at the age of 6. I cried when Garvey hit the home run and I still see Henry Cotto atop the outfield fence in Jack Murphy.

Not knowing Cubdom past, I just assumed we'd be back the next year. Little did I know what I signed up for.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

My first baseball memories are from the 83 season. Then 84 was a crazy summer.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I remember listening on my transistor radio outside while working on my Whiffle Ball riseball in, I'll say 1979, to Heity Cruz hitting a PH homer to win a game in Atlanta and thinking that he's their next superstar.

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You know me like that.

I remember watching games at my grandparents house both in the basement and backyard. My Grandfather teaching me about baseball. I was like 10-11 years old so that was like 37 years ago. My moms family was transplanted Northsiders so even though we lived in the Ville,we was Cub fans.

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

I was a fan from about 1984 til 1991. It was rough. I'm hoping they win it for all the fans I know, it'd be great for you guys.

I can say 1967 is when I started paying attention. Cubs had a 6 year span where they were always favored back then.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

The first game I remember watching with some level of intent and enjoyment was in 1977 when they beat the Padres 23-6.

(much later that year I was listening to my first Bears game and I recall being incredulous not only at how long each "inning" took to play, but how they could finish 9 of them in a day. I was 4, so ...).

I recall being struck by the conflicting feelings of the Cubs losing the last game of the year but then how happy that he was recognized after the game for having the top batting average that year (1980 ... yes I had to look it up).

1984 was so great ... and so crushing. Didn't think it could ever be that bad again. 2003 eventually came by. I'd like to think 2015 won't be the new standard.

Schooling was very important BUT I was always allowed to stay home for the season opener each year. This was true even through college ... one year in particular was amusing as a number of us "skipped" classes that day to attend ... and ran into one of our teachers in the bleachers. It cost us each a beer but he couldn't be too mad because he was ostensibly at a "Doctor's Appointment".

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I remember a game at Dodger Stadium. I was about to go out and play baseball and my dad told me to wait and watch Kingman. Of course, he homered. Both those guys were awesome.

And Doc, I remember that Heity Cruz home run. I thought he was gonna be a good one. God, I was a delusional little Cub fan.

DT, was that Buckner who won the batting title?

First real memory was the Sandberg game. Family was at Rimas Lodge for some weird event and we listened on the radio.
And Steve fucking Garvey.
So 1984, a 7 year old Darko was a fan.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

My dad knew Joey Amalfitano and Kessinger and we would sometimes get the "good" seats behind the Cubs dugout. That puts me late 1960s. Myfirst favorite Cub was Trillo. I started to throw to 1B like him

I have to figure so. He led w/ Batting Average but not the other two categories.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bucknbi01.shtml

I think I just read that when you see the fella jump at the wall during Henry Aaron's 715th home run, that's Buckner, who started life as a Left Fielder. Who knew.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Buck had some wheels before the knees went out.

Bill Madlock was my brother's favorite player so, as a family, we hated Jim Barr since he beaned Madlock intentionally which led to a bench-clearer.

Still hate Jim Barr. He's probably dead. So I win.

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You know me like that.

♫ Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Padres ... ♫

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Your victory has not quite arrived yet ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Barr

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I can wait.

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You know me like that.

Remember how hyped we all were for Gary Scott, Kevin Orie, Mike Harkey etc....

That's what being a Cub fan has always been for me. Hoping that this new young ballplayer was going to be the one to lead us out of the darkness and into the Championship light.

It's also what makes this year so damn fun. Young prospects actually living up to the hype. Maybe just maybe, out eternal optimism will finally be rewarded.

I literally punched a hole in our ceiling that day.

My parents weren't pleased but it's their fault I was that tall.

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You know me like that.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

My newly ringed wife used to have an Orie jersey.

I wish we still had it for ironic purposes.

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You know me like that.

Not a fan per se but my first Cub memories were Rick Monday, Dave Kingman and Ivan DeJesus. Kessinger and Rueschel as well. My mom loved Santo.

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Elections have consequences.

I don't need to hear Mike Harkey's name much, if ever, again ...

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Harkey was supposed to be the next Ray Burris.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

ill be 39 in 6 years.

is it really all over then?

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

I was crushed when he blew his knee out doing cartwheels in the outfield. Then again I was the kid who jacked when Jeff Pico made his debut and threw a shutout. And don't forget Jim Bullinger cracking a homer to center against the Expos. I was also dumb enough to think we fleeced the Cardinals when we traded for Todd Zeile.

"We got Zeile! We got Zeile!"

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Speaking of olden days, I wouldn't have out of Wrigley speakers once https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Pz2Yx2il4

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George