First Look: Cubs to host Rangers and Mets

First Look: Cubs to host Rangers and Mets


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CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs return home from an eventful All-Star break to host the Texas Rangers July 15-17 and the New York Mets July 18-20. The homestand includes a number of promotional giveaways, charitable opportunities and special events, plus unique food specials like the Chicago-Style Hot Dog Deep Dish Pizza from Giordano’s and Vienna Beef, or Sunday Brunch at the Ballpark presented by Tito’s Vodka complete with a food pairing from Hot Doug’s in the Budweiser Bleachers.

Once again this season, fans can learn more about their favorite players while supporting Cubs Charities as players’ wives and girlfriends auction off Cubs Players’ Favorite Things Baskets in the main concourse at Wrigley Field Saturday, July 16, and online at www.cubs.com/auction July 17-24. Baskets feature autographed memorabilia and hand-picked items, such as players’ favorite movies, restaurant gift cards, snacks, team gear and much more.

Manager Joe Maddon and his wife Jaye will give back as well as they host the second annual Respect 90 Main Event July 20 at the Wintrust Bank Building downtown. The charity boxing event gives fans an opportunity to sit ringside with Cubs players and enjoy cocktails, spirits tasting stations, dinner from Chicago's iconic Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse and a premium auction including unique sports memorabilia. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit youth boxing programs in Chicago's underserved communities. Tickets are available at www.cubs.com/mainevent.

Cubs fans have an opportunity to hear directly from Cubs executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer while enjoying a delicious lunch at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House during the second On Deck Luncheon presented by XFINITY, RSM and TimberTech Tuesday, July 19. Each On Deck Luncheon includes a live broadcast chat with featured Cubs guests, led by 670 The Score's on-air personalities Matt Spiegel and Jason Goff. Tickets and more information are available at www.cubs.com/ondeck.

Once the homestand concludes, Wrigley Field will host the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, powered by Baseball Factory, Saturday, July 23, at 3:05 p.m. The game features a collection of the country’s top high school prospects during a weekend of intense competition, instruction and national exposure. A Home Run Derby will take place before the game at 1:45 p.m., during which youth Cubs Baseball Summer Camps participants will have the opportunity to participate by catching baseballs in the outfield. Since the game’s inception in 2008, 71 Under Armour All-Americans have been selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, including All-Star Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, who participated in the event in 2010. Fans can learn more about the game and secure complimentary tickets at www.baseballfactory.com/allamerica.

Ticket availability is limited for each game this homestand. Fans can purchase tickets at www.cubs.com or 800-THE-CUBS (800-843-2827). Highlights of the homestand follow.

Promotions:

Bud Fridays continue July 15 as up to the first 5,000 Budweiser Bleacher fans age 21-and-older receive a Bud Fridays Distressed Cubs Cap.

On Sunday, July 17, up to the first 5,000 kids 13-and-younger will receive Cubs Family Decals presented by Gonnella Baking Co. Up to the first 1,000 kids 13-and-under can run the bases postgame, weather permitting.

On Monday, July 18, up to the first 10,000 fans will receive Cubs Ear Buds and Case presented by Starwood Preferred Guest.

Up to the first 10,000 fans will receive Cubs Pajama Bottoms presented by American Airlines Tuesday, July 19.

The homestand concludes Wednesday, July 20, with up to the first 10,000 fans receiving a Jake Arrieta "Cy Young" Award Bobblehead presented by Pepsi.

Guests and Entertainment:

Former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster will lead the 7th inning stretch Friday, July 15. Cubs corporate partners Advocate Health Care and Terlato Wines will be recognized pregame for their company-wide support of the team’s All-Star voting push. Both partners will receive jerseys autographed by each 2016 Cubs All-Star.

On Monday, July 18, professional skateboarder and Chicago native Chaz Ortiz will throw a ceremonial first pitch.

Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan will throw a first pitch and actor, producer and Chicago native William Petersen will lead the 7th inning stretch Tuesday, July 19.

Former Chicago Bulls center Brad Miller will throw a ceremonial first pitch Wednesday, July 20.

Food Specials:

Two of the city’s most iconic food brands, Giordano’s and Vienna Beef, have teamed up to create a specialty Chicago-Style Hot Dog Deep Dish Pizza this homestand to help celebrate National Hot Dog Month. The tasty creation features Vienna Beef hot dogs baked inside Giordano’s famous stuffed deep dish pizza, served with Giordano’s signature pizza sauce and yellow mustard. Toppings include a mixed relish of chopped tomatoes, onions, pickles and sport peppers. This limited-edition pizza is available only at Wrigley Field, sold July 15-20 at the concession stand near aisle 122 in the main concourse.

Hot Doug’s continues its rotating sausage selections at Platform 14 in the Budweiser Bleachers, including a Sunday Brunch at the Ballpark offering. The Jim Bullinger is a Vienna jalapeño-cheddar beef sausage topped with jalapeño mustard, pico de gallo and shredded pepper-jack cheese. The Bill Bonham is an atomic pork sausage topped with cherry marmalade and smoked Gouda cheese. The Les Lancaster is a beef and pork Thuringer sausage topped with Goose Island beer mustard, caramelized onions and shredded cheddar cheese.

On Sunday, July 17, Budweiser Bleacher guests can once again enjoy Brunch at the Ballpark presented by Tito’s Vodka, complete with a food pairing from Hot Doug’s. The Joe Borowski is a bacon sausage topped with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and chopped bacon, available at Platform 14. Fans also can order a Tito’s Bloody Mary made with America’s original craft vodka at the concession stands in the Right Field Porch.

Wrigley Field’s Decade Diner continues its rotating homestand specials as well, featuring a BBQ Brisket Sandwich with 18-hour smoked pulled beef brisket, BBQ sauce and crispy onions on a toasted onion roll with a side of coleslaw and french fries. Also available is the Gilbert’s Chicken Caprese Sausage featuring a chicken sausage topped with diced tomatoes, chopped basil, mozzarella pearls and balsamic glaze, served on a sausage roll with a side of french fries.

“Let’s Give” Cubs Charities Events:

Manager Joe Maddon continues his support of Chicago nonprofit organizations through his “Respect Community” charity T-shirt initiative. After every Friday home game, Maddon represents a different Chicago nonprofit by wearing the organization’s T-shirt during his postgame press conference. On Friday, July 15, Maddon will represent Crushers Club, which arms young people with the support and skills needed to restore their lives and improve their neighborhood. A portion of the proceeds from Maddon’s Respect 90 Main Event July 20 will benefit Crushers Club's youth boxing program in Englewood.

Cubs wives and girlfriends will once again create and auction off Chicago Cubs Players’ Favorite Things Baskets. Each basket will contain one-of-a-kind autographed memorabilia and hand-picked items, such as players’ favorite movies, restaurant gift cards, snacks, team gear and much more. The auction will launch online July 17-24 and also will be available inside the concourse at Wrigley Field Saturday, July 16. Net proceeds benefit Cubs Charities. For more information or to place a bid online, visit www.cubs.com/auction.

Before the game Tuesday, July 19, Cubs leadership and front office associates, including Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, will host a signing ceremony for the incoming 2016 Cubs Scholars class and celebrate the college selections of the 2015 graduates in Wrigley Field’s Audi Club. In addition to Cubs College Prep, Cubs Charities will sponsor each of the five Cubs Scholars in a five-year college preparation and persistence program offered by Chicago Scholars, an established mentoring program serving inner-city students.

Following the game Wednesday, July 20, Cubs manager Joe Maddon and his wife Jaye will host the second annual Respect 90 Main Event at Wintrust Bank Building downtown. The charity boxing event will feature several local youth boxers at various skill levels as well as a special main event bout. Guests will be able to sit ringside with Cubs players and enjoy cocktails, spirits tasting stations, dinner from Chicago's iconic Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse and a premium auction including unique sports memorabilia. A limited number of general admission tickets are available at www.cubs.com/mainevent. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit youth boxing programs in Chicago's underserved communities.

Homestand Recap, July 15-20:

Friday, July 15, Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers, 1:20 p.m.

· Promotion: Bud Fridays Distressed Cubs Cap, up to first 5,000 Budweiser Bleacher guests age 21-and-older

· 7th inning stretch: Former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster

· Broadcast: CSN, MLB Network, 670 The Score, Cubs.com

Saturday, July 16, Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers, 1:20 p.m.

· Cubs Charities: Players' Favorite Things Baskets

· Broadcast: ABC 7, MLB Network, 670 The Score, Cubs.com

Sunday, July 17, Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers, 1:20 p.m.

· Promotion: Cubs Family Decals presented by Gonnella Baking Co., up to the first 5,000 kids 13-and-younger

· Food Special: Brunch at the Ballpark presented by Tito’s Vodka in the Budweiser Bleachers

· Broadcast: ABC 7, TBS, 670 The Score, Cubs.com

· Postgame: Kids Run the Bases, first 1,000 kids 13-and-under

Monday, July 18, Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets, 6:05 p.m.

· Promotion: Cubs Ear Buds with Case presented by Starwood Preferred Guest, up to the first 10,000 fans

· First pitch: Professional skateboarder and Chicago native Chaz Ortiz

· Broadcast: WPWR, ESPN, 670 The Score, Cubs.com

Tuesday, July 19, Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets, 6:05 p.m.

· Pregame: On Deck Luncheon Series with 670 The Score at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House

· Promotion: Cubs Pajama Bottoms presented by American Airlines, up to the first 10,000 fans

· First pitch: Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan

· 7th inning stretch: Actor, producer and Chicago native William Petersen

· Broadcast: CSN, ESPN, 670 The Score, Cubs.com

Wednesday, July 20, Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets, 1:20 p.m.

· Promotion: Jake Arrieta "Cy Young" Award Bobblehead presented by Pepsi, up to the first 10,000 fans

· First pitch: Former Chicago Bulls center Brad Miller

· Broadcast: ABC 7, ESPN, 670 The Score, Cubs.com

· Postgame: Joe Maddon’s Respect 90 Main Event

Saturday, July 23, Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, powered by Baseball Factory, 3:05 p.m.

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