Ryne Sandberg has been my favorite player since 1988. Growing up in Arkansas, I didn't have the luxury of going to Chicago Cubs games. I never got the chance to see Ryno play in person. Until last Memorial Day weekend, I never had even seen him in person. The Iowa Cubs were visiting the Nashville Sounds that weekend. We had planned a trip to visit my sister in Kentucky, and since this was only a two-hour drive from her house, we decided it was a perfect time to see him.

We arrived at Greer Stadium a few minutes before the game (not as early as I had hoped). Not being very experienced in the autograph-seeking game, I wasn't sure where the prime spots were. Once Sandberg came out to sign, a herd of people rushed up to see him. Not being in the proper spot, I had my little brother, who is a few inches taller, use his reach to get him to sign a card for me. I had hoped to get a picture signed as well, but I was more than happy to get the one card signed. It was surreal. Even though I didn't get to talk to Ryno, I got to a point where I didn't think I would ever get this close to him.

I chose to have him sign his 1983 Topps rookie card.

Here are a few pictures of Ryno at the ballpark. It was a great game, even though we had to fight the rain or the heat and humidity throughout. The I-Cubs did come out on top 5-3.