Before the start of the 2009 baseball season, I had only attended two rain-shortened games in my life – one in 1997 and one in 2008. Now this year, I have already attended two rain-shortened games. The first coming on May 13 and now last night’s game between the Pirates and Cubs.

Obtaining Tickets
With my parents in town, we needed to buy one additional ticket (I already have two season tickets). Since we had some time before the game, I figured I could find a free ticket outside of Wrigley Field. I sat my parents at the Captain Morgan Club while I went to look for tickets.

It took about 10 minutes but I finally found someone to give me a free ticket ($50 face value in Terrace Box). However, she also gave the second free ticket to a scalper. Since I knew her two seats were together (and that the scalper now had two singles) I offered him my two season tickets (face value $16 each) for his two singles (the free seat $50 face value and another $16 face value ticket). He accepted the trade.

Pre Game Dining
As I was trading tickets, my parents decided they wanted to eat dinner at the Captain Morgan Club – the first time I have eaten at the new Wrigley Field restaurant. Surprisingly, the food was good and the service was quick. On our walk into Wrigley Field we ran into Ronnie “Woo-Woo” Wickers and took a picture.

The Game and Rain Delay Beers
The game started seven minutes late because of the rain. The Cubs took an early lead and were able to hold on through the 5th inning as the game became “official.” In the top of 6th inning, it really started to rain hard and the game was delayed for an hour and two minutes before finally being officially called – giving the Cubs their first victory after an eight game losing streak.

At 9 pm, when the rain delay started we had two options. Either head home or wait out the delay. We chose to wait it out and did what any fan waiting out a rain delay should do – buy rain delay beers. Since the Cubs stop selling beer at 9:20 pm during night games, we bought three beers for my Dad and I. As soon as we had finished the third beer, the Cubs public address announcer announced the game had been called – the first time I have sat in the stadium when a rain-shortened game was officially over.