August 3 – 6 2017 

Beloit – Chicago – Appleton 

Chiefs/Snappers – Nationals/Cubs – Kernels/Timber Rattlers 

“ I hope I never see you again” Cole Tomfour lovingly said to Tour Operator

Rain … Great Ballpark Tour Swag … Rain … The “Bar” continues to rise, with premium cognac shots and a Bloody Mary Station on day one …Rain …Associate Pope recreates “the loaves and fishes”… Rain … Niemiec Clan… “I’m only gonna say this once (line Nazi at Lienie’s) … No rain…  Cheers in Beloit for Minnesota native and U of M 2016 Big Ten Player of the Year Matt Fielder (now with Peoria Chiefs) … No rain delay…Max & Cole first pitch… Snappers’ game “a turtle disaster” for Chiefs (who blow 6 run lead & lose 7-6 … Long Lost Returning Vets (Dave & Carol Sailor)… Foot-long Triple Grilled Cheese at Scout Waterhouse and Kitchen … Kwizmaster appropriately celebrates 70th birthday at Wrigley … Wrigleyville construction (there goes the neighborhood) … Shepard train ride to nowhere … Jerry B. revives The Cup Game (there goes the scorecard) … – Chicago Historical Museum – Bob ‘Chatterbox’ Welle impersonator ‘Digger Phelps’ … Windy City solidifies rep with “wet and wild” weather ….Wrigley’s new Jim Beam Patio …Nats’ Ben Zobrist forced at second on a right fielder-to-pitcher play (Where’sTwingo when a 9-1 forceout happens?) … Division Street Farmers’ Market … 23 strikeouts in second Cubs/Nats game …  Red Line stall not BPT related …  Steve Bartman gets ring & no boos … Emily Dickinson quotes  …  Veteran Nurse quote ‘nuts in hand better than nuts in bag’ …

Second City … 23 more strikeouts in Timber Rattlers’ contest … Curious George in the house at Appleton … Panic doors to Bloody Mary Bar locked… Kids score 4 mascot autographs …

Mad Dog and Merrill Piggy Burger … Hours (and hours) of “Back of the Bus Karaoke” …

Awards ceremony … Kids on tour expand vocabulary … Julian makes annual “Last Trip” announcement – Fake News.

2017 Trek Awards 

Rookies – Rudy Janetto & Sharon Falvey, Cole & Max Tomfoour, Jessica Niemiec, Rob Wilkie & Mary Dascher

Veteran Status – Sara Niemeic

Spillo Award (special category) – Bob ‘chatterbox’ Welle

Pacer Nominees – Dan ‘throttled back’ Chowen & Tour Operator – No Winner

Late Arriving Pacer/Larry – Scott Moen