Cornfed Librarian

We hope you'll be joining us at the post-conference trip to an Iowa Cubs game. Principal Park is a lovely little ballpark, nestled at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. It's a great place to sample the charms of Midwest minor league ball. And, it's a great opportunity to see a Hall of Famer in the dugout, if not on the field.

True, the Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A team, but this year, they've got a a Major League star at the helm: former Chicago Cub and Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ryne Sandberg signed on as coach during the off-season.

Sandberg played for the Cubs from 1982-1994 and again in 1996-97. He is widely considered the best second baseman of his era and arguably the best ever. After all, he is the only second baseman in major-league history to win nine Gold Gloves. He played four entire seasons in which he did not make a single throwing error. And his career fielding percentage of .989 is the best mark by a second baseman in major-league history. (Even more details, including a nice summary of his amazing 1984 season, can be found on the Chicago Cubs site.)

He's been hanging around the Cub organization lately, coaching the Class-A Peoria Chiefs, then the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, before his promotion to the Iowa Cubs. There are some who say he's being prepared to return to the big leagues when Lou Pinella retires, but meanwhile -- he's here in Iowa!

Chicago retired Sandberg's number in 2008, and he was on hand to lead the crowd in a rousing chorus of Take Me Out to the Ballgame; don't you just want to sing along?