Despite another second-division finish, the Cubs will increase some ticket prices for the 1988 season. Terrace box and upper deck box seats will go from $8 a game to $9. All other prices will remain the same. All home games are slated for 1:20 p.m. starts, except for 24 at 3:05 p.m. Needless to say, those times are subject to change.
Quick. Who was the Cubs` leading hitter (by average) last season?
Why, Jerry Mumphrey, of course. He hit .304 last season and is hitting .328 this year, second only to Bobby Dernier`s .335. But interim manager Frank Lucchesi is more impressed with Mumphrey`s attitude.
”If I had to pick out one guy on this ballclub who conducted himself like a professional, it`s Jerry Mumphrey,” said Lucchesi. ”I talked to Jerry a week ago. He knows the situation. He knows we want to look at (rookie)
Rafael Palmeiro. But Jerry has been beautiful about it. He has the best attitude on the club.”
Lucchesi waxed nostalgic about his last Wrigley Field appearance as interim manager of the Cubs.
”This is my last hurrah at Wrigley Field as a manager,” said Lucchesi.
”Maybe forever.”
Asked if he wanted to return as the Cubs` eye-in-the-sky next year, Lucchesi replied: ”I don`t know. That`s up to them upstairs. I hope to end my baseball career with the Cubs. I love the town. I love the people. It`s America`s team. I want to pull a George Burns.”
Lucchesi said he was moved to tears before Sunday`s game when 11-year-old Jeff Murray presented him with a gift and a letter of thanks from his mother in the parking lot. Lucchesi befriended the youngster early in the season when he found out the boy could not afford to attend many games. Lucchesi provided tickets for him the rest of the year.
Reliever Frank DiPino has made a career-high 66 appearances out of the Cubs`
bullpen. He has allowed just three earned runs in his last 11 1/3 innings, covering 11 appearances.
Dernier, used mostly in a platoon role this year, is hitting .346 against lefties and .308 against right-handers.
