Virgen’s View: Even $3,500 a ticket can’t keep son of 1945 Cubs player from World Series Game 3
Roger Johnson became overwhelmed with emotion Wednesday when tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought about attending Game 3 of the World Series with his grandson James Ferrell at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Johnson, a Newport Beach resident, has thought a lot about his father, Don, throughout this baseball season and especially this week. Don Johnson played second base for the Chicago Cubs in 1945, the last time the Cubs were in the World Series.
Ami Ferrell, Johnson’s daughter, said she knows her father to be “extremely frugal,” but there was no way he was missing this opportunity, even at $3,500 for each ticket.
“It’s quite an emotional time,” Roger Johnson, 76, said during a phone interview, shortly after his flight had landed at O’Hare. “I’m surprised that I am so emotional about it. But we have that history going.”
There is plenty of history for the Johnsons. Don Johnson’s father, Ernie, played for the New York Yankees and was on the 1923 World Series championship team. Roger Johnson can only hope the Cubs win this series against the Cleveland Indians.
Ernie Johnson was a utility infielder for the Yankees and received a championship pocket watch that remains in the family, said Roger Johnson, who also cherishes his father’s National League championship ring from the 1945 Cubs and several vintage photos and autographed baseballs.
But Roger Johnson especially holds dear the relationship he had with his father and the love he shares with his family.
The relationship between Roger and Don wasn’t picture perfect. Don was passionate about the game and pushed to succeed by his father, Ernie.
“His dad encouraged him to not quit several times,” Roger said of Don. “I think he was 31 when he got on the Cubs. He had an unusual career. He was in the minors for 12 years and then he stayed in baseball until he was 39.”
Roger doesn’t remember the Cubs games he went to at Wrigley as a child. He said his mother, Dorothy, didn’t attend games.
They did share a special time in Sacramento, Roger said, where Don was later in his career with the Solons. Roger, at age 10, wore a game jersey and sat in the dugout to watch his dad play for the minor league team.
Roger later grew up in Laguna Beach, and played baseball and other sports for the Artists at Laguna Beach High School before graduating in 1958.
“He never talked about baseball,” Roger said of his father. “I don’t ever remember him hugging me. It was just one of those situations. I made the drive from Costa Mesa to Laguna Beach [11 years ago] and apologized for being less than a son I could’ve been. That was six months before he died. We patched things up.”
Roger is grateful for the relationships he has with his daughter and his son, Adam, an attorney, and his grandchildren, Grace Ferrell, a freshman golfer at UC Irvine, James Ferrell, a sophomore baseball player at Harbor, Jax Johnson, a junior track athlete at Edison High and Kira Johnson, a sixth-grader who plays soccer.
Roger is saddened for his son, Adam, whose father-in-law recently died and would have liked to be able to make the trip.
Roger and James Ferrell are doing their best to make the most of the experience with Adam in mind.
James, who was named team MVP of the Sailors’ freshman squad last season, wants to tour Chicago and also hopes to bring home some autographs. Roger has tried contacting the Cubs’ office for, perhaps, a tour of Wrigley before the game or any other offering for being the son of a former Cubs player who was on the 1945 team. But he hasn’t received a response.
“I really don’t know what to ask,” Roger said. “I feel awkward to ask.”
James, who plays shortstop and pitches, said he’s just excited to be in Chicago for the World Series game on Friday.
“It’s just really special,” said James, who plays travel ball with the SoCal Birds and wants to play in college. “I want to watch the Cubs win. I just want to enjoy the time.”
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Steve Virgen is the sports editor of the Daily Pilot.
Twitter: @SteveVirgen
