NORMAL — This past Saturday, the Corn Crib in Normal hosted the Second Annual Legends Game.  The game began as a Cubs/Cardinals legends match-up but this year also added White Sox/Oakland player Jose Conseco and a football player who didn’t appear.  

The other eight players were Cubs and Cardinals players from the past.  

Another change this year was the game itself.  The teams played softball instead of baseball.  And, there was also a softball home run derby with Rick Ankiel (Cardinals) beating Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) 10 runs to 9.  

The power of these athletes is still amazing as they were hitting the softballs out of the park onto the concourse and the grassy knolls, way beyond any fences.  Each team (green and yellow for the local Cornbelters team) also had local dignitaries filling out their rosters.  

The proceeds of the game go to support the Children’s Miracle Network and one of their young representatives threw out the first pitch. 

The game was a seven-inning affair with lots of antics and at the end the announcer started to give the final score (which no one kept track of) and said “who really cares, we just had a lot of fun.”  The play of the game was made by Rick Ankiel at third base picking up a hot ground ball and stepping on third base for a force play and then turning 360 degrees to fire a perfect strike to the first baseman to get the runner coming down the line.

After the game, the Legends took places in the outfield and signed autographs.  Besides Ankiel and Zambrano, there was Jose Conseco, Bob Dernier, Mike Fontenot, Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, Brian Jordan, Mark Prior and Jason Isringhausen.  Great stars of the past who can still play ball, although not quite as svelte as in days gone by.

No matter what format pops up next year, anyone who loves the game should try to make it. (And watch for “Corny”, the Cornbelters mascot.)  

The band “Chicago 6” made up of ex-Chicago Bears played after the game was over until 9-10 p.m.