Cubs fan carted off field after falling onto warning track (VIDEO)

A man was carted off Wrigley Field and hospitalized after he slipped and fell while attempting to jump from the bleachers before a game between the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.

The Cubs, who didn’t identify the man, said in a statement the fan “was injured after attempting to jump onto the field.”

The incident happened around 7 p.m., about the scheduled start time, but the tarp was on the field because of earlier heavy rain. The game later began after a delay of 1 hour, 35 minutes.

The man, dressed in shorts and sneakers, was face down just in front of the ivy in right-center field when officials started running from the dugouts to assist him. They immediately checked his pulse while a medic ran in from right field.

This guy just jumped the outfield wall and hasn't moved for over 10 minutes!😬⚾️⚾️ #wrigley #savage #cubsgame pic.twitter.com/oAbSyAyJyV

— Brandon (@Brandon13_22) July 8, 2016

It took three people to turn the man over onto his back. They then pulled up his shirt and put on a brace to stabilize his neck before strapping him onto a backboard and loading him into a cart. Witnesses said he appeared to be awake as they carted him from the field.

The man was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Cubs release statement after fan injured in apparent jump from Wrigley Field bleachers: https://t.co/gci97Y6XL4 pic.twitter.com/iiHHlA40aE

— NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) July 8, 2016

“We will remain in contact with the fan’s family to stay updated on his progress,” the team said.

MLB looks to end on-field champagne celebrations: Report

Major League Baseball, seemingly taking a lead from that No Fun League, had a message to teams that carry their postseason champagne celebrations onto the field to spray fans: Don't pop that cork outside.

MLB, concerned that such celebratory interaction in the stands is getting out of control and poses potential danger for fans, especially young ones, claimed there could even be disciplinary action involved.

After the Mets clinched the NLCS in Game 4 on Wednesday night, officials stopped several players at the door of the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field and asked them not to go onto the field carrying champagne bottles.

Some players were annoyed, but soon after, manager Terry Collins was on the field spraying a few dozen jubilant Mets fans — who seemed to love every spritz from the bottle.

Amazing video of Terry Collins spraying the Mets fans at Wrigley with champagne! @SNYtv pic.twitter.com/W9FYWGbPjR

— Matt Dunn (@MattDunnSNY) October 22, 2015

It was not clear whether Collins had any idea that MLB had been trying to curtail such behavior.

But Collins' celebration was shared widely on social media and further cemented his popularity among the Mets faithful.

Terry Collins sprays Mets fans with champagne after team sweeps Cubs (VIDEO)

A small group of Mets fans got to be part of an amazing celebration after their team beat the Cubs, 8-3, to clinch a World Series berth in Chicago Wednesday night.

To show his appreciation for their away game support, Mets manager Terry Collins made the loyal fans part of the team's celebration when he playfully sprayed them with champagne as they chanted, "Let's go Mets" behind their Wrigley Field dugout after the game.

Amazing video of Terry Collins spraying the Mets fans at Wrigley with champagne! @SNYtv pic.twitter.com/W9FYWGbPjR

— Matt Dunn (@MattDunnSNY) October 22, 2015

It's been 15 years since a Mets team won a pennant, so the fans also chanted the manager's name, "Terry Collins," in gratitude as well.

Terry Collins just doused Mets fans with champagne. They are chanting his name in gratitude.

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) October 22, 2015

Anthony Rizzo climbs Wrigley Field tarp to make amazing catch (VIDEO)

We all love seeing players leaping into the stands for a catch, but Anthony Rizzo just might have set the bar pretty high for all amazing catches in the future.

The Chicago Cubs first baseman tested the limits of the Wrigley Field playing area, and a little known Major League Baseball rule, to complete one of the wildest plays ever.

The acrobatic play happened in the sixth inning of Wednesday's Cubs 3-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers when Rizzo chased Ryan Braun's pop-up down the first-base line before hopping on the tarp and tumbling into the stands to make the catch.

The second best part of the play might be the Cubs fans who engulfed Rizzo who landed about three rows up. 

And because the nimble-footed Rizzo made the catch with one foot on the wall and not in the stands, it was ruled an out.

Betcha didn't know about that rule?

Former Yankee Joe Pepitone: I got Mickey Mantle stoned and hid drugs in Wrigley Field ivy

Longtime Yankees first baseman and outfielder Joe Pepitone reminisced with Rolling Stone upon the reissue of his 1975 autobiography, Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud. 

The tell-all-book — there is talk about making it into a movie — covers his days playing on the diamond but, more interestingly, recounts colorful off-the-field anecdotes like playing pool with Frank Sinatra, hanging out with the Mafia and turning Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford on to pot.

And in one particularly crazy story, he admits hiding the drugs he regularly got from fans in Wrigley Field’s ivy while playing for the Cubs in the early 1970s.

And, after reading this excerpt, you will never look at the revered ivy the same way again:

The Bleacher Bums at the Cubs’ ballpark, they’d hit me in the back with a (expletive) football during warm-ups, and I’d turn around and play catch with them. One time, someone hit me in the back with some foil, all wrapped up, and there’s like four joints in it. I went and stuck it in the ivy on the outfield wall, but I remembered where I put it. Once they saw me do that, the regular Bleacher Bums started throwing things at me every day; I’d get hit with a little packet, I’d look and there’s a gram of coke in there. I was like, “Holy (expletive)!” Right into the ivy with it! I’m telling you, I got speed, I got everything. Used to be I was always the first person at the ballpark, and the first one to leave; next thing you know, people are wondering why I’m hanging out at the ballpark so long. Leo [Durocher] goes, “You still here?” “Yeah, I gotta get a rubdown from the trainer!” Then I’d be out in centerfield with my shorts on, looking through the ivy to find my dope. I loved Chicago! With the (expletive) I was getting in centerfield, I woulda played for nothing!

Pepitone, a hard-partying fan favorite, was named to All-Star teams (1963-65), won a championship (1962) and some Gold Gloves (1965, 1966, 1969), but he never truly fulfilled his potential.

And that was before his wild life really caught up to him. Pepitone was sentenced to six months in jail for drug charges in 1986.

The shaggy-topped Pep was at his prime in the Swinging Sixties so the interview is both entertaining and real — which means Pepitone drops the F-word and names with equal aplomb.

He also seems pretty proud about the numerous mentions he got on Seinfeld.

Cubs fan holding baby interferes with foul ball at Wrigley Field (VIDEO)

Haven't fans at Wrigley Field learned anything about interfering with a player while the ball is still in play?

First there was the infamous Steve Bartman incident which added another year to the Cubbies' World Series drought a few years back — but at least he wasn't holding a baby.

During Tuesday night’s game against the Dodgers, not only did a fan pull a Bartman and interfere with a foul ball, but he did it while dangling a toddler sucking on a bottle in his other arm.

Watch as Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel pops a ball into foul territory behind first base and the fan reaches over the wall and snags the ball away from Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

The fan clearly interfered with the play but did not mind dangling his infant child from his arm as he held up his trophy.

But while the Wrigley Field crowd applauded the man for his impressive one-handed grab, and for stealing an out from the Dodgers and keeping the at-bat alive, the umpires reviewed the play and called Hammel out because of the bad daddy's interference.

Cubs put Blackhawks' game on Wrigley video board during rain delay (VIDEO)

Chicago Cubs traditionalists have been complaining about the new video boards installed at Wrigley Field all season — feeling it takes away from the iconic look of the old ballpark. However, those video boards found some new fans Saturday night when the Cubs' game against the Cincinnati Reds went into a rain delay.

With the Chicago Blackhawks playing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at the same time, there was probably more then a few of the nearly 41,000 fans in the ballpark cursing in their beers about missing a pivotal NHL playoff game for a night of wet baseball.

But, luckily for them, the Cubs were ready.

To everyone who tweeted us politely asking to play the @NHLBlackhawks on the video board during the rain delay, YOU'RE WELCOME.

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 14, 2015

The Wrigley crowd reacts to Chicago's go-ahead goal in the third period. They even blared the Blackhawks' goal horn in the stadium.

#Blackhawks score, Wrigley Field reaction pic.twitter.com/E4iK1549uv

— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) June 14, 2015

And to top it off later, Kris Bryant doubled and scored on Starlin Castro's walk-off single in the ninth inning to lift the Cubs to a 4-3 victory.

Who knew it was two-for-one night at Wrigley?

Cubs fans resort to urinating in beer cups due to Wrigley Field renovations (PHOTOS)

Say what you will about Chicago Cubs fans but when they gotta go, they gotta go.

During the Cubs opening night loss to the Cardinals Sunday night, unfinished renovations at Wrigley Field caused lines to the bathrooms to get so long, some fans relieved themselves by using empty beer cups instead of waiting for a urinal.

I'm rather certain this is not flat beer. pic.twitter.com/UCEjhDoi0A
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 6, 2015

Photos of the long lines and cups of urine surfaced on Twitter as fans voiced their frustrations at the stadium delays caused by the construction, with some saying they waited two innings to use the bathroom.

From a friend at wrigley. These are the lines for the bathroom. Ouch. Looks like the renovation hasn't gone so well. pic.twitter.com/heeUH2Rdab
— Craig Mac (@CraigMac) April 6, 2015

@Cubs 30 minute bathroom line and no food at concessions? #lame #unacceptable
— Brad Curtis (@bcurtis2) April 6, 2015

Good news for Cubs! 20 minute lines for bathrooms made fans forget about long lines for metal detectors. http://t.co/Wgs9diKKyH
— James Risen (@JamesRisen) April 6, 2015

The bleachers at Wrigley are currently off-limits because of the construction and are covered in a tarp honoring the late Ernie Banks as they continue work in that area of the park. The renovations are expected to be completed by June.

Conditions that would even make a goat blush.

Elderly Wrigley Field fan makes great catch, throws back decoy ball (VIDEO)

This old guy made a great play in the Wrigley Field bleachers by grabbing Mark Reynolds's second-inning home run — and it might have been the best catch in any MLB stadium Monday night.

Study this photo by @NuccioDiNuzzo /Chicago Tribune .. EVERY part of it is awesome. pic.twitter.com/Se3sCPnAZ8
— Chi Trib Photo (@ChiTribPhoto) August 12, 2014

The gray-haired senior in a Cubs jersey almost backflipped over the fence to snag the ball, thrilling the crowd around him. Too bad though, just like another fan from a month ago, he punks out and throws a decoy ball back onto the outfield.

If you look closely, you can see him reach down and grab the dummy ball from the bleachers and throw it back with the real one still in his glove.

Listen up Cubs fans. If you're going to make a statement, don't pussy out.

Charlie Blackmon's outstanding leaping catch extends game (VIDEO)

Charlie Blackmon made a tremendous game-saving catch to rob Welington Castillo of a sure base hit Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

The incredible 10th inning play not only extended the game and knocked the wind out of the Rockies rightfielder but it had the breathless Cubs fans actually stand up in appreciation of the outstanding play.

The game lingered on for another six innings before the Cubs overcame a three run deficit and beat the Rockies, 4-3, in the wee hours of the morning.

Scoreboard operator takes nap during middle of Mets-Cubs game (VIDEO)

The New York Mets' broadcasters have a lot of fun teasing an operator caught sleeping on the job inside Wrigley Field's hand-turned scoreboard Tuesday night. And the fifth inning snooze was all caught on camera.

The dozing number turner — who might have the easiest job outside of Vanna White — might find himself with a lot of free time to rest after his bosses see the video of him cutting ZZZs during the game.

A Mets-Cubs matchup might not be the most thrilling spectacle in sports ... but come on.

We all know the real score here: Robotic automation 1 Human workforce 0.

Bootleg Cubs mascot punches dude for removing his head (VIDEO)

An imitation Chicago Cubs mascot punched out a man who removed his giant head in a Wrigleyville bar Saturday.

Clearly, this was NOT the Cubs' official Clark the Cub mascot — but some mutant version of the cuddly bear. While Clark was prancing around Wrigley Field, this brute was brawling with patrons in a saloon.

Kind of like those dirty Elmos who hang around Times Square.

The video starts off innocently enough, with the bootleg mascot posing for pictures with some fans, but things turn nasty when some dude behind him sneaks up and snatches his furry bear head from his shoulders.

It looks like a few words are exchanged and then the phony mascot  known as Billy Cub — who already has a reputation for being abusive and racially insensitive with fans — lays into the guy with his clenched bear paw.

The best part? When the mean mascot puts his head back on and looks around for any more takers.

David Cross apologizes for 'awful' rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley (VIDEO)

Actor and comedian David Cross leads Cubs fans in  "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch of Saturday's game and immediately apologizes for his "awful" rendition when he is through.

The camera captures the stunned reactions of fans as he shrieks out the traditional song and Cross seems to know it.

Following the song, Cross humbly addressed the crowd, saying, "That was awful. Thank you very much. I’m so sorry. Next time, guys. Next time."

You can bet Cross' "Arrested Development" character, Tobias Fünke, would have called it Awe-some.

Cubs make TV series remove '2012 World Series Champions' from Wrigley scene

It looks like proclaiming the Chicago Cubs "2012 World Series Champions" on a new NBC series was even more science fiction than the beleaguered team could take.

A scene from an early version of the network's new sci-fi series, "Revolution" — set 15 years into the future — showed the marquee outside of a dilapidated, overgrown Wrigley Field which read, "2012 World Series Champions."

When the Cubs management found out about the fantasy shot, they complained to show creator Eric Kripke, a longtime Cubs fan, and those words were digitally removed in the version of the show that premiered last Monday night.

The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world which all technology on Earth has been disabled by some mysterious phenomenon — forcing the globe's inhabitants to adapt to the chaos which ensues and coping with no electricity.  The good thing — the Cubs can go back to having only day games again.

"I can't comment too much on it, only to say that the administration of the Cubs felt strongly that it shouldn't be there," Kripke told TVLine about the digital edit.  "I'm from the Midwest, and it was not meant as a dig.  It was meant as a "Wouldn't that be tragic irony, that I'm rooting for the Cubs and they finally won the year the world ended?'  It was about rooting for a team I have great affection for, but they didn't see it that way.  It's their team, and I get it."

The Cubbies last won a World Series in 1908 and even suggesting a Cubs' world title is a suspension of disbelief the organization can't muster these days.

The real question here is what took the Cubs so long to put the kibosh on the shot in the first place?  The promos have been running for weeks and the team has been out in outer space since, oh, 2003.

Goat ends Cubs losing streak but still banned from Wrigley Field

The five Chicago Cubs fans who trekked nearly 1,800 miles with a goat to break the Chicago Cubs' so-called "Billy Goat Curse" arrived in Chicago on Monday— the same day the team ended a 12-game losing streak— but were told goats are banned from entering Wrigley Field.

The group planned to bring "Wrigley" inside for Tuesday's game, but were told the Cubs still wouldn't allow the animal into the park.

Instead, the celebrated animal (a 22-pound Nigerian dwarf goat) was the center of attention outside the stadium as the five trekkers continued to raise money for cancer research by selling t-shirts with the slogan "Crack the Curse" printed on them.

Maybe it was a coincidence the losing streak ended the same day the group ended their three-month journey— or maybe it was just because the Cubs were playing the slightly more pitiful San Diego Padres— but either way, the Cubs actually have a two-game win streak since little Wrigley came to town.

In their quest to end the "Curse," the five hikers started their 1,746 mile trip to Wrigley Field in Mesa, Ariz. on Feb. 25 and raised over $20,000 on the way.

The Cubs said they will donate $1,746 to their cause— $1.00 for every mile the group walked, but stopped short of saying if they would infuse any more cash into the team's payroll.

The curse got its start during the 1945 World Series after a local tavern owner was told by the Cubs he couldn't bring his goat into the game.  In retaliation, he put the famous whammy on the Cubs when he said the team would never win a World Series game again.  Sixty seven years later, the Cubs are still waiting to make it back into the Fall Classic.

The five young hikers— Matt Gregory, Kyle Townsend, Patrick Fisher, Blake Ferrell, and Phillip Aldrich— aren't even from Illinois but are Cubs fans nonetheless. They still hope the Cubs will lift the team policy on banning goats at Wrigley Field— at least one time.

"It's all about respecting the goat," said Aldrich.  "The hike is about 2,000 miles, but you know, raising money for cancer research and letting the goat see all the different parts of the country like Route 66, the goat's helped us raise over $20,000. To me, that's respecting the goat and I think that was part of the curse, not respecting the goat."

A lot of fans have brought goats to Wrigley for their fifteen minutes of fame, then the next thing you know the cute little creature is hanging in the butcher shop window.  Wrigley deserves a chance to literally munch on the ivy-covered walls because he has the blisters on his little hooves to earn that right.