It just keeps getting better....

for the Peoria Chiefs.

Sandberg added to Cubs Caravan
Hall of Famer to participate in autograph session with others

PEORIA, Ill. -- New Peoria Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg will join the Cubs Caravan in central Illinois on Jan. 17 at the RiverPlex.

Sandberg, the Hall of Famer named last week to manage the Cubs Class A affiliate, will be joined by Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, pitcher Rich Hill and Minor League infielder Eric Patterson.

Hendry, Hill, and Patterson are like Mary Ann and The Professor when the first season Gilligan's Island theme song ended with "...and the rest."

The event at the RiverPlex will begin at 6:45 p.m. ET with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. All Cubs personnel will sign 200 autographs each. Each person attending the Caravan will be given a lottery ticket, chosen at random, entering the facility. The ticket will indicate the line that should be entered to receive an autograph. This policy has been set by the Chicago Cubs and will be strictly enforced.

Following the 45-minute autograph session, Sandberg, Hendry and others will take part in a question-and-answer segment, and there will be videos highlighting the Cubs' and Chiefs' 2006 seasons, ticket information for both teams and a dinner.

You wanted a Ryne Sandberg autograph. You got a Rich Hill autograph. Still pretty cool, but not what you wanted.

I understand why the Cubs are doing this, but it will probably be the Chiefs who will catch the grief.