Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs baseball franchise sued Baltimore-based Under Armour Inc. yesterday, contending that the sports apparel maker reneged on a promised $10.8 million, five-year sponsorship agreement after its profits declined. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the ballclub said the garment maker agreed to the deal and is still using Cubs players and the team's stadium, Wrigley Field, in advertisements for its products. Under Armour told the Cubs in a Dec. 12 letter that it would not sponsor them for the next season and "would not meet any of its obligations under the agreement," according to the team's complaint, which seeks full payment of the contract price.

A recap of the Orioles' 7-5 win over the Cubs last night: WISH YOU WERE HERE As trade rumors swirled this offseason, Brian Roberts figured it was inevitable that he would start the season as a Chicago Cub. But there he was last night, still in an Orioles uniform and putting a hurting on the team that coveted him. Roberts went 3-for-5 with an RBI triple and two runs scored. The triple in the sixth inning was the 1,000th hit of his career. Roberts said before the game that he wasn't sure what the reaction would be from the Wrigley Field crowd.

CHICAGO - After nearly two years of intrigue, the billionaire Ricketts family has emerged as the winning bidder to purchase the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co. for about $900 million, sources close to the situation said last night. The family will now complete negotiations with Tribune Co. The family edged out Chicago real-estate investor Hersch Klaff and New York private-equity investor Marc Utay, a Chicago native, for the chance to follow Tribune Co., the Chicago-based media conglomerate, as owners of the storied yet hard-luck franchise.

Braves: The crowd of 50,137 was the 10th-largest in franchise history. Chipper Jones hit .396 with eight homers and 19 RBIs in July.Cardinals: New third baseman Fernando Tatis went 0-for-4.Cubs: A crowd of 40,198 was the fifth straight over 40,000 at Wrigley Field.Expos: The team drew more than 20,000 for the third time this season as a crowd of 28,937 turned out for a disco night promotion.Giants: Since being traded from the Orioles on July 23, Joe Carter is 3-for-23 (.130) with one RBI.Mets: Tony Phillips batted leadoff and played left field in his first game with New York.

CHICAGO -- Brian Roberts' long-awaited appearance at Wrigley Field generated far less buzz than the relentless offseason trade rumors that had the Orioles' second baseman all but fitted for a Chicago Cubs' uniform. But by the time the middle innings arrived last night, the Cubs' faithful were well aware of the effect Roberts can have on a game. They would have to wait a couple of innings to learn about the Orioles' steely nerved closer. Roberts had three hits, including the 1,000th of his career, and an RBI triple, and George Sherrill got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth inning in the Orioles' 7-5 victory before an announced 41,537 in their first trip to Wrigley Field.

Quote: "It was the most excited I've ever been on the baseball field." -- Mike Lieberthal after his pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night capped a seven-run rally and lifted the Phillies to an 8-7 win over the Pirates.It's a fact: The Brewers have hit at least one home run in their last 14 games.Who's hot: The Phillies' Doug Glanville went 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.Who's not: The Padres' Kevin Brown gave up two homers in a span of seven pitches in the ninth inning of the Padres' win over the Dodgers Tuesday.

SINCE ONE OF our teen-age sons is going to visit Chicago, I figured it was time to introduce him to the Italian beef sandwich.Anyone who has spent time in Chicago has fond memories of this mixture of shaved beef, broth and pickled vegetable topping. Like the pit beef in Baltimore and the cheese steak in Philadelphia, the Italian beef is the unofficial sandwich of the city. If you have visited Chicago and returned without any Italian beef stains on your shirt, then you really haven't been there.

The boys of summer are back, and for a certain kind of baseball fan, that means only one thing: road trip.For such die-hard fans, taking a tour through the National Pastime provides an unforgettable chance to experience such famed ballparks as Tiger Stadium in Detroit, where Denny McLain put together his 30-win season . . . or New York's Yankee Stadium, where Roger Maris smashed Babe Ruth's home run record . . . or venerable Wrigley Field in Chicago, where...

CHICAGO -- It took all of five batters last night for one of Orioles manager Dave Trembley's worst fears to be realized. Already a pitcher short after starter Brian Burres was scratched because of a stomach illness, Trembley was forced to go to his bullpen with just one out in the first inning. Matt Albers, who learned less than three hours before the game that he'd get the emergency start, couldn't continue after feeling some discomfort in his right shoulder while throwing a curveball to Chicago Cubs leadoff hitter Eric Patterson.

The telescope in Joel Greenfield's office looks like unlikely furniture for a stockbroker, but yesterday was no ordinary day, and Greenfield's office at Prudential Securities Inc. on the 21st floor of 250 W. Pratt Street was no ordinary place."