Published Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997
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Sharon resident Bob "Bo" Pinch relaxes on his porch with a sign he won as part of a contest sponsored recently by WUAB-TV 43 in Cleveland. (Jean Angelo/Herald)
SHARON
Sharon man lives out dream with the Tribe
By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
If you're an Indians fan, it's as good as winning the state lottery.
``It was like a dream come true,'' said Bob ``Bo'' Pinch, Sharon, after he and his wife, Peggy, went ``Road Trippin' With The Tribe.''
Pinch was one of 21 lucky fans who won all-expenses-paid trips to Chicago recently to help cheer on the Cleveland Indians against the rival Chicago White Sox and ``traitor'' Albert Belle.
``It was first class all the way,'' said Pinch, who adorns his porch at 353 Alderman Ave. with a huge sign that advertised the trip.
It all started when Channel 43-TV, which carries many of the Indians' games, started the ``Road Trippin' '' contest. Each night during the contest, the station would announce a final digit for ZIP Codes. Anyone with that final digit was permitted to call in, with the 43rd caller being declared a winner.
After waiting many days for his digit ``6'' to be called, the number finally came up.
``I kept hitting redial and redial, and it kept coming up busy. But finally I got through. All of a sudden a lady comes through and says: `Congratulations, you're a winner.''
The 21 winners _ and one guest apiece _ flew out of Cleveland Hopkins Airport the morning of Saturday, Sept. 13. Arriving in Chicago, they were escorted to the Westin Hotel, the same hotel that housed the Tribe players.
``It was a first-class hotel,'' said Pinch, adding that there were several NBA players staying there as well for meetings. ``We saw Patrick Ewing and some others. They were so big. They were all wearing expensive suits and big shoes. Some of those guys had to wear size 25s.''
Pinch pointed out that while they stayed in the hotel with the Tribe, they were informed not to ask for autographs inside the facility.
They received a tour of Chicago's landmarks, then on Sunday morning they were treated to brunch with Indians manager Mike Hargrove and his wife, Sharon.
``They were really friendly,'' Pinch said, ``like we'd know each other for years. At the brunch they had raffles and gave away all kinds of stuff. I got the huge banner. They gave us shirts, hats and pins and there was a mat under every plate with Larry Doby on it.''
During the game, which the Tribe won, the group was assigned box seats in right field. The only down part was that they had to leave in the eighth inning to take a bus to Midway Airport to catch their flight out. They were also fighting traffic from the Bears' game on the way to the airport.
``I've been an Indians fan since I was 5 years old,'' said Pinch, ``But I never thought I would experience something like this. A lot of people said, `Would you please pinch me, this has got to be a dream.'
``We were like Al Bundy, just average people and all of a sudden with win this trip and a $1,000 spending money. Words can't describe it. I'm still asking my wife, `Did we really go to Chicago?' ''
If Pinch had any question about it, he was able to watch himself and the other winners during a special show that aired Monday on Channel 43.
