It started out seven years ago trying to win the National League Central.
Now the Ricketts family wants the world.
After addressing the full squad Saturday at the Cubs’ spring training complex, Chairman Tom Ricketts said he would like the team one day to be considered "one of the great sports organizations in the world."
They took their first step toward that goal in November, winning the World Series for the first time since 1908. Succeeding on an annual basis is something Ricketts believes is attainable.
"What separates a really good team from a truly great team is the consistency of results," he said. "We’ve won one World Series. Hopefully we’ll be in the mix for many years. That’s what you associate success with. If you look at the Yankees of 15 years ago, the Patriots of today, they’re just always right in the mix.
"On the global side you look at teams like (Manchester United) or Real Madrid or the All Blacks, and they set the standard for how people perform. (Those teams mean) something all over the world. And I would like to think that someday, if we’re consistent enough and if we win, that Cubs logo will mean something to people around the world, not just a team that didn’t win for a long time."
The Cubs were named the Laureus World Team of the Year in 2016, beating out the likes of the NBA’s Cavaliers and the Brazil national soccer team. Ricketts said he recently picked up the award in Monaco and wants to go back for another.
Photos as the Cubs practice at spring training in Mesa, Ariz.
It has been a long, strange trip for Ricketts since his first spring training as Cubs chairman in 2010, when an aide cut off his first news conference at Fitch Park because the questions were deemed too contentious.
Winning cures everything, and Ricketts appeared relaxed and at ease Saturday, calmly batting away queries about his family’s association with President Donald Trump and the significant ticket-price hike at Wrigley Field after their championship season.
Ricketts said he doesn’t think "anything that the White House has done or hasn’t done" would affect the culture on the North Side. He did say his brother, Todd, who Trump nominated for deputy commerce secretary, might have to give up his position on the Cubs board of directors if the Senate confirms him. If Todd has to step down, Tom said no one will replace him.
Ricketts acknowledged the across-the-board ticket-price hike — an average increase of 19.5 percent — but said the Cubs still offer "more value-oriented" games for individuals and families. Most of those games, however, are in April or early May.
Does he worry the Cubs are pricing out the average fan?
"There is always that balance," he said. "Our (business department) guys do a pretty good job of keeping that balance. We study millions of pieces of data. We watch all the secondary markets. We watch all the primary markets.
"If you’re willing to go on a Tuesday night as opposed to a Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals, it should be available to everybody. There’s no right answer on that stuff. We just try to keep it in balance."
Ricketts said team President Theo Epstein has the "resources" to spend for upgrades if needed and the Cubs would be "thoughtful and strategic" about moves that would put them well above the luxury-tax threshold.
While he believes it would be good for Chicago to play host to an All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, Ricketts doesn’t believe it is "inevitable" in 2020. The Cubs last had the game in 1990.
Ricketts also said he didn’t remember saying he would get a tattoo if the Cubs ever won.
"Did I say it exactly like that?" he said, grinning. "I have to think that one through. We’ll see. Maybe I said if they won twice."
Caption Joe Maddon on Cubs’ team meeting, spring training plans
Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses a team meeting and spring training plans on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses a team meeting and spring training plans on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Joe Maddon on Cubs’ team meeting, spring training plans
Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses a team meeting and spring training plans on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses a team meeting and spring training plans on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Cubs’ Chairman Tom Ricketts on speech to team, World Series trophy
Cubs’ Chairman Tom Ricketts talks about speech to team and the World Series trophy. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs’ Chairman Tom Ricketts talks about speech to team and the World Series trophy. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Cubs’ Kris Bryant on being pranked by Greg Maddux
Cubs’ Kris Bryant on being pranked by Greg Maddux. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs’ Kris Bryant on being pranked by Greg Maddux. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Cubs’ Joe Maddon on ‘heartbeat’ speech
Cubs manager Joe Maddon talks about "heartbeat" speech. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs manager Joe Maddon talks about “heartbeat” speech. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Cubs’ Jason Heyward on locker room speeches
Cubs’ Jason Heyward talks about giving team speeches. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs’ Jason Heyward talks about giving team speeches. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
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