Hey Cubs fans!

Reports: Tribune chooses Ricketts to buy Cubs

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Tom Ricketts grew up watching the Cubs on WGN, once lived in an apartment above a bar across the street from Wrigley Field, and met his wife in the bleachers at a Cubs game. His father, J. Joe Ricketts, founded Ameritrade and became a leading online stockbroker, but Tom never worked for that company.

He was a market maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange and finance executive before starting investment bank Incapital LLC. He has been serving as the family’s point man in the bid to buy the Cubs.

If the deal is approved, the Ricketts would acquire a team that hasn’t won the World Series since 1908 and hasn’t even made it to the World Series since 1945. While the Cubs won the NL Central in each of the last two seasons, they were swept in the first round of the playoffs both times.

Tribune Co. considered selling the team and the famous ballpark separately but rejected a plan from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to purchase the ivy-walled stadium. Kenney said recently that the two would be sold together.