Baker takes trip down Bernie Brewer's slide

MILWAUKEE -- Early Sunday, before fans entered Miller Park or the Cubs had even stretched, John Baker and Justin Ruggiano got to slide down Bernie Brewer's slide.

"It was awesome," said Baker, the Cubs catcher. "If I played here, I would do it every day. It would remind you that you had two things of being a little kid -- going down slides at the playground and then playing baseball afterword. It'd be crazy."

Baker said that in addition to sliding, they learned about the person who was the inspiration for the team's mascot, Bernie Brewer. Ruggiano sent video of his trip down the slide to his son, who will most likely want to do it the next time the Cubs are in Milwaukee.

Next up on Baker's bucket list is a home run. Entering Sunday he had the most at-bats without a home run -- 430 -- among position players in the Major Leagues. He is quick to point out that he missed time in 2010 because he was hurt, and he didn't play much in 2011.

"I'm going to go deep eventually," he said. "It has to happen."

Baker does have 14 career home runs, and he last connected Sept. 4, 2009, against the Nationals.