Vine Line VIP Lounge

EMI Network is co-sponsoring the Vine Line VIP Lounge with all proceeds benefiting the Dempster Family Foundation!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Buddy Guy’s Legends
700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago

Showtime is 9 p.m. CT and tickets are $15

Link to MLB Post:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110106&content_id=16399164&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

CHICAGO — Cubs pitcher Justin Berg will take a break from prepping for the 2011 season to show off his musical talents while helping teammate Ryan Dempster.

Berg will join longtime Chicago blues band Lil’ Ed and the Blue Imperials at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Wednesday to benefit the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Family Foundation. The event also will kick off the 25th anniversary of the Cubs’ publication, Vine Line.

Showtime is 9 p.m. CT and tickets are $15, with all proceeds benefiting the Dempster Family Foundation. Buddy Guy’s Legends is located at 700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago. The event will feature a silent auction as well as a live auction that will include autographed guitars supplied by Sam Ash music stores.

Berg showed off his musical skills during the first “Cubs Idol” competition in Spring Training last March. He performed his own song, “As the Days Go By,” which he wrote in 2005 while playing rookie ball with the Yankees. The right-hander received a standing ovation from the crowd and the judges after his performance in Mesa, Ariz.

Berg and infielder Darwin Barney, who played the piano, were named “Cubs Idol” co-winners, and each received $10,000 to donate to their favorite charity. In October, Berg gave the money to a program that honors doctors and nurses at Aspirus Wausau (Wis.) Hospital. Berg donated the money in recognition of a coronary bypass surgery and two leg bypass surgeries that doctors performed on his grandfather, Jim Pozorski.

Berg’s donation helped launch the Aspirus Hero program, which allows patients and families to give credit to a doctor, nurse or staff member who provided care.

The right-hander started playing drums when he was in high school to accompany his brother, who was the guitar player in the family.

“I figured he could use a drummer,” Berg said.

Drums don’t travel well.

“When I go home, I play the drums,” Berg said. “When I’m on the road, I play guitar.”

On Wednesday, he’ll play for a good cause.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs