If you still want to have a ticket prior to the event, the best way to find cheap tickets is to run a “tickets wanted” ad on either http://www.craigslist.com/ or in your local newspaper. Be sure to use language like “Fan, not a professional scalper, looking for tickets for the Cardinal-Cubs series. I want to surprise my wife on her birthday (If that is true).” Fans want to sell to other fans and not to a scalper. Even better if you have a personal story involved with the tickets. I recently got second row Cirque De Soleil tickets for less than face value from an ad I ran. I saved money and my wife was very impressed on her birthday (Mr. Thrifty earned a bunch of points that night).