Abhay Singh
Ian Happ chucked a ball wrapped in $100 bills to the left stands
Chicago Cubs fans have learned to deal with disappointment, despite their longest championship drought in North American sports history. Despite a disappointing season with an 83-79 record and missed playoffs for the fourth year in a row, the Cubs had the sixth-highest average home attendance in the MLB this season at 35,949.
Left fielder Ian Happ threw a ball wrapped in $100 dollars to the left bleachers on Sunday as a way of thanking the Cubs fans. The season-ending game, which saw the Cincinnati Reds defeat Chicago 3-0 in a shutout, was commemorated with the gesture.
He wrote a note on the ball saying “Thanks for the support all season! Beers for the left field crew on me!”
The event was posted to the Bleacher Bums Instagram profile, which describes itself as a fan page for Wrigley Field’s left-field bleachers. The post said, “(Ian Happ) just tossed this ball to us with some $$ to buy our section some drinks for the last game of the year! What a guy! Cheers Ian!”
Happ has been with the Cubs since 2017
Since joining the Cubs in 2017, Happ has made a point of showing his affection for the Chicago fans. The two-time Gold Glove winner sent Cubs superfan “Bleacher Jeff” a ball wrapped in cash last season.
After a walk in Sunday’s game against Cincinnati, the left fielder went 0-4 overall. With the score tied at zero after strong beginnings from Hunter Greene and Caleb Kilian at the mound, extra innings were needed at Wrigley Field.
Elly De La Cruz eventually got the Reds on the board with a two-run triple in the top of the tenth inning. Tyler Stephenson then singled in De La Cruz to give Cincinnati a 3-0 lead.
De La Cruz finishes the regular season with an MLB-high 67 runs stolen, having also stolen two bases during the game.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said “Seasons are sacred. You don’t take them for granted, I told the team this: ‘We’re fortunate and blessed to get chances, to get to wear the uniform.’ So, when you don’t accomplish all your goals, there’s a bitter taste in your mouth, absolutely.”
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