Wrigley Field was buzzing this past Sunday, and not just because of the on-field drama. The Chicago Cubs, still in the thick of the National League playoff hunt, hosted a day full of milestones, emotional returns, and a few anxieties that could shape the rest of their season. From the return of superfan Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers to the ongoing saga surrounding star outfielder Kyle Tucker, Cubs fans had plenty to cheer—and worry—about as September baseball heats up.
The day started with a heartwarming moment as the Cubs welcomed back Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers, perhaps the team’s most legendary fan. At 83 years old, Wickers made his first appearance at Wrigley Field this season, thanks to an outing arranged by his caregivers at The Pearl of Evanston nursing home. Suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, Wickers has spent much of this year watching games from his room, which is reportedly decked out in Cubs memorabilia from floor to ceiling. But on Sunday, he was mobbed by fans and greeted with homemade signs, his trademark enthusiasm undimmed by illness. "I miss being out there, miss the fans, the people, the crack of the bat, the food," Wickers told ABC7 last month. His famous chant, a staple at Cubs games since the late 1950s, was a little softer but still carried the same infectious energy that has made him a Chicago icon.
Wickers’ story is more than just a feel-good footnote. He’s received hundreds of get-well cards and a steady stream of visitors, a testament to his place in the city’s sports culture. Janet Tabit, a close friend, has helped transform his room into a cheerful Cubs shrine. "I want it to feel like home, a cheerful place where they'll come back and visit him," she said. Mark Hocuk, administrator at The Pearl, added, "He's an icon in Chicago. It's been an amazing experience. The amount of mail he gets, the stories he tells us, it's just been incredible." Wickers, ever the optimist, isn’t done yet—he’s already planning to return for the World Series if the Cubs make it that far. "I just have fun. God's been good to me," Wickers said, summing up a lifetime of fandom in a single line.
But as the Cubs faithful celebrated Wickers, the team itself was dealing with a mix of hope and uncertainty. Sunday’s game ended in disappointment, with the Cubs falling 6-3 to the Washington Nationals after closer Daniel Palencia blew a save opportunity in the ninth inning. Palencia, who’s been a revelation with his 100 mph fastball, has now been scored upon in seven of his last 13 outings. Worse still, he left the mound with a right shoulder injury, throwing the Cubs’ bullpen plans for the stretch run into disarray. Manager Craig Counsell didn’t mince words about the challenge ahead: "You make injury decisions every single day. From Kyle’s end, are we going to try to be on the cautious side of it? Yeah, we’re going to try to be on the cautious side of it. But when he’s ready to play, he’s ready to play. And then he’ll go out there and play."
The injury bug didn’t stop with Palencia. All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong gave a reassuring thumbs-up in the clubhouse, signaling he wasn’t too worried about his right knee after fouling a ball off it the previous day. Still, the Cubs kept both Crow-Armstrong and star outfielder Kyle Tucker out of the lineup as a precaution. Tucker, who’s been battling a nagging left calf issue, spent part of Sunday doing agility drills rather than taking the field. There’s talk he could land on the 10-day injured list to ensure he’s healthy for the postseason push.
Tucker’s situation is especially loaded, given his status as the Cubs’ marquee acquisition from last offseason. Chicago traded away top prospects Cam Smith and Isaac Paredes to land Tucker, knowing full well it might be a one-year rental. The gamble has mostly paid off—Tucker, 28, has delivered a .270 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, .472 slugging, 22 home runs, and 73 RBIs across 133 games. Even after a post-All-Star break slump, where he hit just .242 with five homers and 17 RBIs, Tucker’s overall value remains sky-high. As Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently predicted, "Despite Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker’s struggles since the All-Star break, hitting .242 with only five homers and 17 RBI, rival executives still believe he’ll be the highest-paid player in free agency. Their prediction where he’ll land? The Dodgers, who badly could use outfield help."
That’s the million-dollar—or perhaps nine-figure—question hanging over Wrigleyville. Tucker’s contract situation is the talk of the league, and the Cubs are facing the real possibility of losing him to the Los Angeles Dodgers unless they’re willing to offer a record-breaking deal. Chicago has never handed out a contract of the size Tucker is expected to command, but his impact on the team’s fortunes is undeniable. Tucker, for his part, seems to enjoy playing in Chicago, which could help the Cubs’ chances at the negotiating table. But if the front office hesitates, fans could be watching one of baseball’s premier talents don Dodger blue next spring.
While the Cubs’ present is filled with both promise and peril, their past and future were also on display this weekend. Legendary slugger Sammy Sosa was inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame, ending a 21-year absence from Wrigley Field. Sosa, who helped turn the ballpark into a national destination and Wrigleyville into a booming neighborhood, seemed genuinely moved by the honor. "I'm in the house now, so definitely I will be available for every opportunity," Sosa said during the ceremony. His reconciliation with the organization, which included an open letter and a public apology for past controversies, marks a new chapter for both Sosa and the Cubs. "Let’s see what the future brings," Sosa added. "I think it’s going to bring great things. I don’t want to go ahead and say something that I’m not supposed to. But I believe that I’m here now, you know? I’m happy just to contribute."
Looking ahead, the Cubs’ front office continues to balance the demands of the present with an eye on the future. Jaxon Wiggins, a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher drafted in the second round in 2023, was recently promoted from Double-A Knoxville to Triple-A Iowa. Manager Craig Counsell is watching Wiggins closely, considering him an intriguing option for bullpen depth or even a surprise October contributor. "On the radar? Yeah," Counsell confirmed, noting that Wiggins’ development could mirror that of Cade Horton, now a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year after a similar late-season rise last year.
As the regular season winds down, the Cubs remain in a strong position to claim the National League’s top wild-card spot. But with injuries to key players, contract uncertainties, and the ghosts of Cubs legends past and present swirling around Wrigley Field, nothing is guaranteed. The next few weeks promise drama, nostalgia, and—if the baseball gods are kind—a little more of that famous "Woo Woo" magic.
