Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs

1) #9 Javier Baez is an infielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

2) Nicknamed "El Mago" (The Magician in Spanish), Javier Baez was selected ninth overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs and made his major league debut on August 5th, 2014.

3) In 2018, Javy had his breakout season and earned the starting nod in the All-Star game at second base and finished the season as the National League leader in RBIs with 111 and seventh in home runs with 34. 

Danny: What is your favorite baseball memory?

Javier Baez: Oooh. The home runs. The home runs in the playoffs.

Dad: Javi has had some big playoff home runs including NLDS Game 1 Win vs. the Giants , 2 HR in NLCS vs. the Dodgers , and this solo home run in Game 7 of the World Series . Which one was your favorite?

D's Follow Up: My favorite home run was the World Series home run against the Indians. This one is my favorite because the Cubs won the World Series.



Danny: What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

Javier Baez: Strawberries.

D's Follow Up: Strawberries are one of my favorites and they taste so good. They are my third favorite fruit behind honeydew and mangoes.

Photo credit / Getty Images

On Wednesday, October 10th, Danny and I drove out to Bergie's Sports Card Dugout in Highland Park to meet Chicago Cubs superstar infielder #9 Javier Baez. Bergie's Dugout was sold out with Cubs fans excited to meet the Cubs young superstar and potential 2018 National League MVP. The event was jam packed and we were lucky to have a ticket to meet Javi.

The line was long but we eventually made our way in to meet Javi. Danny quickly started right in with his questions after they shook hands because the line was moving fast. Fortunately, Javi greeted Danny and was thoughtful to take his time to think about his favorite baseball memory and answer Danny's most often asked fruit and veggie question. 

Javi was as smooth in person as he is on the baseball field and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to meet another one of our Cubs favorites. We hope Javi can help bring another World Series to the North side in the near future and can build on his incredible 2018 season.

David Bote - Chicago Cubs

1) David Bote #13 is an infielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

2) David made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on April 21, 2018. Bote has filled in for the injured 3B Kris Bryant for much of the 2018 season.

3) Bote hit a pinch hit, two-out, two-strike ninth inning walk-off grand slam on August 12, 2018 against the Washington Nationals, which had not been done since 1979.

Photo credit / Getty Images

J: What's your favorite baseball memory?

David Bote: My major league debut.

J's Follow Up: Making it to Major League Baseball is probably the most special moment for most players. I feel like it would have been the grand slam if it wasn't his debut.

D: What is the toughest team you've ever played against?

David Bote: Honestly, I have no idea who was the toughest.

D's Follow Up: The guy right next to him was laughing and said the Chicago White Sox, probably because they beat them before he came to see us. I think the St. Louis Cardinals, Brewers, Dodgers, and Yankees are tough teams.

Photo credit / Christian Peterson Getty Images

On Sunday, September 23rd, we drove out to Bergie's Sports Card Dugout in Highland Park to meet Chicago Cubs rookie phenom #13 David Bote. Bergie's Dugout was filled with Cubs fans on a Sunday night at 6:30 to meet the Cubs young superstar. The event was sold out with more than 155 tickets sold and we were lucky to have one of them.

David and the Cubs had just defeated the Chicago White Sox a few hours before and he still made his way out to Highland Park to meet with fans. The boys and I had a fun night hanging with other Cubs fans and asking David a few questions. We hope David continues to make a big impact on the Cubs down the stretch and guides them to the top of the division and another World Series title in 2018!

Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs

1) #17 Kris Bryant plays third base for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

2) Bryant entered Major League Baseball in 2015 and won National League Rookie of the Year and is a 2x All Star (2015, 2016).

3) In 2016, Kris Bryant took home the National League Most Valuable Player award and was a major part the team that won the first World Series championship for the Chicago Cubs since 1908.

J: What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

KB: Honestly, I don't eat too much of either. I eat a lot of steak and I love cake. They have everything in the clubhouse. I would say strawberries though for fruit to pick one.

J when talking to Cubs World Series MVP Ben Zobrist in November 2016: When we met Kris Bryant he said he likes cake and steak.

BZ: For fruit? When you asked him that question? That sounds like him. And soda. He drinks soda all the time.

J's Follow Up: This is not what I was thinking he was going to say. I thought he'd say broccoli and raspberries or something like that. But he went with cake and steak and also soda. He's like a top 10 baseball player in the league and he eats that. I think it all tastes good and I eat them too. I like cake a little more than steak but I don't try to eat them that much. 

D's Follow Up: I do like cake and steak but steak to me is better than cake. Cake is good to me too. I like to drink soda sometimes because I like Coca-Cola. My mom and dad say no pop unless we go out to eat. Dad always says water is the best.

Jordan and I met Kris Bryant on May 28th, 2015 at ATI Physical Therapy in Zion, IL. After an afternoon where Jordan visited Bannockburn School to celebrate our school's victory as Illinois' top Play 60 school with a visit from Chicago Bears tight ends Zach Miller and Bear Pascoe, we both decided to head north to Zion to meet the #2 overall draft pick from the 2013 MLB draft and highly touted Cubs rookie. At the time, we were excited to meet the future of the Chicago Cubs but we had no idea that one season later he would be named MVP and lead the Cubs to a World Series title. I saw the event earlier in the morning and we quickly made the drive out to Zion right after school. Luckily, I had one of my Cubs hats in my office and off we went.

The event at ATI was a photo opportunity only but we were thrilled to have access to the future of the Cubs! We waited about 45 minutes to shake hands with Kris and Jordan was excited to help me do healthy eating research for school. The Fuel Up to Play 60 team was recording the healthy foods that players from different Chicago teams ate before a game. We would then host a healthy taste test at school with each player's favorite snack. Of course, we were surprised to hear that Kris opts for steak and cake while he's hanging out in the Wrigley Field clubhouse and we had to throw those two foods out of the mix for our event. Being fans of both foods, we did enjoy his honesty and thought his response was awesome... but at least he did mention strawberries. To this day, we still talk about Kris when we have steak for dinner or when we dive into cake. At the time, Kris was brand new to the major leagues and we are guessing that his diet has changed over the past few seasons. With the importance of strength training and nutrition for high level athletes today, we assume the Cubs might have him cutting back on the cake, soda and the steak. If not, more power to him because he has become one of the brightest young stars in Major League Baseball. 

Ben Zobrist - Chicago Cubs

1) Ben Zobrist is a three-time MLB All-Star and two-time World Series champion and the ultimate utility player for the Chicago Cubs.

2) Zobrist has played 11 major league seasons including stops with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2006-14), Oakland Athletics (2015), Kansas City Royals (2015) and the Chicago Cubs (2016-present).

3) Ben is a native of Eureka, IL and originally attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL which is also home to Chicago Bears training camp.

J: What's your favorite fruit or vegetable?

BZ: You know, I'm a pineapple and mango guy. Pineapples and mangoes.

J: It's a little weird. We went to meet Kris Bryant and he said that he likes cake and steak! 

BZ: Cake and steak? For fruit? When you asked him that question. (Maybe he heard food?) He said cake and steak, that sounds like him...and soda. He drinks soda all the time.

J: He said if he had to pick one he'd pick strawberries but he pretty much eats steak and cake.

J's Follow Up: I'm not much of a mango dude but I'll eat it every once in a while. But I do like pineapple unlike my brother. Dude I'm always eating cake and steak like Kris. I only drink soda every once in a while but I really like it. 

D's Follow Up: Mangoes are my favorite and I don't like pineapple anymore. I had sour pineapple and that is seriously why I don't like it now. If I ranked all my favorite fruits, mangoes would be number one.

We met the World Series MVP Ben Zobrist on November 12th, 2016 as Ben and the Cubs were fresh off of winning the World Series just ten days earlier. The thrilling game seven (8-7 final score) victory versus the Cleveland Indians was the club's first title in 108 years. The signing took place at Woodfield Mall inside the My Fan Cave store. 

Our family always makes an effort to be early when attending signings with athletes, and it's especially important when meeting with the World Series MVP. On Saturday, November 12th, the boys went to a friend's birthday party and we quickly made our way over to the mall at the end of the party. We arrived with roughly fifteen minutes left in Ben's official signing time but we were told that he was gone and had left the store ten minutes earlier. 

Fortunately for us, Ben was still in the mall and we were escorted to a special security room where the four of us got one on one time with the two-time World Series champ. The boys decided to ask their go-to question as they wanted Ben to name his favorite fruit or vegetable. He quickly replied with pineapple and mangoes, which are favorites of our family too! Danny has recently gone sour on pineapple but you'll still see fresh pineapple and mangoes on our dinner table on a regular basis.

It was an amazing opportunity for our family to talk with Ben Zobrist just 10 short days after being named World Series MVP and winning the World Series with the Chicago Cubs! I can tell you that we were walking on cloud nine after this experience and it's a day we will never forget. Go Cubs Go!

                    

Willson Contreras - Chicago Cubs

1) Willson Contreras #40 is a star catcher for the Chicago Cubs. 

2) Contreras was a rookie for the Cubs in 2016 when they won their first World Series Championship in 108 years. He was called up in June 2016 and became the 30th player in the modern MLB era to hit a home run on the first pitch of his first major-league at-bat. 

3) Willson teamed up with the Special Olympics this season as the 2017 Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby Celebrity Ambassador. You can help support Special Olympics Illinois by adopting a duck here for the big race on August 3rd. 

D: What do you like to do more...hit a home run or throw someone out when they are trying to steal a base?

WC: Throw somebody out when they are stealing. Yes, that's a good one. 

D's Follow Up: I thought Willson would say he likes to hit a home run more. If he hits a home run, his team would get more runs but I also see how he would like to stop the other team from getting runs too. 

J: What's your favorite Chicago food?

WC: Favorite Chicago food is pizza.

J's Follow Up: Pizza is one my favorites too. I thought he would say that because most people like pizza and Chicago is known for it. Lately I like MOD and Blaze pizza even though it's not Chicago style because I can put whatever I want on it.

On Wednesday, July 26th, the boys and I decided to make the trek downtown to meet superstar catcher and one of the top players in Major League Baseball, Willson Contreras. We love to watch Contreras call a game as he works with Cubs pitchers and we also love the home run power he brings to the plate for each at-bat. We believe Contreras has the potential to be an all-star catcher for many years to come. 

Willson Contreras was scheduled to make a special appearance at the Jewel on Division Street to meet with fans and sign Special Olympics duck cookies. Proceeds from the purchase of the cookies will be donated to the Special Olympics of Illinois. 

The boys and I waited for an hour and a half to meet Willson and we agree it was worth every second. With questions in hand, the boys introduced themselves to Willson and he repeated their names back to them and eagerly awaited their questions. First up was Jordan. He's really become a pro at approaching his favorite athletes. He calmly asked Willson what his favorite Chicago food is. Coming from Venezuela, we were unsure what he might choose as his favorite but we know most people love pizza. Like us, Willson loves Chicago's pizza but we wish we would've found out his favorite local spot because we'd be happy to meet him there!

Up next was our favorite seven year old and Kyle Schwarber's #1 fan, Danny Vincent. I thought his question was great and Willson agreed by telling him that after he answered. Would you rather hit a home run or throw a base runner out? One thing that seems to be a constant is players are just as excited to make a defensive stop in their sport as they are to make a big impact on offense. Contreras said he prefers to throw the base runner out if he has to choose between the two. 

In my short co-ed softball career, I understand the rush you get making a big defensive stop when your team needs you to. Most people consider catcher to be the most important position in baseball because of the tremendous responsibilities put on their shoulders. Catchers must know everything about everyone at all times. From knowing every hitter in the lineup, to understanding his pitcher's strengths and also knowing where the defense is lined up, catchers have a ton of information to process. Combine that with being the most physically demanding position, I understand that a catcher would love to help their team out in a major way by making a pinpoint throw to tag out a base runner.

With all that said, I can imagine the rush you would get by hitting a home run over the ivy in Wrigley Field on gorgeous day game in July. That feeling would never get old to me.

We had a fun time meeting a great baseball player and an even better person, Willson Contreras. Thanks to Jewel for hosting such a sweet event and to Willson for taking the time during the Crosstown Classic to meet with fans and raise money for the Special Olympians of Illinois. It was a day we'll never forget.

Pedro Strop - Chicago Cubs

1) Pedro Strop was born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic and is currently a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.

2) Strop played for three additional MLB teams: the Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, and the Baltimore Orioles before landing with the Cubs in 2014.

3) Pedro's baseball championships include the 2013 World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic national team and the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs.

D: Do you have a lego of yourself?

Pedro Strop: I'm sorry, I'm not exactly sure. 

D's Follow Up: I don't think he knew what Legos are. 

J: What are your favorite fruits and vegetables?

Pedro Strop: Watermelon, strawberries, bananas, and broccoli. 

J's Follow Up: I like all of the same fruits and veggies as him too. I also think it's cool that he speaks Spanish but it might be hard because he can't communicate with his teammates as easily. But I think it would be kind of fun to point, nod, and not have to talk with everyone all of the time. 

We had the opportunity to meet World Series champion Pedro Strop in November at Woodfield Mall. He had over 150 fans in attendance to secure an autograph and snap a photo with him. He took more time interacting with J and D than most athletes do but he even said he's working on his English so they tried their best to communicate with him. It turned out to make the experience even more fun.

Danny asked about Legos and had Pedro confused right off the bat. If had he seen a photo of these sports mini figures or we had one in hand, he may have been able to answer D's question. At the time, we were not sure if Pedro was part of an Oyo Chicago Cubs set or not. Danny was trying to finish up his collection and attempting to gather one of every player we had met. Shortly after our visit we found out he was not a part of the World Series set and does not currently have a figure. 

The fruits and vegetables question was a little easier for Pedro to answer and he quickly came up with his top three which included watermelon, strawberries, and bananas. These three fruits are all J and D approved and happen to be their favorites too. Strawberries top our list and we just had some tonight with whipped cream on top! 

Broccoli also ranks high in our house as the second most consumed veggie. Falling just behind corn, broccoli is one that the boys don't mind eating and will request regularly. Any athlete we meet that shares a favorite veggie with these boys will certainly leave an impression with them.

Although the four of us didn't always understand each other that well, our quick time together was full of smiles and laughter. My only wish was that the boys would have put some of their Spanish to use that they picked up from their Guatemala trip just months before but nerves and excitement caught the best of everyone. We'll be ready next time with our Spanish! We are thankful for our visit with World Series champ Pedro Strop!

David Ross- Chicago Cubs and DWTS

1) David Ross' baseball career spanned 15 seasons as he played on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cincinatti Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs. 

2) David became the oldest player in MLB history to hit a home run in game 7 of the World Series and his Chicago Cubs went on to win and become World Series champions for the first time since 1908.

3) In season 24 of Dancing with the Stars, David and his partner Lindsay Arnold finished in second place behind New York Giants football star Rashad Jennings. 

D: Do you know if you have a Lego of yourself? I was looking in the Lego store and I was looking for yours.

David Ross: I do. I think I have a Boston Red Sox lego of myself. I think I do. I don't know about the Cubs but I have a Boston one. Let's call Lego and start complaining. 

D's Follow Up: It's cool that he has a Cubs one now because I asked him about it. He was nice to me and I think his Oyo was sold out at the mall.

J: What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

David Ross: My favorite vegetable is probably corn. My favorite fruit is probably strawberries. I like strawberries, bananas, watermelon and grapes. I like it all. I don't love any of it but I like any of it. I like it cold.

J's Follow Up: My favorite vegetable is corn too and I'm not that much of a fan of vegetables. I love lots of fruits including cherries, strawberries, watermelon, grapes, bananas and apples. My favorite is cherries.

The boys and I met David Ross at Woodfield Mall in November shortly after the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. The buzz of the first championship for the Cubs in over 100 years was still in the air and there were many fans in attendance to meet one of their World Series heroes. Grandpa Ross had a line with a few hundred fans but still took the time to talk with Jordan and Danny and answer their questions.

Danny was obsessed with the World Series Oyo sports figures that were being released with all of his favorite Cubs players. Although they look like Lego mini figures, Oyo has a partnership with MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and more and they produce mini figures of the top players in each sport. On the shelves we would regularly see Cubs stars Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jake Arrietta and other top players but David Ross was absent from our search and Danny was on the hunt for his figure. At the time, we were unaware if he was part of the set but at Christmas time Danny found out that David Ross was in fact a part of the Cubs team set as Santa Claus gifted Danny the World Series set!

Jordan loves to ask athletes about their favorite fruits and vegetables! In our house we call those all the time foods and we encourage them to eat as many as they can. I also find it much easier to convince the boys to eat these healthy foods when we know David Ross or other top athletes are eating them. David's favorites are also my favorites and are top picks for our family. When strawberries are in season, I am happy to eat an entire package at a time. Although, oranges that are perfectly ripe and in season are a very close second for me. Corn is also a staple of our dinner table. Although it's nutritional value is lacking corn makes it to the top of the list for me. We also eat a lot of broccoli and carrots in our house. Those seem to be the most kid friendly options for my boys. I agree with David in the fact that I like almost all fruits and vegetables but I don't necessarily love any of them. I recognize the health benefits and I will eat them when available but they don't fall into my favorite foods category. 

We took advantage of a great opportunity to meet a Chicago sports legend in David Ross. He was as friendly as expected and was certainly a person Jordan and Danny can look up to and follow as a positive role model. We wish David the best in his retirement from baseball.