Cubs' Ian Happ Throws $300-Wrapped Baseball to Wrigley Fans
The short version
- Ian Happ threw an autographed baseball with $300 attached into the Wrigley Field crowd on Sept. 24
- The ball carried thank-you messages and a note reading "Beers on me!"
- It was the Cubs' final regular-season home game; Chicago beat Miami 2-1 to clinch a playoff spot
- Happ becomes a free agent after the season and has played for the Cubs since his 2017 debut
- He made a similar money-toss gesture last September
During Chicago's last home game of the regular season, the outfielder tossed a signed ball with cash and thank-you notes into the left-field stands.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ gave the Wrigley Field crowd an unexpected gift on Thursday, Sept. 24, during the club's last home contest of the regular season, a matchup with the Miami Marlins. The 32-year-old walked out toward left field and hurled a baseball into the seats, and footage of the moment circulated widely on social media.
What made the ball unusual was what came with it: $300 in cash, held in place by rubber bands. Writing was also inscribed on the ball itself, according to a photo posted by the Bleacher Bums account on Instagram.
One side carried the words, "Thank you for 10 incredible years, for the possibility and unwavering support!" The opposite side read, "Y'all are the best fans in sports! Go Cubs!" Happ also signed the ball and squeezed an additional note in between its red seams: "Beers on me!"
Bleacher Bums described the scene in its caption, writing that the outfielder had delivered the left-field regulars a cash-wrapped ball so they could buy drinks. It was not a first, either — the outfielder made a comparable toss into the bleachers in September of last year, an occasion the same account also documented.
The gesture came with added weight because of where Happ stands in his career. He has played his entire big-league tenure on the North Side after Chicago chose him ninth overall in the opening round of the 2015 MLB Draft. His major-league arrival came in May 2017, the year after the franchise won the 2016 World Series.
His contract runs out once the current season ends, making him a free agent. Speaking with Jesse Rogers of ESPN on Sept. 24, Happ reflected on the moment: "I'll take it in. It's crazy. 10 years of memories. There will be emotions. I want to savor it. There's no fanbase more supportive of its players."
The night itself ended well for the home side. Chicago edged Miami 2-1, and the victory secured a spot in the postseason.
Fans can watch the Cubs next on the road against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday, September 25, with first pitch at 5:30 PM EDT. The game airs on ESPN Unlmtd, MLB.TV, Marquee Sports Net, and NESN.
