Chicago Cubs Gold Glove outfielder Ian Happ to appear at Four Winds Field July 1
VIP Meet and Greet tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 13 with proceeds to benefit Ian Happ’s charity of choice First Tee of Greater Chicago.
SOUTH BEND – The South Bend Cubs will be kicking off their 4th of July celebrations a couple of days early as Chicago Cubs Gold Glove outfielder Ian Happ will make a special guest appearance at Four Winds Field on July 1. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. VIP Meet and Greet tickets go on sale on Wednesday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. ET with proceeds to benefit First Tee of Greater Chicago.
With the Chicago Cubs having a scheduled off day on Monday, July 1 after a series in Milwaukee, followed by a series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field beginning July 2, Happ’s appearance is subject to change due to the Chicago Cubs baseball schedule.
“I’m excited to come back to Four Winds Field and see the amazing fans in South Bend,” said Ian Happ. “We’re lucky to have amazing affiliates in the Cubs organization and I loved every second of being a South Bend Cub.”
“We are incredibly honored that Ian Happ would take the time out of his busy schedule to come back to Four Winds Field where his professional baseball career started,” said South Bend Cubs Team President Joe Hart. “It speaks to the character of Ian that in the middle of the MLB season, he would come back to South Bend for a special appearance for charity. I encourage the fans to pack Four Winds Field and give him a warm welcome back.”
The VIP Meet and Greet is limited to 100 tickets and includes a two-hour all-you-can-eat Classic Ballpark Buffet (grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, mac and cheese, cookies, lemonade, water, and soda). Tickets are $125 per person with proceeds going to Ian Happ’s charity of choice First Tee of Greater Chicago. VIP tickets go on sale March 13 at SouthBendCubs.com or by phone at (574) 235-9988. The package will not be available at the Box Office. Field box and dugout box tickets will be available when all individual game tickets go on sale on March 6.
In addition to the VIP Meet and Greet, Happ will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game and will sign autographs on the concourse for one hour only.
Originally selected with the ninth-overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft out of the University of Cincinnati, Ian Happ’s path to the Chicago Cubs almost immediately began in South Bend. Following a quick stint in short-season Eugene, Happ was assigned to South Bend to conclude the summer of 2015. While playing as a member of South Bend’s inaugural Cubs season, Happ crushed five home runs and drove in 22. He quickly elevated up the farm system, making his Major League debut on May 13, 2017, and mashing 24 home runs in his rookie season. In seven seasons with Chicago, Happ has hammered 125 round-trippers, to go along with 392 RBI. The 29-year-old also started his 2018 season with a bang, when he took the first pitch thrown in the MLB that year out of the yard in Miami for a lead-off home run. He was voted a National League All-Star in 2022 and has won back-to-back Rawlings NL Gold Glove Awards in 2022 and 2023.
Off the field, Happ is known for his generous contributions to the Chicago community and beyond. In 2018-19, Happ began the “Through My Eyes” project, where he commissioned art prints of Wrigley Field from his view along with artist Patrick Vale. The proceeds from the project went to Happ’s charity.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Happ released his own coffee brand, ‘Quarantine Coffee’, which had a portion of sales go directly towards COVID-19 relief charities.
Since then, he has also teamed up with Connect Roasters and Morale Supply Company to sell ‘Morale Blend’ coffee. In 2015, the same year he was drafted, Happ’s father, Keith, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Later, the Happ family debuted the ‘Happ Family Charitable Fund to support mental health awareness and wellness through organizations like Bring Change to Mind and First Tee Greater Chicago. Happ continuously works with a number of Chicago-based charities to raise money for those in need.
The South Bend Cubs will welcome the Peoria Chiefs to Four Winds Field for their 4th of July weeklong celebration July 1 -3. Both July 2 and 3 will have a special fireworks display and July 3 will also feature a special post-game concert. Details on the concert will be available in the coming weeks. Opening Day at Four Winds Field is April 9.
