Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts Sends Out Annual Letter to the Fans, A Classy Touch

Every year after the major league baseball season is over, Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts sends out his annual letter to the fans. This year, Tom eloquently gave thanks to this team, the management and their amazing staff, and all the fans who’ve supported the team throughout the year. It was a truly heartfelt gesture from one heck of a classy owner who made good on his promise to bring a World Championship to the greatest city in the World.

In case you haven’t seen it before, and to help put the letter into context, here is the Chicago Cubs Mission Statement:

• The Chicago Cubs’ goal is to reward generations of Cubs fans’ support and loyalty with a World Championship.
• The Cubs will play championship baseball with players whose performance on and off the field reflect the character of the Cubs organization and the City of Chicago.
• The Cubs will preserve the beauty, charm and traditions of Wrigley Field while enhancing the fan experience and ensuring the viability of the ballpark for future generations.
• The Cubs will work with our neighbors to keep Wrigleyville an extraordinary place to conduct business and live; additionally, the Cubs will be active participants in and contribute to the City of Chicago.
• Cubs associates will uphold the highest ethical and moral standards while safeguarding the Cubs history and tradition.

Here’s the full text of Tom Ricketts’ letter:

Dear Cubs Fans,

It happened! From this season’s many magical moments to Game 7’s epic ending, your 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs made history.

Throughout the entire season, our team never quit and you never lost faith. From the first pitch to the last out, we felt your energy and enthusiasm. It’s only fitting the greatest journey in all of sports was fueled by the most loyal fans in the history of the game. While no fan base should have to wait more than a century, your love for the Cubs never wavered.

I’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you for your support of my family, our team and the entire Cubs organization over the past few years. Your patience and trust enabled us to build a championship organization the right way.

They say a team is a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. All year long, our talented team played for each other and for you. They persevered in the moments that mattered most in their quest to win the World Series. Last year, they had us believing in magic. This year, through their character, chemistry and no-quit attitude, they proved dreams really do come true.

None of this is possible without the tireless efforts of our baseball operations staff working throughout the farm system and at the Major League level. Thank you to Theo, Jed, Jason and their incredible teams. And to Joe, our entire coaching staff and the best players in the game, thank you for bringing the World Series trophy home to Chicago.

It was a true joy to watch Cubs fans, whether young in age or young at heart, embrace old traditions and create new ones while cheering our team to victory. You flew your W Flags with pride, crafted thoughtful chalk memorials on our beloved bleacher walls and participated in the largest parade and rally in U.S. history. We’ll never forget the cheers of our few million friends as the team’s double-decker buses rolled down Michigan Avenue and the sea of blue that greeted us at Grant Park.

While our number one goal was to deliver a championship to our deserving fans, we’ve also made great progress on preserving Wrigley Field and set records for our fundraising and community contributions. In addition to baseball operations, our business operations, from Crane and senior leadership to our front office associates and nearly 2,000 dedicated individuals who make Wrigley Field such a special place, deserve thanks for helping us deliver on all three of our organizational goals.

Only a week removed from achieving our ultimate goal, it’s hard to think about the future. With that said, I truly believe this is just the beginning. With one of the youngest starting lineups in World Series history, our team is built for sustained success. As we cherish the moment and enjoy our championship together, work is already underway to defend our title in 2017.

Let’s Go Cubs,

Tom Ricketts