Ian Happ’s Tearful Gesture Honors Ailing Cubs Superfan Ronnie Woo Woo
In a heartfelt moment that captured the spirit of Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs star Ian Happ delivered a tearful gesture to honor legendary superfan Ronnie “Woo Woo” Wickers, who has been absent from the Friendly Confines this 2025 season due to health challenges. The 83-year-old icon, known for his thunderous “Cubs, woo!” cheers, is battling pulmonary fibrosis at The Pearl nursing home in Evanston, sidelining him from the ballpark he’s called home since 1949. Happ’s emotional tribute has touched the hearts of Cubs fans worldwide, celebrating a man who embodies the team’s enduring spirit.
On August 25, 2025, during a home game against the Padres, Happ stepped out of the dugout before the seventh-inning stretch, holding a jersey emblazoned with “Woo Woo” on the back. Visibly moved, the outfielder raised the jersey to the sky, dedicating the game to Wickers. “This one’s for Ronnie,” Happ said, his voice breaking, as the crowd erupted in applause. The gesture, broadcast live on Marquee Sports Network, resonated deeply with fans who have missed Wickers’ infectious energy. “Ronnie’s the heartbeat of Wrigley,” Happ later told reporters. “We feel him here, even if he can’t be.”
Wickers, a Chicago native raised on the South Side, has been a fixture at Wrigley since his grandmother took him to see Jackie Robinson play in 1949. His signature “woo” chant, born in the late 1950s, earned him the nickname “Leather Lungs” from Cubs announcer Harry Caray. Despite a life marked by hardship—abuse, homelessness, and health struggles—Wickers’ love for the Cubs has never wavered. “The Cubs saved my life,” he once said, a sentiment echoed in a 2023 Block Club Chicago profile. Now, confined to a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, Wickers listens to every game on the radio, cheering for stars like Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Happ’s gesture was more than symbolic; it was a call to action. After the game, he announced that the Cubs organization, in partnership with fans, is arranging for Wickers to watch games on Marquee Sports Network at The Pearl. Fans have flooded Wickers with get-well cards, including one from former Cub Glendon Rusch, accompanied by a signed baseball card. “Ronnie’s joy comes from Cubs fans,” said Janet Tabit, Wickers’ longtime friend, who met him when he introduced her to Mark Grace decades ago. “This gesture from Ian means the world to him.”
The Cubs’ 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, with the team atop the NL Central thanks to a potent offense. Wickers, ever the optimist, predicted in a recent WGN interview that the division “will come down to whoever gets hot.” His absence has left a void at Wrigley, where fans like Scott Maren, who grew up idolizing Wickers, call him “part of the Wrigley magic.” For Happ, a Chicago-area native who understands the team’s cultural weight, honoring Wickers was personal. “He’s been here through every high and low,” Happ said. “We’re playing for him.”
As Wickers rehabs with hopes of returning to Wrigley, Happ’s tearful tribute has galvanized the Cubs community. Social media posts on X reflect the outpouring of love, with fans sharing memories of Wickers’ cheers and selfies. “Ronnie’s more than a fan—he’s family,” one post read. The gesture has also sparked discussions about recognizing Wickers’ legacy, with some calling for a permanent tribute at Wrigley. For now, as Wickers fights to return to his beloved ballpark, Happ’s emotional moment reminds us all of the power of fandom, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between the Cubs and their most famous cheerleader.