Chicago – Amidst the hustle and bustle of an MLB season, one corner of the stands at Wrigley Field will forever stand out. The Chicago Cubs have just announced an emotional decision to leave an empty seat, with a plaque reading “Forever with the Cubs – Charlie Kirk,” in memory of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who passed away suddenly at the age of 31.
The empty seat is located in the same area where Charlie used to sit to cheer for the Cubs. No one else is allowed to sit in it, and it will remain that way throughout the season. For thousands of fans, it is more than just a seat, it is an everlasting symbol of the love, faith and Cubs spirit that Charlie left behind.
“He’s always here, every time we look up at the stands. Leaving this empty seat is our way of saying that Charlie will always be a part of Cubs Nation, even if he’s not sitting with us,” – President Thomas S. Ricketts choked up during a press conference.
At the most recent game, when the big screen at Wrigley Field showed a close-up of the empty seat with its name engraved on a gold plaque, the entire stadium fell silent. Then, each spectator stood up, raised their baseball caps and applauded. Many shed tears and hugged each other.
On social media, the image of the seat quickly became a viral phenomenon. One fan wrote: “It’s more than just a seat. It’s where a fan’s love lives on with the team.” Another account commented: “Charlie Kirk may have left this world, but at Wrigley, his spirit still sits in that seat, forever.”
Charlie Kirk’s family was also invited to the stadium, sitting next to the empty seats for an emotional moment. They placed a bouquet of blue flowers – the colors of the Cubs jersey – on the seats and whispered words of thanks. “We know Charlie is smiling somewhere. He will never miss another Cubs game,” a family member shared.
In MLB history, there are very few teams that have chosen such a special way to commemorate. For the Cubs, this is not just a tribute to an individual, but also an affirmation: the love and attachment between the fans and the team is never lost.
Every time the Cubs step onto the field, tens of thousands of eyes will turn to that seat – empty but full of memories, loss but full of faith. And in every hit, every pitch, the name Charlie Kirk will forever resound: Forever with the Cubs.
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