Chicago – Chicago Cubs youngster Matt Shaw moved fans by sharing a tearful moment after his latest game, paying tribute to his late grandfather, whom he called “the first person who taught me to hold a bat and love baseball with all my heart.”
In an interview after the Cubs vs. Braves game last night, Shaw couldn’t hide his emotions when talking about his grandfather – whom he considered an “unsung hero” in his career. “I still remember the afternoons we spent throwing pitches in the backyard. He always told me, ‘Play for the fun of it, not for the results.’ That’s something I’ve carried with me my whole life,” Shaw said, his voice breaking.
A source within the Cubs confirmed that Matt Shaw had received news of his grandfather’s death not long ago. Despite the emotional toll, the 23-year-old decided to play, seeing it as a way to honor the man who inspired his passion. “I know he wanted to see me out there. He said, no matter what happens, hit the next pitch like it’s your first,” Shaw added.
In the eighth inning, Matt Shaw hit a line-drive double to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead. After safely reaching base, he looked up at the stands, put his hand over his heart, and pointed to the sky – an action that brought silence to Wrigley Field for a few seconds. His teammates then came to hug him, many of them in tears.
“He played with his heart. We all knew he was hurting,” manager Craig Counsell said after the game. “But Matt turned it into strength. I think his grandfather would be proud.”
The Shaw family has a long history of baseball. His grandfather, a former high school baseball coach in Massachusetts, was the first to spot Matt’s talent. He often hand-sewn leather gloves, customizing every detail to fit his grandson’s hands. When Matt was drafted by the Cubs to play in MLB last year, he was the first to call to congratulate him, breaking down in tears over the phone.
“My grandpa never missed a game of mine, even a minor league game,” Shaw said. “I always hear his voice in my head when I put up my bat.”
After the video of Shaw pointing to the sky was posted on the Chicago Cubs’ official account, thousands of comments poured in. One fan wrote: “His grandpa is definitely smiling in heaven. Thank you Matt for showing the true meaning of baseball.”
MLB also reposted the image with the caption: “A swing for grandpa. A game for the heart.”
The game ended in a 4-3 win for the Cubs, but what lingers is not the score. It’s the image of a young player with his head bowed, tears streaming down his face, and his final message to the stands: “Thank you, sir, for everything. I’m still playing—for you.”
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