As the nine-month anniversary of the Chicago Cubs’ World Series championship approaches, a "baby boom" could be starting in the Windy City.
To celebrate that, the Cubs headed to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center on Wednesday, bringing along Clark the Cub and some gifts for the newborns, including Cubs onesies and special pinstriped beanies.
The babies also got complimentary memberships in the team’s “Newborn Fan Club,” and many of the parents in the hospital were thrilled with the distinction of their child being born as part of the “World Series baby” wave.
Erin Hettinger, who named her son ‘Theo’ after Cubs President Theo Epstein, gave birth on July 17 at the hospital.
“He looked like a Theo when he was born, so he kind of validated our decision,” she said. “We were really excited.”
Joe Pelnar, father to baby Addison, chose the name based on the crosstreets that Wrigley is located on, not after star shortstop Addison Russell, but his son still has a connection to the team’s win.
“We were deciding between Clark and Addison if it was a boy, or Wrigley if it was a girl,” he said.
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It’s unclear how big of a spike in birthrate there will be as a result of the Cubs’ championship, and employees of the hospital aren’t sure how many births can be chalked up to the victory. Even still, one doctor at the hospital is expecting more births in the coming days.
“It depends on how you calculate full term,” Dr. Melissa Dennis said. “You’re looking at any time between late July and mid-August, so we’re expecting more to come.”
