The St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs rivalry is historic but never as bitter as L.A. Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants.
That’s why the entire crowd, not just St. Louis Cardinals fans, stood in appreciation of Joshua Báez after he lined out to left field and returned to his dugout on Saturday afternoon.
Báez’ previous three at-bats shook up Major League Baseball in a way that had never occurred – he hit three successive home runs in his first three career plate appearances.
Called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Báez stepped up in the first inning with his mother Yris and more than 30 family members and friends sitting together in Wrigley Field.
No pressure, right? Apparently not.
Báez drilled a home run to center field and followed that up with respective home runs to left and right field.
On June 16, 2023, Báez’ father, Jose Báez, passed away.
Before he died, the 20-year-old slugger vowed to him he would reach the Majors. Earlier this season on the anniversary of his dad’s death, Báez hit four home runs in a minor-league contest and dedicated the feat to his departed father.
He told reporters following his historic first game in the Majors that a bee kept buzzing around his head in the outfield, even though a light rain was falling.
“I found it strange. At first, I was a bit scared, but then I kind of let it go, and I knew that it wasn’t going to sting me. I kind of took that as if [my father] was the bee because it was right on me every single inning,”
“I just know that he’s super proud, and that he’s here with me right now in spirit.”
Báez not only hit home runs to three different fields, but he also hit the homers on three different types of pitches.
“It’s just unreal,” he said, “to not only get a hit, but three home runs? It’s crazy.”
Speaking through an interpreter, his mother said, “Seeing the work that he put in; all the progress that he made, this is something that God gave me. It’s a really special feeling.”
Báez will hopefully keep providing special feelings for his family, friends and Cardinals fans when we get our first chance to see him at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 25 against the Baltimore Orioles.