Dansby Swanson Shares Emotional Reason Why He Joined the Cubs

The newest star on the Chicago Cubs, Dansby Swanson, explained the emotional reason involving his grandfather on why he joined the franchise.
Dansby Swanson Shares Emotional Reason Why He Joined the Cubs
Dansby Swanson Shares Emotional Reason Why He Joined the Cubs /
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The Chicago Cubs introduced their newest shortstop and superstar Dansby Swanson on Wednesday. In his introductory press conference, Swanson touched on numerous topics including what he hopes to accomplish with the team and what drew him to the franchise. 

But in the midst of that was an emotional story about his grandfather that was a water works inducer. 

Swanson's grandfather died the die after his wedding earlier this year. He grew up just down the street from his grandfather and the two were very close and bonded over baseball. Every day when he would come home from school his grandfather would have the Cubs on the television.

"I was always like, 'Pops, we're in Atlanta, dude. We're Braves fans,'" Swanson recounted. "He loved baseball so much, and all he ever wanted me to be was doing what I'm doing now."

Growing up in Atlanta and playing for the Braves and now playing for Chicago, one of his grandfather's other teams, is one of the emotional reasonings that drew Swanson to the Cubs. 

"To be able to play for two of my grandfather's two favorite teams means literally, like, the world to me," Swanson said. 

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.