Dear Ben,

First off, all I have to say is WOW! You and the rest of the Cubs team were phenomenal this whole year and in the Post Season, let alone the World Series. BOTH teams clearly wanted that title, and played really hard, which is what makes the Cubs first World Series win in 108 years even sweeter!

Congratulations to you, specifically, for being named the MVP of the World Series! A batting average of .357 is incredible on its own, but under the pressure of the Championship title, and the weight of 108 years of Cubs fans’ wishes, that’s amazing. And knocking in that run that really brought the win to Chicago, you truly were the Most Valuable Player!

Of course, this was your second year in the World Series, so you were no stranger to the pressure you needed to overcome, but I can imagine winning for your home state makes everything that much sweeter (even if you grew up a Cardinals fan, us Cubs fans forgive you).

I’ve found this consistent with what I can tell from the team, but everything I’ve read where people have met you personally say that you are a truly humble and genuinely nice guy! I found this wonderful article from the Houston Chronicle by an author named Greg Rajan that proves just that! I truly believe, and you can correct me if I’m wrong, that having genuine, kind, compassionate men who are the definition of a team is half of the success. Obviously, the talent has to be there, and it is across the board with the Cubs, but the comradery I’ve witnessed during games throughout this season has me convinced that the World Series Champion team is just that because of the virtue of the people as well as as quality of the players.

I know you have every major news outlet knocking down your door right now to snag an interview and have more obligations than you can even imagine, but from a Peoria station with Eureka included in our listening area, we would love to talk to you on our morning show. I think our listeners would be so excited to hear your first hand account of the feelings and emotions and even chaos behind that anxiety-inducing game seven. As a life-long Cubs fan, you’d personally make my LIFE getting to interview you on air!

So please, call my office line at 309-669-1217 or email me to set it all up! Peoria area LOVES you, Cubs fans LOVE you, and America LOVES you!

Thank you for an amazing series and an amazing year! So happy the Cubbies picked you up!

Sincerely,

Kristin and the Nash FM Airstaff