Cubs Fan Teaches His Son A Hallowed Wrigley Field Tradition And It's Hilarious

When the Dodgers Keibert Ruiz hit a home run off Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks to break up a shutout in a 7-1 Chicago victory , the moment didnt seem too significant. Surely the ball, which flew into the Wrigley Field right-field bleachers, would make a harmless souvenir for some lucky fan. (Watch the video below.)

But nooooooo.

A dad emerged into view on the broadcast carrying his toddler son toward Wrigleys ivy-covered wall. It was time for the sacred tradition of throwing an enemys home run back onto the field.

In the viral clip, the dad talked to the lad as the boy gripped the baseball and then let it fly with a lefty toss.

Absolutely amazing moment, when a dad taught his son what we do with HR balls from the other teams at Wrigley Field. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/tftgHTXWN7

Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 4, 2021","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Michael Cerami","author_url":"https://twitter.com/Michael_Cerami","cache_age":86400,"description":"Absolutely amazing moment, when a dad taught his son what we do with HR balls from the other teams at Wrigley Field. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/tftgHTXWN7 Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 4, 2021\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Michael Cerami on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/Michael_Cerami/status/1389680613519679494","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6092a819e4b0ccb91c38e56e","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/cubs-fan-son-throws-back-home-run-ball_n_6092a819e4b0ccb91c38e56e","entryTagsList":"entertainment,viral-video,chicago-cubs,home-run,wrigley-field","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":"entertainment","sectionRedirectUrl":"https://action.news/entertainment","subcategories":"sports","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6092a819e4b0ccb91c38e56e","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"entertainment","slug":"entertainment","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/entertainment","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/entertainment","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/entertainment"},"relegenceSubjectId":6325647,"department":{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"section":{"title":"Celebrity","slug":"celebrity"},"topic":{"title":"Celebrities","slug":"celebrities","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/entertainment/topic/celebrities"},{"name":"viral video","slug":"viral-video","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/viral-video","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/viral-video","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/viral-video"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/viral-video"},{"name":"Chicago Cubs","slug":"chicago-cubs","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/chicago-cubs","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/chicago-cubs","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/chicago-cubs"},"relegenceId":3020085,"section":{"title":"Sports","slug":"sports"},"topic":{"title":"Chicago Cubs","slug":"chicago-cubs","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/chicago-cubs"},{"name":"home run","slug":"home-run","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/home-run","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/home-run","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/home-run"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/home-run"},{"name":"wrigley field","slug":"wrigley-field","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/wrigley-field","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/wrigley-field","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/wrigley-field"},"relegenceId":3700602,"url":"https://action.news/topic/wrigley-field"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

Absolutely amazing moment, when a dad taught his son what we do with HR balls from the other teams at Wrigley Field. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/tftgHTXWN7
Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) May 4, 2021

Hes no Ken Holtzman, but give him time.

Raising him right! an announcer enthused.

Chicago Cubs faithful are often credited with establishing the practice of throwing back the home runs of opposing teams.

The father, a former city alderman candidate named Jacob Ringer, told HuffPost Wednesday that while his 3-year-old son Henry did throw back the home run ball (which the tyke got from another fan), Ringers boys had received a ball personally from Dodgers star Mookie Betts earlier in the game. He tweeted about it as well.

@Michael_Cerami can confirm that is my son, (who is a lefty). It was his idea to throw it back. In fact I was worried he would throw the one we got earlier in the game from @mookiebetts on the field. PS @obvious_shirts would happily take: a dad of the year, throw it back #shirt https://t.co/Y8hT2wRWgo

Jacob Ringer (@JacobRinger) May 4, 2021","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Jacob Ringer","author_url":"https://twitter.com/JacobRinger","cache_age":86400,"description":"@Michael_Cerami can confirm that is my son, (who is a lefty). It was his idea to throw it back. In fact I was worried he would throw the one we got earlier in the game from @mookiebetts on the field. PS @obvious_shirts would happily take: a dad of the year, throw it back #shirt https://t.co/Y8hT2wRWgo Jacob Ringer (@JacobRinger) May 4, 2021\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Jacob Ringer on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/JacobRinger/status/1389715653439918081","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6092a819e4b0ccb91c38e56e","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/cubs-fan-son-throws-back-home-run-ball_n_6092a819e4b0ccb91c38e56e","entryTagsList":"entertainment,viral-video,chicago-cubs,home-run,wrigley-field","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":"entertainment","sectionRedirectUrl":"https://action.news/entertainment","subcategories":"sports","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6092a819e4b0ccb91c38e56e","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"entertainment","slug":"entertainment","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/entertainment","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/entertainment","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/entertainment"},"relegenceSubjectId":6325647,"department":{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"section":{"title":"Celebrity","slug":"celebrity"},"topic":{"title":"Celebrities","slug":"celebrities","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/entertainment/topic/celebrities"},{"name":"viral video","slug":"viral-video","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/viral-video","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/viral-video","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/viral-video"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/viral-video"},{"name":"Chicago Cubs","slug":"chicago-cubs","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/chicago-cubs","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/chicago-cubs","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/chicago-cubs"},"relegenceId":3020085,"section":{"title":"Sports","slug":"sports"},"topic":{"title":"Chicago Cubs","slug":"chicago-cubs","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/chicago-cubs"},{"name":"home run","slug":"home-run","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/home-run","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/home-run","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/home-run"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/home-run"},{"name":"wrigley field","slug":"wrigley-field","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/wrigley-field","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/wrigley-field","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/wrigley-field"},"relegenceId":3700602,"url":"https://action.news/topic/wrigley-field"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

@Michael_Cerami can confirm that is my son, (who is a lefty). It was his idea to throw it back. In fact I was worried he would throw the one we got earlier in the game from @mookiebetts on the field. PS @obvious_shirts would happily take: a dad of the year, throw it back #shirt https://t.co/Y8hT2wRWgo
Jacob Ringer (@JacobRinger) May 4, 2021