CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs mourn the passing of longtime clubhouse manager and loving husband and father Tom “Otis” Hellmann, who passed away Wednesday night.
Tom was part of the Cubs organization for the last 41 seasons, joining Chicago in 1983, where he ran the visiting clubhouse at Wrigley Field. He served 23 years as the Home Clubhouse Manager through 2022 before being named Home Clubhouse Manager Emeritus in 2023.
Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts issued the following statement on his passing: “I am saddened by this loss. I can’t think of another person more dedicated to this team and organization than Otis. He embodied the definition of caretaker looking after countless players, coaches and staff that called our clubhouse home throughout his 41 seasons. He will forever be remembered as a beloved member of our family.”
Among his accolades, Tom was selected to accompany the Major League Baseball All-Star squad that traveled to Japan following the 2004 season. In 2016, he was named the Clubhouse Manager of the Year by his peers throughout the game and, at the end of last season, he was awarded a ring from the Clubhouse Managers Association for his outstanding 50 years in baseball.
Tom began his 50-year career in Major League Baseball in 1974 and spent nine seasons working for the Cincinnati Reds as the Assistant Clubhouse Manager before joining the Cubs.
The entire organization extends its thoughts and condolences to Tom’s wife, Mary, their children, Lena, Hanna and Theo, and the rest of the Hellmann family.