MESA, Ariz. -- The list includes a 90-year-old man from Kewanee, Ill., and a 13-year-old girl from Peru, Ill. There's a young woman with spina bifida who plays baseball for her Miracle League Cubs team, two teachers with Cubs-themed classrooms, a grandfather who saved a 1984 bottle of champagne for his championship toast and a father whose four kids have Cubs-themed names.
They are among the winners of the Cubs' championship ring bearer fan contest. Twenty fans will have the opportunity to present Cubs players and coaches their 2016 World Series rings on the field on April 12 at Wrigley Field.
The winners were selected from more than 1,500 video nominations on Twitter using the #CubsRingBearer hashtag, which was shared more than 10,000 times overall. These fans were nominated by family members, co-workers and friends, and selected based on their passion, loyalty and creativity.
Jimmy Thurman - Cubs Ring Bearer Nominee
The list also includes a woman who overcame cerebral palsy to support her team in person, and a veteran, cancer survivor and longtime bleacher season-ticket holder who saved the newspaper from Ernie Banks' debut to eventually have it signed by Mr. Cub himself.
The presenters will wear unique jerseys and hats to match the players' uniforms that day and will be among the first fans to get a look at the Cubs World Series rings, designed by Jostens.
"The greatest journey in sports history was backed by the greatest fans in all of sports, and we're thrilled to reward 20 deserving people from that passionate group with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney. "It will be rewarding to see our World Series rings presented to players and coaches by such an impressive group of fans."
Here is the list of championship ring bearers with their ages and hometowns. More information on each winner can be found at www.cubs.com/cubsringbearer.
Jeff Birtell, 58, DeKalb, Ill.
Grace Davis, 20, Jefferson City, Mo.
Alex Dorn, 29, Chicago
Paul "Crawly" Dzien, 40, Bartlett, Ill.
Michael Folsom, 30, Palos Hills, Ill.
Dennis Gieseke, 72, Roselle, Ill.
Joanne Harrer, 76, Naperville, Ill.
Melissa Hurd, 37, Carol Stream, Ill.
Lauren Klein, 13, Peru
Amy Liss, 34, Downers Grove, Ill.
Tom Magno, 50, Chicago
Jessie McGinn, 26, Arlington Heights, Ill.
Doug Meyer, 60, Deerfield, Ill.
David Morimoto, 55, Joliet, Ill.
Bob O'Hara, 38, Elkhart, Ind.
Erv Schreiber, 86, Indianapolis
Steven Teplinsky, 63, Mundelein, Ill.
Jimmy Thurman, 90, Kewanee
Tom Wakefield, 48, Brownsburg, Ind.
George Wiseman, 72, Mount Prospect, Ill.