CHICAGO -- After the World Series, some of the Cubs players were honored with parades in their hometowns, some appeared on talk shows and some decided to go "Dancing with the Stars." On Tuesday, Cubs infielder Javier Baez had a street named after him in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Baez, 24, who was the co-Most Valuable Player in the National League Championship Series with teammate Jonathan Lester, and his mother joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and 26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado at the ceremony. Baez also brought along the World Series trophy, which fans posed for photos with.
"When I was growing up in the city of Chicago, it was that you always wanted to grow up and be like Mike," Emanuel said, referring to NBA star Michael Jordan. "In the city of Chicago, people now are growing up and kids are saying they want to be like Javy."
Maldonado explained Baez's story, and how Baez had promised his father, who he lost when he was 11, that he would provide for his family. Baez also vowed to his sister, Noely, that he would take care of her. She died in 2015 at the age of 21.
"It is more than just the game of baseball," Maldonado said. "For Javy, it is the spirit of his beloved father and sister that gave life to the game and helped him achieve greatness. Javy is such an inspiration to so many young people who have faced tragic times and had to deal with losses."
Maldonado said he wanted to celebrate Baez's achievements, both personally and professionally, by naming the street after the popular Cubs player.
"Javier 'Javy' Baez Way" now stretches along West Luis Munoz Marin Drive from Sacramento Avenue to Division Street along Little Cubs Field in Humboldt Park, which has a large Puerto Rican population.
Humboldt Park has 15 different softball and baseball fields, and more than 45 years ago, the Puerto Rican community created a baseball league in which all the teams are named for towns on the island.
In his resolution honoring Baez, Maldonado said the young infielder has "given Chicagoans [and] Cubs fans across the world and all of Puerto Rico great reasons to celebrate."