Cubs' Javier Baez To Receive Honorary Street Sign In Humboldt Park Ceremony

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez will receive an honorary street sign Tuesday a few months after a West Side alderman suggested last year's National League Championship Series co-MVP receive that recognition. The sign — Javier "Javy" Baez Way — will be unveiled during a ceremony Tuesday at Little Cubs Fields in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, according to the office for Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th Ward), the elected official who spearheaded the idea. Not only is Baez scheduled to attend the event, but the Cubs' World Series trophy also will be on hand for fans to see.

Maldonado proposed the sign in October as a way to honor Baez and the Puerto Rican heritage he and the alderman share. The street signs will line the west side of Luis Munoz Marin Drive — named after Puerto Rico's first elected governor — from the 1200 through 1500 blocks of Humboldt Park, a city neighborhood known for its large Puerto Rican presence.

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"What an incredible Chicago Cubs second baseman, competitor, and role model proudly representing Puerto Rico!" Maldonado wrote in a November Facebook post announcing his proposal.

But the alderman can't take sole credit for honoring Baez with his own Chicago street sign. Maldonado's 11-year-old suggested the idea to his dad, who then brought it before the City Council, which approved the measure in January. Despite being White Sox fans, Maldonado said he and his family cheered for Baez and the Cubs during their 2016 World Series run.

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The event, which is open to the public, begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, at Little Cubs Fields, 1339 N. Luis Muñoz Marin Drive. The Cubs' World Series trophy also will be on display from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and the first 500 attendees will receive a wristband for a photo opportunity with it. Maldonado and Baez will speak to the crowd starting at 11:30 a.m., and the sign will be unveiled at 12:45 p.m. Fans can meet and take photos with Baez from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Honorary Street Sign Ceremony for Javier Baez

• When: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11
• Where: Little Cubs Fields, 1339 N. Luis Muñoz Marin Drive
• More Info: Go to the 26th Ward website.

Cubs second baseman Javier Baez (photo by Julie Fennell | Wikimedia Commons)

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