CHICAGO – On the night of July 10 at Wrigley Field, right after the audience was still cheering, a moment of silence occurred: Chicago Cubs captain Dansby Swanson bowed his head, clutching his cap embroidered with the words “Texas Strong.”
On the big screen, the MC’s voice rang out, hoarse with emotion:
“We dedicate this game to those who have died and those who are still suffering in the historic floods in Texas.”
A moment when all the spectators in the stadium were silent – and many could not hold back their tears.
Just hours before the game, the Cubs players received news: the death toll from the floods in Texas was rising rapidly, thousands were homeless, many children were still missing.
The atmosphere in the locker room was heavy.
Dansby Swanson, who had lived in neighboring Georgia for many years and had close friends in Houston, sat quietly for a moment and said,
“Let’s do something, even if it’s small.”
The team quickly agreed:
Donate all of their winnings to the relief fund
Wear black armbands in memory
Launch an online fundraising campaign with the hashtag #CubsForTexas.
A hard-fought, mournful victory
That night, the Cubs played quietly as usual.
They beat the Braves by a narrow 4–3 margin, but even the final celebration was unusually quiet.
Swanson and his teammates held up a sign:
“Texas – You’re Not Alone.”
The entire Wrigley Field stadium erupted in applause – not just for the victory, but because the words rang from the heart.
In the 12 hours after the game, more than $900,000 was raised by Cubs fans and supporters across the country,
The Cubs Charitable Foundation pledged another $300,000,
The video of Swanson bowing his head in silence has been viewed more than 2 million times on TikTok and Twitter, with thousands of emotional comments:
“This is American baseball – not just about winning or losing, but about humanity.”
In the history of American sports, there have been many times when the hearts on the field have become real-life miracles.
And that night, the Cubs reminded us:
“There are times when the scoreboard is just a number. What really matters is that we stand together – especially when someone out there is desperate.”
Swanson said quietly after the game, his voice breaking:
“We are the Cubs. But tonight, we just want to be Americans, saying to Texas: You are not alone.”