A Valparaiso family and a few Valparaiso High School students recently attended a Cubs game up at Wrigley Field to catch some Major League Baseball action and came back with a couple of nice surprises.
After the game, while standing at the fence waiting for former Valparaiso High School star and current Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija to come out of the stadium, the girls waited in their VHS letterman jackets. Jeff saw the Green & White, stopped, and rolled down his window.
After asking what grade they were in at VHS, the Cubs player signed their tickets, and a foul ball one had caught during the game in her jacket. He then asked, "You want me to sign your letterman's jacket?" with a surprised tone, so maybe it was the first time he's ever been asked to do that, and Andrea and Jana have the only jackets like that around!
“We are usually not stalkers but last night it was so worth missing curfew for that special moment!” said Andrea Violanti, one of the lucky Vikings.
“Jeff really is a great guy and as fans, we need to respect his privacy and time off the field," said Catey Violanti, Andrea’s mother who was also at the game. “But it still was that special moment.”
Samardzija will return to his old stomping grounds at Valparaiso High School as the school will retire his number three jersey during the homecoming football game on September 30th against Merrillville High School. Head down to VHS, see some history made, and cheer on the Vikings!