Shh! Cubs have surprise for boy hurt by foul ball
A more glorious return to Wrigley Field is hard to imagine for a 7-year-old boy.
At his first Cubs game, Dominic DiAngi was drilled in the head by a foul ball. At his second Cubs game, he'll throw out the first pitch on the day he turns 8.
(John J. Kim/Sun-Times)
His family hopes to keep the whole thing a surprise for his birthday. He'll be traveling to Wrigleyville this Saturday under the ruse of a visit to Aunt Betty's house.
"This kid loves the Cubs and I'm looking forward to actually seeing his expression when he steps onto that infield grass," said Dominic's dad, Peter. "It's going to be emotional."
Word is Ted Lilly -- who hit the ill-fated foul ball two weeks ago and visited Dominic in the hospital -- will catch the ceremonial pitch.
Since his release from Children's Memorial Hospital last Wednesday after a six-day stay, Dominic has been mostly sitting on the couch of his Frankfort home, wearing his baseball mitt and watching Disney movies.
"He's dying to play. But he can't. Doctors said it's OK for him to throw, but not catch," said Peter, who is thinking of a way to convince his wife to allow Dominic time to practice throwing a baseball 60 feet, six inches (the distance between home plate and the mound).
And Peter vows to sit in Wrigley's nosebleed seats and give the kids binoculars from now on.
Mitch Dudek
