Chicago Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts Gets Roasted By 6-Year-Old

Chicago Cubs owner Thomas Ricketts is no stranger to criticism from fans, but he likely didn’t expect to be called out by a six-year-old during the team’s annual Cubs Convention.

In a humorous moment caught on video, the young fan approached Thomas Ricketts during the event, where the owner was signing autographs and chatting with attendees.

The child planned to ask Ricketts to sign a bat inscribed with “The cheapest owner in baseball.”

While Ricketts didn’t go along with the cheeky request, he was visibly amused and asked the boy, “Who’s your dad?” clearly suspecting the idea wasn’t entirely the kid’s own.

The clip, obtained by TMZ Sports, cuts off before revealing how the interaction ended, but it’s a moment that encapsulates the growing frustration among Cubs fans over the MLB team’s spending habits.

The playful jab from the young fan echoes sentiments shared by many Cubs supporters. Ricketts has faced mounting criticism for his approach to spending, particularly after comments suggesting the team doesn’t have the financial muscle of organizations like the Dodgers, Mets, or Yankees.

“They think somehow we have all these dollars that the Dodgers have or the Mets have or the Yankees have and we just keep it,” Ricketts said recently, per USA Today. “Which isn’t true at all. What happens is we try to break even every year, and that’s about it.”

However, many fans remain skeptical, especially given the Cubs’ valuation at $4.225 billion and Ricketts’ reported personal net worth of $2.3 billion.

The Cubs Convention, usually a celebration of team spirit and optimism, saw fans voicing their discontent this year. Attendees jeered when Cubs president Jed Hoyer declined to comment on the team’s interest in signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Boos followed discussions about the team’s limited plans to upgrade their bullpen and bench rather than pursue marquee players.

“Look, there’s other teams that have more resources than we do," Ricketts told USA TODAY Sports at the Cubs Convention. “I can’t change that. I tell our guys not to worry about it, and just do your best."

The Cubs’ current payroll sits at around $180 million, ranking 14th in Major League Baseball. Fans are growing impatient with what they perceive as a lack of ambition, especially as they reminisce about the magic of 2016, when the Cubs ended their 108-year World Series drought.

The Chicago Cubs faithful are growing restless, and excuses aren’t cutting it anymore. Fans are demanding owner Tom Ricketts open the team’s checkbook and start investing like a franchise in the third-largest market in America.

During a radio appearance on 670 The Score at the recent Cubs Convention, Ricketts pushed back against the narrative that the team isn’t spending enough. “I don’t think fans should spend all their time thinking about which team has more money or how much they’re spending,” Ricketts said. “It just becomes a big narrative that’s a distraction.”

But for Cubs fans, that narrative isn’t going away anytime soon. The Cubs are the fourth-richest team in baseball and play in a market that demands competitiveness at the highest level.

“Obviously, the Dodgers have done a really nice job of making good business decisions, making good player decisions,” Ricketts added. “And they built a fortress. That’s tough. But I don’t begrudge them any of that. It’s like the Yankees from 30 years ago or whatever—these things come and go.”

Still, Ricketts addressed the perception that the Cubs are hoarding resources. “I think our fans somehow think we have all these dollars that the Dodgers have or the Mets have or the Yankees have, and we just keep it. It’s not true. We just try to break even every year.”

While the young fan’s playful trolling may not immediately open the Cubs’ checkbook, it highlights the increasing pressure on Ricketts to invest in the team’s success. With most high-profile free agents already signed, fans may need to wait until next season to see if the Cubs make any major moves.

For now, the Cubs faithful are left balancing hope for a competitive 2024 season with growing frustration over what they see as missed opportunities to reclaim their spot as a powerhouse in Major League Baseball.