cubsfan162512
Jul 17th 2008, 2:36 pm
GUTTENBERG - Dustin Eglseder, the first Chicago Cubs fan to sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at Wrigley Field during the seventh-inning stretch, died in his Guttenberg home Wednesday after a long battle with bone cancer. He was 23.
Eglseder, a former high school third baseman, underwent surgery May 31, 2007, to have a bone removed from his right arm after being diagnosed with bone cancer in the spring of 2007.
He lost his pitching arm, but the voice he had nurtured in high school chorus and chamber choir made him a star when he was chosen by fans from among thousands of entrants to sing the song last Sept. 21.
"He stood up in front of 41,000 people and just nailed it," Cubs color man Bob Brenly said at the time.
"I practiced a lot by myself in the shower," said Eglseder, with characteristic modesty.
The next day, he flew to New York to appear on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America."
Watching televised Cubs games provided an escape last summer as Eglseder underwent chemotherapy at University Hospitals in Iowa City.
Despite the surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. and chemotherapy, the cancer returned and Eglseder's arm was amputated in November.
Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot was one of three Cubs players who called Eglseder before his surgery and stayed in touch with him afterward.
The Cubs organization invited Eglseder and his family to a Cubs convention Jan. 18 at the Chicago Hilton, where he was asked to sing the famous song to a crowd of thousands of fans, coaches and players at the opening ceremony.
"I was way more nervous this time than I was in September," Eglseder said then. But he nailed it once again.
Services for Eglseder will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Guttenberg. Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Guttenberg and one hour before service time Saturday.
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/NEWS/842227193/1001/NEWS
sad news...deepest condolences to his family and friends
Eglseder, a former high school third baseman, underwent surgery May 31, 2007, to have a bone removed from his right arm after being diagnosed with bone cancer in the spring of 2007.
He lost his pitching arm, but the voice he had nurtured in high school chorus and chamber choir made him a star when he was chosen by fans from among thousands of entrants to sing the song last Sept. 21.
"He stood up in front of 41,000 people and just nailed it," Cubs color man Bob Brenly said at the time.
"I practiced a lot by myself in the shower," said Eglseder, with characteristic modesty.
The next day, he flew to New York to appear on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America."
Watching televised Cubs games provided an escape last summer as Eglseder underwent chemotherapy at University Hospitals in Iowa City.
Despite the surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. and chemotherapy, the cancer returned and Eglseder's arm was amputated in November.
Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot was one of three Cubs players who called Eglseder before his surgery and stayed in touch with him afterward.
The Cubs organization invited Eglseder and his family to a Cubs convention Jan. 18 at the Chicago Hilton, where he was asked to sing the famous song to a crowd of thousands of fans, coaches and players at the opening ceremony.
"I was way more nervous this time than I was in September," Eglseder said then. But he nailed it once again.
Services for Eglseder will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Guttenberg. Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Guttenberg and one hour before service time Saturday.
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/NEWS/842227193/1001/NEWS
sad news...deepest condolences to his family and friends