Cubs Fan Gets Surprise Phone Call from Hall of Famer
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: July 12, 2012
TOWANDA - If the small town of Towanda had a royal family, Fannie Livingston would probably be queen.
Although, she would never own up to that title. Livingston says she lives simply and doesn't like to be the center of attention.
"I'm just a lady who lives here," she says.
But Livingston was front and center as the Grand Marshal in the town's Fourth of July parade this year.
It only happened, she says, because organizers agreed to let her ride in a buggy with horses.
"They got the buggy and two horses, and that's how it started," she said.
At the parade, State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington (R-88) surprised Livingston with a jersey of her favorite baseball team and player.
Number 23 for the Chicago Cubs' Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame inductee who also spent time with the Peoria Chiefs.
"It was no surprise to see Brady there. He always stops and shakes hands with me. But then I was surprised with Cubs on it," she said.
But that's only the beginning of this story because Livingston got another surprise not long after the parade.
She said, "I thought somebody was playing a gag on me."
Her phone rang and Sandberg himself was on the other end calling from Arizona.
"The man said 'This is Ryne Sandberg,' and I knew right then it wasn't. I just didn't think it was him," Livingston said.
In fact, she was so unconvinced she quizzed him about his family and Cubs history.
"I asked him who his managers were when he was a Cub and he named every one of them. Of course, I knew that was right," she said.
Even then, Livingston couldn't shake the feeling someone was playing a joke on her.
She said, "Yeah, I still thought whoever is talking knew all of that."
It wasn't until WMBD 31 assured her Sandberg did call that she finally believed what happened.
As it turns out, a newspaper picture of Livingston and Brady at the parade caught the attention of Sarah Marten from Lincoln who works for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
That's the minor league baseball affiliate in Pennsylvania that Sandberg currently manages.
Marten said she showed the picture to Sandberg's wife, Margaret, who told her husband about the loyal fan.
Then came the surprise call to Livingston in Towanda.
"He said I know you live in a town in Illinois with an 'o,' an 'a' and a 'w,'" Livingston said.
The two talked for about 15 minutes.
And what Sandberg might not know is after they hung up he made one fan extremely happy.
She is know forever grateful.
"I sure think of you a lot and think you're one of the best players that's ever been on any team," she said.
Although, she would never own up to that title. Livingston says she lives simply and doesn't like to be the center of attention.
"I'm just a lady who lives here," she says.
But Livingston was front and center as the Grand Marshal in the town's Fourth of July parade this year.
It only happened, she says, because organizers agreed to let her ride in a buggy with horses.
"They got the buggy and two horses, and that's how it started," she said.
At the parade, State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington (R-88) surprised Livingston with a jersey of her favorite baseball team and player.
Number 23 for the Chicago Cubs' Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame inductee who also spent time with the Peoria Chiefs.
"It was no surprise to see Brady there. He always stops and shakes hands with me. But then I was surprised with Cubs on it," she said.
But that's only the beginning of this story because Livingston got another surprise not long after the parade.
She said, "I thought somebody was playing a gag on me."
Her phone rang and Sandberg himself was on the other end calling from Arizona.
"The man said 'This is Ryne Sandberg,' and I knew right then it wasn't. I just didn't think it was him," Livingston said.
In fact, she was so unconvinced she quizzed him about his family and Cubs history.
"I asked him who his managers were when he was a Cub and he named every one of them. Of course, I knew that was right," she said.
Even then, Livingston couldn't shake the feeling someone was playing a joke on her.
She said, "Yeah, I still thought whoever is talking knew all of that."
It wasn't until WMBD 31 assured her Sandberg did call that she finally believed what happened.
As it turns out, a newspaper picture of Livingston and Brady at the parade caught the attention of Sarah Marten from Lincoln who works for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
That's the minor league baseball affiliate in Pennsylvania that Sandberg currently manages.
Marten said she showed the picture to Sandberg's wife, Margaret, who told her husband about the loyal fan.
Then came the surprise call to Livingston in Towanda.
"He said I know you live in a town in Illinois with an 'o,' an 'a' and a 'w,'" Livingston said.
The two talked for about 15 minutes.
And what Sandberg might not know is after they hung up he made one fan extremely happy.
She is know forever grateful.
"I sure think of you a lot and think you're one of the best players that's ever been on any team," she said.
