Cubs Anthem Singer Wayne Messmer to Honor Firefighters Who Saved His Life

The Cubs may have disappointed fans on the field Tuesday night, but the Wrigley Field faithful were at least treated to a spectacular performance of the National Anthem.

And while the 2015 Cubs may have been a spectacular story in itself, the journey for Tuesday night’s Anthem singer is, no doubt, even more incredible.

Before Jim Cornelison became a household name as the singer for the Chicago Blackhawks, there was Wayne Messmer. Some forget that it was Messmer - not Cornelison - who sang the Anthem at the 1991 All-Star Game at the old Chicago Stadium while the first Iraq war united the nation.

Messmer sang for the Cubs on Tuesday, and on Saturday, will honor the men who saved his life some 21 years ago.

On April 9, 1994, just after the final Blackhawks regular season game at the old Stadium, Messmer was shot in the neck. The injury not only threatened his singing career, it also threatened his life.

But the quick action of first responders Henry Hugel and Bill Steiner of the Chicago Fire Department that night saved Messmer, a Glenview resident. Within just a couple years, he was back singing for the Chicago Wolves hockey team, whom he works for now as senior executive vice president.

DNAinfo.com Chicago tells the inspirational story of Messmer, who will honor Hugel and Steiner at the Wolves game Saturday night.

“In my world, here’s a guy who’s one of my heroes,” Messmer said of Hugel. “There’s no question whatsoever, had I not been attended, I would have been out — dead. Down goes Frazier.”

more via DNAinfo.com Chicago