Chicago White Sox Fan with Special Needs Meets Her 'Heroes'

Erica Lundgren loves baseball, but more specifically, the Orland Park girl adores Chicago’s team in black.

The 10-year-old with Down syndrome recently went behind the scenes and shook hands with her favorites, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and manager Robin Ventura.

“It’s hard for her to go to the games, but we definitely try to bring her out as much as we can as a family,” her mother Demaree Lundgren told a White Sox camera crew. “We wanted to make it special, with her meeting Abreu and Ventura, so that she would definitely remember it.

As she has grown, Erica becomes more aware of her surroundings, Lundgren said. She loves the sport and plays for the Miracle League of Joliet. Abreu is her favorite, Lundgren thinks, because he plays first base, and she can see him consistently each game.

Erica is “such a social butterfly,” and she recognized Ventura immediately. She grinned widely as Ventura scooped her up in a hug, and the three posed for photos. The team shared the video on its Facebook page. He and members of the team signed her Sox jersey—and she refuses to take it off.

“She was in her glory,” Lundgren said. “She was a total ham.”

Lundgren said the moment is one she’ll treasure. Erica has been to games, but seating is usually difficult for her, with her tendencies to touch and hit the seats around her, so a private meeting with the team was perfect.

“...for them to take time out before the game ... It’s always awesome when a team will go above and beyond like that. It’s amazing. It almost makes me want to cry.

“...I was floored.”

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