Wilmette Woman Wins World Series Ring Raffle

WILMETTE, IL — With a randomly selected ticket number of 001907, which happened to correspond with the Cubs' first World Series championship, a local lifelong Cubs fan who spent a decade as a gameday usher at Wrigley won the raffle for a World Series Ring. Wilmette resident Geneine Dietz is now the only fan to own a only player-grade version of the 2016 World Series Ring.

"It's a wonderful honor and privilege to receive a World Series Ring from the Chicago Cubs. I would like to thank the Ricketts family and the entire Cubs organization for this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity and gift," Dietz said. "My friends and family are giddy with excitement and I can't wait for them to see the ring for themselves."

The ring symbolically commemorates the Cubs' historic drought-ending 2016 season. It's made from 14-karet white gold and features a traditional Cubs bulls-eye logo crafted from 33 custom-cut red rubies surrounded by 72 round white diamonds, which are themselves within a circular perimeter consisting of 46 custom-cut blue sapphires. The design includes are 108 round, white diamonds surrounding the bezel symbolizing the end of the Cubs' 108 years without a championship.

"For generations to come, I know my family with take special care of the beautiful World Series Ring," Dietz said.

Dietz, 75, grew up a Cubs fan in northwest Indiana, where she remembers listening to Cubs games on the radio with her grandmother. She bought a single $10 raffle ticket during a trip to the Cubs store at Wrigley field in July, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"It's just really fun because having been a Cubs fan forever, it's just the idea of having the only ring out there given to somebody, being the only civilian to get this ring," she told the paper.

All told, the ring has 214 diamonds at 5.5 carats, 3 karats of genuine red rubies and 2.5 karats of genuine sapphires, according to a news release from Cubs Charities, which organized the ring raffle.

"Last year's World Series journey was remarkable and so is the dedication of our fans. We launched the Ring Raffle to give them the unique opportunity to win arguably one of the most prestigious championship rings in all of sports with proceeds benefiting Cubs Charities," said Cubs Executive Vice President of Community Affairs Mike Lufrano. "We are thrilled to share this special player-grade ring with a lifelong Cubs fan who will get to treasure this piece of history with her family and friends.

The raffle raised more than $250,000 to benefit Cubs Charities, which is focused on increasing access to sports opportunities and targeting health, fitness and educational improvements for those at risk.

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_{Top photo: Geneine Dietz | Courtesy Cubs Charities}