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Major League Baseball has been interwoven into the DNA of American culture for well over the past hundred years. While being seen as our national “pastime,” the game of baseball provides us with uplifting stories that are a breath of fresh air in our current divisive society.
This past weekend, a special treat unfolded at Wrigley Field as the Contreras brothers – Willson and William, got to play against each other in a big-league game that turned out to be a family celebration. Both brothers are catchers – Willson for the Chicago Cubs and William for the world champion Atlanta Braves. When Willson Contreras came to the plate in the first inning, he did what would normally be unthinkable and hugged the Braves catcher. Of course, that catcher just so happened to be his younger brother William.
The Contreras brothers haven’t played on the same field in a game with or against each other since their Little League days and Saturday’s 6-3 Cubs win transcended just another baseball game in the eyes of the two brothers who treated the day as a celebration of two siblings who have made it from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela all the way to the Show. Combined, the Contreras brothers showed why they are Major League caliber players by collectively going five for nine at the plate and each hit a double to help out their respective teams offensively. Again, the two brothers are hitting a combined .288 with 21 doubles, 21 homers (2 for Willson, nine for brother William) and 44 total RBI’s this season. The last time that two brothers squared off in a big-league game was June 10, 2014 when Jose and Yadier Molina played against each other.
Willson Contreras is currently the frontrunning catcher in the National League All-Star balloting while brother William gets to show off his shiny 2021 World Series ring. For both players, having the opportunity to play in a game against each other was symbolic in how baseball can bring people together while enjoying our great pastime.
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