Ronnie Woo Woo facts for kids
Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers was born on October 31, 1941. He is a very famous fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. People in Chicago know him well. He is famous at Wrigley Field for his special cheers. He often shouts "Woo!" during games. For example, he might yell, "Cubs, woo! Cubs, woo! Big-Z, woo! Zambrano, woo! Cubs, woo!" A famous Cubs announcer, Harry Caray, called him "Leather Lungs." This was because Ronnie could shout loudly for many hours.
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Early Life and "Woo!" Fame
Ronnie grew up in Chicago. He had a difficult start to life. His grandmother raised him, and she took him to his first Chicago Cubs games. This was in the late 1940s.
In a 2004 interview, Ronnie explained when he started "wooing." He said it began around 1958 or 1959. He just thought it was fun to do. Since then, he has always been a big part of Wrigley Field. He even sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during a game in 2001.
In 2005, a filmmaker named Paul Hoffman made a movie about Ronnie. The movie was called WooLife. It was shown for the first time at the Chicago Historical Society.
Working Life and Challenges
For many years, Ronnie worked at night. He was a custodian at Northwestern University. In the 1980s, Ronnie went through a tough time. His grandmother and girlfriend both passed away. He did not have a home or a steady job for a while.
From 1984 to 1990, he went to Cubs games with tickets that people gave him. There was a short time in 1987 when he wasn't at Wrigley Field games. Some Cubs fans worried that something bad had happened to him. But he let news groups know that he was fine.
Since 1990, Ronnie has earned money by washing windows. He works in the area around Wrigley Field. He also gets paid to appear at parties. He has even been in local TV commercials. In 2000, a Chicago entertainer named Erich “ Mancow” Mueller helped Ronnie. He bought him some dentures to help him look his best as a superfan.
Recent Years and Fan Support
On April 18, 2005, Ronnie was hit by a car after a Cubs game. He was treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Luckily, he recovered well from the accident.
There was a small misunderstanding at a game on April 19, 2017. Ronnie was asked to leave the game because he didn't have a ticket. He said he had an electronic ticket on a friend's phone. The Cubs management said his friend became rude when asked to show the ticket. So, they were both asked to leave. After that, Ronnie went to many more Cubs games without any problems.
Ronnie is still attending Cubs games as of September 7, 2024. He takes pictures with fans and tourists. In 2023, he continued to cheer for the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
See also
- Andy the Clown
- Robert Szasz
- Robin Ficker
- Wild Bill Hagy
- El Sammo
