CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong makes the walk from the players’ parking lot across the street from Wrigley Field about three hours before first pitch on Aug. 17 when he notices 10-year-old fan Ryker Colon. Ryker, of Muscatine, Iowa, is in a wheelchair behind a green gate along with some other young fans trying to grab autographs.

“What’s up, Ryker?” Crow-Amstrong yells.

It’s a big moment for Ryker, who is decked out in a Cubs hat and t-shirt and has already been at the stadium for a while. He’s the only one among the throng of fans to get a personal acknowledgement from the Cubs superstar center fielder. Ryker doesn’t let the opportunity go to waste. As Crow-Armstrong continues his fast walk into the iconic ballpark for that day’s game against Pittsburgh, Ryker quickly shouts out a request.

“Try to hit a home run today,” Ryker yells back to Crow-Armstrong.

The request elicits a quick laugh from the Cubs’ All-Star. The brief interaction was among the highlights of Crow-Armstrong’s day. Seeing Ryker is a big moment for all the players who have gotten to know him over the years. But he isn’t just a devoted fan. Ryker is battling muscular dystrophy and has become an inspiration to some of the players who have learned what’s he’s going through and even have bracelets with his name on them.

“I’m just really thankful and appreciative that I can kind of carry on for them and provide some strength for them just by bringing awareness to Ryker and his situation,” Cubs star shortstop Dansby Swanson said during a pregame interview with the Des Moines Register on Aug. 17.

“He loves baseball. Especially the Cubs”

Ryker was born to be a Cubs fan. His parents Eddie and Brandi have been die-hard supporters of the team, going to games and watching them on TV long before Ryker was born. They love the Cubs so much that they named their oldest son, Aramis, after former Chicago’s slugging third baseman, Aramis Ramirez.

The love for the team was passed on to Ryker, who watched games with his parents back in Muscatine and played catch with his older brother at home. Ryker memorized the names and stats of all the players on the team. Before games, he’d draw a baseball diamond on one side of a sheet of paper and compile his own Cubs lineup on the other.

Those pieces of paper were full of information, including player names, positions and numbers. Ryker made so many that the sheets would pile up at their house, forcing his mom to have to toss many of them away. When he tuned into Cubs games with his parents, Ryker explained who was coming up to bat and rattled off important stats even his parents didn’t know.

“He loves baseball,” Eddie said. “Especially the Cubs.”

The Cubs have been an important part of his life seemingly forever. His birth was difficult, with Ryker having trouble breathing as soon as he was born. He was transported to Iowa City, where he spent about a week. After his parents brought him home to Muscatine, they noticed some things were wrong. Ryker had a constant cough and as he got older, he was always falling. One tough tumble led to Ryker scraping his forehead.

Eddie and Brandi took him to physical therapy. Doctors recommended he get a helmet to protect him from future falls. By then, his Cubs fandom had already been growing. So his parents got a helmet in Cubbie blue and placed a team sticker on it.

Over time, his mobility got worse and worse. Despite all the troubles, Ryker smiled, joked and cheered on the Cubs whenever they were on television.

“Considering what life has thrown at him, he’s taken everything with stride,” Eddie said.  

Ryker’s story catches the attention of major Cubs booster

Ryker’s resilience and positive attitude are what stood out to Stu McVicar when he met Ryker about five years ago. McVicar owns Club 400, in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, that he turned into a man cave dedicated to his love of the Cubs. The place is filled with team memorabilia and was originally a spot the fan went to cheer them on when he couldn’t get to Wrigley Field. But over time, it became bigger than that.

McVicar started inviting fans and players to make appearances for different charitable events. Former Cubs star pitcher Kerry Wood stopped by. So did former Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo and ex-slugger Sammy Sosa. McVicar helped raise money for charities run by players. During the COVID-19 pandemic, McVicar offered an opportunity for fans to get out of the house with a contest to visit Club 400.

He urged followers to come forward with stories about their biggest Cubs fan, have some food and see some of the special pieces of his collection. Eddie Colon nominated son Aramis, Ryker’s brother. When the family showed up to the house, McVicar let Aramis and Ryker put on helmets, swing bats and see priceless artifacts in his Cubs cave. McVicar loved watching them have fun and was drawn to Ryker.

“He’s an unbelievable kid,” McVicar said. “He’s got that smile that you know, I don’t care who you are, if you want something, you’re probably going to do it for him.”

As Ryker struggled to move around, McVicar knew something was off. Ryker, who still had some mobility at the time, eventually moved into a wheelchair by age 5. So when the Colon family left that day, McVicar made a mental note to follow up on the young fan. He wondered if there was something he could do for the family. A few months later, he reached out to Eddie to learn more about Ryker.

Eddie told him about Ryker’s condition, which required his parents to help him get out of bed and dressed for the day. The couple also has to help him with other daily tasks, including going to the restroom. McVicar decided to help by putting on an event for the Colon family.

The event ended up being the first he hosted after the pandemic’s lockdown. The Club 400 owner invited former Chicago pitcher Ryan Dempster, who signed autographs, posed for pictures and answered questions. Fans flocked to the location to see Dempster and visit the club and to support Ryker and his family. Many started using the hashtag #TeamRyker to build up awareness.

“They’re an unbelievable family,” McVicar said.

The night was a huge success. McVicar raised close to $40,000 during the event. The money went toward getting Ryker a wheelchair and a chair lift at home. It also drew a tremendous amount of attention on the Colon family. Eddie jumped on the idea of the hashtag and had blue bracelets with Ryker’s name and Club 400 printed on them. The hope was to raise awareness for Ryker and the disease.

“We are shocked it has caught on,” Eddie said.

Cubs players show their support by wearing Ryker bracelets

The Colon family started by giving the bracelets to family, friends and anyone else who had heard their story and wanted one. But Ryker wanted to expand it to a bigger audience: Cubs players. So the young fan handed some off to members of the team whenever he got a chance.

The family showed up at Cubs Convention, the club’s annual offseason gathering in Chicago where players meet with fans. They showed up hours before games at Wrigley Filed, waiting for players to arrive. When the stars stopped to sign autographs, Ryker gave them his bracelet. He even handed some out when visiting the team during spring training in Arizona.

“I told him they wouldn’t wear it but you could pass them out,” Eddie said.

Much to the surprise of his family, players on the team started wearing the bracelets. First baseman Frank Schwindel, formerly of the Cubs, started wearing one. So did Patrick Wisdom who used to play third base for the Cubs. Outfielder Mike Tauchman, who plays for the crosstown rival White Sox now, got one and wore it while he was with the Cubs. Swanson got one shortly after signing with the Cubs in 2022.

“I couldn’t even tell you the last time I took it off,” Swanson said. “I always have it on.”

Eddie said every player on the team likely has received a bracelet at one time or another. The family has pictures of star outfielder Kyle Tucker wearing one. Relief pitcher Luke Little, who has bounced between the minors and majors, has had one on during games. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts has worn one. So have Marquee Sports Network broadcasters Jon “Boog” Sciambi, Elise Menaker, Alex Cohen and Cole Wright. Swanson was even spotted with his on during a commercial and has been on several baseball cards showing it. Same goes for Tauchman. Crow-Armstrong said he and his girlfriend have several that mean a lot to him.

There are many more examples like that. Seeing the bracelets on players is a source of pride for Ryker, who has had multiple versions made. The newest one includes the hashtag #undiagnosed.

For years, doctors struggled to land on a diagnosis for Ryker. Within the last 12 months, Ryker eventually was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which leads to progressive muscle weakness affecting the muscles around the hips and shoulder. Having such a rare condition is a scary thought for Ryker. But seeing players with his bands on help him through it.

“I get excited,” Ryker said.

The bracelets, which are paid for by the family and given away free of charge, have taken on a special meaning to the players, too. Many of them have gotten to know Ryker, stopping to talk to him when they see him at the park or at Cubs Convention. Some will sign autographs and pose for pictures, then use the time to catch up with him. Many of them know him by name. Eddie still texts with Schwindel. Whenever players spot him, he always seems to be smiling. Knowing how much he’s gone through inspires the larger-than-life baseball stars.

“He always just seems to remind me that this is something that I need to enjoy every day becuase that’s what he seems to do,” Crow-Armstrong said during a pregame interview with the Register on Aug. 17 at Wrigley Field.

Swanson is constantly reminded of Ryker when he looks down at his right wrist. He’s worn his bracelet for so long that its battered and scraped up. But wherever he goes, it comes with him, even on the field. Swanson said he understands how important it is that he keeps his on. It’s important to the Colon family and to Swanson.

“It’s obviously impacted me in such a way that I’m just really thankful and appreciative that I can kind of carry on for them and provide some stregnth for them just by bringing awareness to Ryker and his situation,” Swanson said.

Seeing the interactions the players have with his little brother have meant a lot to 13-year-old Aramis. The time at the park and the chances they have to meet members of the team have turned into a welcome distraction during all the tough times they’ve experienced as a family. That’s why Aramis is usually right by his brother’s side when they are waiting outside the park, even if it is for hours.

“Just seeing the smile on his face,” Aramis said.

Ryker’s goal is to have everyone on the team wear one of his bracelets all at once during the game. His dad has warned him that could be too lofty of a goal. But having any players on the team wear them was a big goal in itself.

Eddie still can’t believe it’s happening. He’s thankful for all the support and happiness it has brought to his son.

“It’s crazy to think what one little blue band can make Ryker smile and cheer with excitement, no matter how many times he sees it,” Eddie said.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Cubs stars support Muscatine boy by wearing his bracelets