A FATHER’S CHALLENGE: BEYOND THE SHADOW OF THE PAST
CHICAGO, IL—For Dansby Swanson, the journey to Wrigley Field was never just about a seven-year, $177 million contract. It was a spiritual homecoming, fueled by the memory of his grandfather, Herb, a secret Cubs fan in the heart of Georgia. But as Swanson navigates the high-pressure waters of 2025 and 2026, a new voice has emerged to center his journey: his father, Cuno Swanson.
In a private moment that has since circulated through the Cubs’ clubhouse and moved the North Side faithful to tears, Cuno reportedly gave his son a piece of advice that has become the mantra for the “new” Cubs: “Write your own history.”
The message is simple but profound. It challenges Dansby to stop playing for the “ghosts” of his grandfather’s fandom or the pressure of his Atlanta World Series ring, and to instead define what it means to be a champion in Chicago.
THE “20-20” FOUNDATION: 2025 AS THE TURNING POINT
If the “Write your own history” chapter truly began in 2025, the data shows a player who is rising to the occasion. Despite the team’s mid-season struggles, Swanson authored a statistical masterpiece that placed him in elite franchise company:
- The 20-20 Club: On September 27, 2025, Swanson stole third base against the Cardinals to officially record his first career 20-home run, 20-stolen base season.
- The Iron Man Standard: For the fifth consecutive year (excluding 2020), Swanson remained one of the most durable players in baseball, appearing in 154 games and providing a stabilizing defensive presence for a young pitching staff.
- The Postseason Push: Swanson was the emotional engine behind the Cubs’ Wild Card victory over the Padres, famously being showered in champagne while telling teammates, “This is just the prologue.”
BY THE NUMBERS: THE SWANSON STORY
| The Chapter | The Production | The Cubs Legacy Status |
| 2023 (Arrival) | 22 HR / 80 RBI | The “Defensive Anchor” (Gold Glove) |
| 2024 (Growth) | 16 HR / 19 SB | The “Clubhouse Voice” |
| 2025 (The Surge) | 24 HR / 20 SB | The “20-20” Leader |
| 2026 (The Vision) | Projected: .255 / 22 HR | The Potential Legend |
A FAMILY LEGACY REBORN
The emotional weight of Cuno’s message stems from the family’s deep athletic roots. Both of Dansby’s parents were college athletes at Troy University, and his father served as a baseball coach, instilling in Dansby the “pro’s pro” mentality that has defined his Cubs tenure.
Now, as a father himself (welcoming daughter Landry in 2023 with wife Mallory Swanson), Dansby is viewing the game through a generational lens. He isn’t just playing for the fans in the bleachers; he is playing to leave a blueprint for his own family.
“Another chapter is done, but there’s many more to be written,” Swanson shared on social media following the 2025 NLDS exit. “Thank you, Wrigley. We grew, we represented what it means to be a Cub. The triumphs are coming.”
THE FINAL QUESTION: CAN HE BECOME A LEGEND?
The question echoing across Chicago is no longer about whether the contract was “worth it.” It’s about the trophy. To become a legend in the vein of Ernie Banks or Ryne Sandberg, Swanson knows he must deliver a World Series to Clark and Addison.
With his father’s words ringing in his ears and his grandfather’s “affinity for Chicago” in his heart, Dansby Swanson is no longer just a shortstop—he is the author of the Cubs’ next great era.
