Article: Cubs Friday Fan Feature: Brendan Miller

[CandidCubs]

Accomplished academic? Baseball Glove aficionado? CHGO's Brendan Miller joins me for the final Friday Feature of the 2023-2024 offseason. 

Image courtesy of Brendan Miller

When I met Brendan on video, the simplicity of the backdrop and the passion in his voice stood out to me. However, you would be wrong to judge the “background” as a reflection of the person. What I found was a captivating scholar and a baseball savant. 

I found Brendan's content through CHGO. His X account and in-depth analysis provide a view of the game that I gravitated to. His analytical mind set is why I reached out to him in the first place. In addition, we share a love of Dansby Swanson. If you have not found his Nico/Dansby highlight a day on X from this off-season, I suggest you look.

What’s not to like?

Brendan found baseball/the Cubs similar to lots of other fans: through family. His grandfather introduced him to the beautiful game we all know and love. His grandfather had worked at Wrigley in the 1940s. Originally from Buffalo Grove, Brandon moved to Arizona. Even with an increased proximity to the Diamondbacks, the Millers retained their Cubbie blue. He described the fandom as holding an “air of importance” in his family, which led to an eagerness to participate in the conversation.

However, that 2001 Diamondbacks team helped grow his fervor for the game, making a chance to meet with Luis Gonzalez a much more meaningful affair later in life. His full baptism into total Cub-dom happened when the 2002 team beat the Seattle Mariners. We reminisced on that 116 Win squad lead by Japanese phenom Ichiro Suzuki. Brandon had rationalized at the time that if the Cubs could beat a team that good, it must mean the Cubs were good! The end of the 2002 season proved a different answer, but a diehard was born. 

Miller cut his teeth starting the Cubs Related Podcast in 2016. He joked that his voice was not a radio voice, which I had admitted to him I was fearful of for myself as I share my intent to begin my own podcast adventure. He went to college to be the next Carrie Muskat but soon found love in academic research. He did this podcast diligently outside of his studies. One evening, he found an email from a listener named Corey Freedman, who expressed interest in joining the podcast. Corey sent Brendan a resume to "apply" for this job.  Once the "formalities" were over, a partnership was born that led to 8 years of weekly podcasts. He passed some knowledge on to me on how to build with consistency.  I appreciated his openness of the grind and really respected the example he set for me for my own endeavors. 

From Kerry Wood and Mark Prior autographs, to meeting Ron Coomer, Brendan had collected Cub items through the years. All of us have the trinkets that create a tangible representation of our fanaticism. However, a more common item that would be found in all  baseball player's equipment bags was his most meaningful gift: an A2000 Baseball glove. His obsession and interest in the glove are likely how much he enjoys the Cubs infield. Being able to have glove that was the same of the infield wizards he grew to love was everything; a key connection to the game and his fandom. 

When you have accomplished as much as Brendan, bucket list items can be hard to find. However, when pressed, he shared a strong desire to get out to Mesa and do player interviews during Spring Training. Me too, Brendan. Me too. 

Looking for Brendan’s content? Tune in to the CHGO podcast each Friday or on X at @Brendan_Cubs. 

Thank you all for reading this offseason series. Interacting with the folks who gave me their time has been a dream come true as we met so many folks in the Cubs community. Keep me in mind for offseason 2024. 
 

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