Over a sunny Chicago weekend, young Madden and his friends set up a lemonade stand in Wrigleyville with an unusual goal: raising funds to replicate Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong’s iconic spring training hairstyle. Madden, already with a blond hair like his idol, needed cash to add the final touch – blue stars shaved into his head to perfectly match PCA’s bold look. As the kids enthusiastically sold drinks near the ballpark, they remained blissfully unaware that their efforts had caught the attention of Cubs player Justin Turner’s wife, Kourtney.
Their ordinary fundraiser turned extraordinary when PCA himself suddenly appeared, prompted by Kourtney’s alert to her husband. “PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG!” one child shouted in disbelief as the All-Star outfielder approached their stand. After learning Madden’s goal – “He’s going to get stars in his head if we get enough money” – PCA immediately pulled out cash to cover the haircut, signed autographs, and posed for photos with the stunned young fan.
This act of generosity perfectly aligned with Crow-Armstrong’s character, echoing advice he’d shared while mic’d up during the 2025 All-Star Game about being accessible to young fans. Within hours, Madden proudly debuted his completed “PCA-inspired” hairstyle, a living tribute to his hero’s distinctive style. The moment quickly spread across social media, capturing baseball’s power to create magical connections.
Crow-Armstrong’s timing couldn’t have been more fitting, arriving fresh off a historic first half of the season. Just days prior, the 22-year-old had cemented his superstar status by becoming only the third player in MLB history to achieve 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases before the All-Star break – joining the legendary company of Bobby Bonds (1973) and Eric Davis (1987).
His defensive brilliance further solidified his value, as he’d recently set a new MLB single-season record with his 11th “5-Star Catch” (catches with a 25% success probability) – surpassing Adam Engel’s previous mark of 10. This combination of elite power, speed, and game-saving defense in center field has made him the face of the Cubs’ resurgence.
The lemonade stand encounter thus showcased more than just PCA’s kindness; it highlighted the authentic bond between a generational talent rewriting record books and the next generation of fans he inspires – both through his unmatched play and his approachable humanity in the community.
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