CHICAGO, IL – The community is mourning the loss of Patrick Weier, an integral figure behind the beloved Billy Cub mascot, who delighted Chicago Cubs fans outside Wrigley Field for many years. Weier, 46, tragically died in an accident while working as a tour guide at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Colorado.
The mishap occurred when an elevator malfunctioned 500 feet underground, where Weier and ten others were present. Tragically, Weier did not survive the incident, and four others sustained injuries. After the accident, mental health and emergency response teams were on hand to support the affected individuals as they returned to the surface.
Weier’s brother, John Paul Weier, initially created the Billy Cub character. The duo gained local fame as they entertained fans by posing for photos in the unofficial mascot costume outside Wrigley Field. This tradition became a fan favorite, filling in a gap before the Cubs introduced an official mascot in January 2014.
In April 2014, Patrick Weier became widely known after he was involved in a notable incident at the now-closed John Barleycorn bar. During this event, a patron removed the head of his Billy Cub costume, resulting in a scuffle that went viral online. Weier later described the encounter during an interview, expressing the spontaneous nature of his reaction after the costume was tampered with.
The incident caught significant media attention, leading the Chicago Cubs to file a lawsuit against the Weier brothers. The team sought to prevent them from impersonating an official Cubs mascot following their introduction of Clark the Cub earlier that year. Despite the legal battles, many fans remained supportive of the Billy Cub persona.
Beyond his role as Billy Cub, Patrick Weier was a dedicated father to his 7-year-old son, Anthony, and a proud U.S. Air Force veteran. To assist with his family’s needs, a GoFundMe campaign has been established in his honor.