In 2016 the Cubs snapped a 108-year curse, winning the World Series in a history-making, seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians. Of the many storylines to Chicago’s fairytale season, one stood out: the late-career renaissance of David Ross, the 39-year-old catcher who had played back-up for 13 of his 15 pro seasons.

Beyond Ross’s remarkably strong play, he became the ultimate positive force in the Cubs locker room, mentoring and motivating his fellow players, some of them nearly twenty years his junior. Thanks to Cubs Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, “Grandpa Rossy” became a social media sensation. No one, however, could have predicted that Ross’s home run in his final career at bat would help seal the Cubs championship.

In Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages Ross shares the inspiring story of his life in baseball, framed by the events of that unforgettable November night.

I got to chat with David about his new book, baseball and fatherhood. David and his wife have three children and live in Florida.

Art Eddy: Let’s first talk about your book Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages. There are a lot of great stories in this book. What do you hope readers and fans will take away from your book?

David Ross: I just hope that they can see a perspective that things can go wrong and you can come out on top in the end. My journey in baseball is kind of a roller coaster. It is a lot like Game 7. Sometimes the hardest lesson and the things where you think maybe your career is over or you are going to have to switch paths. It just turns out to define you and shape you and make you better during some of the trials in your life. You can come out a champion just like the end of my book. It was really nice to share my story. I really wanted to talk about all the people who affected my life in a positive or negative way and helped me with those lessons.

AE: How much fun did you have working on this book thinking about your time playing in the big leagues?

DR: It was a blast. It was so great to reminisce. Telling stories about the memories you have either in Atlanta or Cincinnati or Boston or Chicago. Just the ups and downs that affected me in life. Guys like Dave Roberts, who is a great manager in the big leagues. Robin Ventura. A lot of just phenomenal people that helped shape my life and who I am and the beliefs that I have.

It was an emotional ride and it was perfect for me. I just ended my career. It was the best way for me to look back on my career and take that all in.

AE: I have been loving the interaction between you and your former teammates on social media in respect to your book. It seems like they are very supportive in regards to your book. What are they saying about it?

DR: They like it. I have gotten some positive feedback. I don’t think a lot of them are big readers. So the fact that they took time out to read it and some of them are ones who helped me write these stories. It is funny. They get me all the time. They ask me how a guy who can’t read is able to write a book. (Both laugh.)

They give me crap all the time. That is what we do as baseball players and best friends. These guys mean so much to me. It is great. I love them giving me a hard time.

AE: What was the first few thoughts that popped into your mind when you found out that you were going to be a father for the first time?

DR: Oh my goodness. You are so overwhelmed with joy. You are like what am I having? What do I want? Do I want a boy or a girl? You start thinking about that. I think there is some part of you that is really scared. I have to provide. This baseball life is so uncertain when you are starting out earlier on in your career.

What kind of dad do you want to be? What kind of example do you want to set? Especially when they get older you are constantly thinking about what kind of example am I setting for these kids? What do I want to pass along to them as far as values and how you treat others?

AE: What are some of the core values you look to instill into your kids as they grow up?

DR: You are trying to instill confidence in them without being cocky. My parents taught me to always be humble, no matter what. Yes sir, no sir. Yes ma’am, no ma’am. Just being polite. Please and thank you is a big one for me. Looking someone in the eye when you are shaking their hand when you meet them. Staying positive. I don’t like the whining.

You see those things going a long way in life. Having those values that my dad instilled. Some of the military values that were instilled in me. Saying yes sir, no sir. Those things go a long way. Treating people the right way. Standing up for yourself. I could go on and on. I feel like there is so much that you try and teach your kids, but those are some of the core values that I believe in.

AE: What is the one biggest piece of advice you have for new dads?

DR: Love them. I don’t think you can go wrong when you are trying to raise children and you are teaching them right from wrong. There is no manual obviously that you can go by and it tells you exactly how to do it. Each kid is different. Even all three of mine. If you are loving them and if you are doing what you are doing out of love than I think you can’t go wrong. That is the simplest form of trying to do what is right. It is out of love rather than any other way to raise them. I try to look back on that. Am I teaching this out of love for them and what is going to help them out in life?

Life of Dad Quick Five

AE: Do you guys have a favorite family movie that you all love to watch together?

DR: We are on an Avenger movie kick. We are watching all the movies in the Avenger series. We are almost done with the Harry Potter films too. My daughter is into Harry Potter. On Friday nights we will do movie night. The next week my son gets to pick an Avenger movie. We are trying to go in order with both. We are almost done with Harry Potter and we are doing Avenger stuff.

AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing to or dance to as a family?

DR: They are big on Pop. I am a Country radio guy, but they love the Pop stuff. I get in the car with them and they know all the words to just about every Pop song. My wife has a few songs that all the girls lock in on. I don’t know what they all are. When I get into my car it is all Country. My dad wouldn’t let me change the radio so that is something that I am passing along to my kids. (Both laugh.)

AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.

DR: Anywhere on the water. I really enjoy the lake. We like to Jet Ski and I pull them in tubes. I feel like we could stay out there all day. I can put them on the tube and just Jet Ski all day. I did that last All-Star break. We were with some other baseball players in Lake Austin. We didn’t get off the water for three days. It was so much fun.

AE: The first word that popped into your mind when you hit the home run for the Cubs in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series was…

DR: All I could think about was my family. I tell people that. Everyone wants to know why I didn’t go crazy when I hit that home run. All I could think about when I hit first base was my family. I wanted to wave to them. I wanted to point at them. I rounded third and I was looking up at the stands for them. They were there. I was so thankful to be out there on that field and I hit a home run. It was the last the game that I ever played and it was super emotional. I was just thinking about them.

AE: You are a two time World Series champ, a New York Times Best Selling Author and a Dancing with the Stars finalist. Next thing to accomplish is….

DR: Be a great dad. Honestly. There is a lot going on. I am getting a lot of recognition right now. Great things are happening in my life. I retired because I wanted to be there for my kids and try to set an example. Be there for them and teach them values. That is all I care about. It is to be a good dad.

Follow David on Twitter at @D_Ross3 and pick up his book Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages where books are sold.