‘He loved to do some good with it’: Lifelong Cubs fan James Anixter, aka ‘Pink Hat Guy,’ dies at 81

For nearly six decades, Chicago Cubs fans at Wrigley Field or watching a game from their couches saw James Anixter sit diligently behind home plate. Through thick and thin, from the Cubs’ triple-digit-loss season of 2012 to their 2016 World Series championship, Anixter was there for it all. If fans don’t recognize his name, they’ll recognize his face. Or rather, his iconic pink hat.

However, for the rest of this season, Anixter’s seats behind the plate since 1967 will go unfilled. Anixter, Wrigleyville’s beloved “Pink Hat Guy,” died Tuesday night from complications with surgery, according to his family. He was 81 years old.

In an ode to a life devoted to Cubs fandom, Darren Anixter, one of Anixter’s four children, described his dad as “the greatest Cubs fan of all time.” His name and self-proclaimed pink-hat title are permanently affixed to his Section 18 seats with a plaque.

“He loved being the Pink Hat Guy,” Darren said. “He loved touching people; he loved people coming and talking to him. He just loved that Cubs community and being one of its leaders.”

His dad’s last Wrigley game was on May 6, when the Cubs won against the Cincinnati Reds 7-6.

“We are saddened by the passing of James Anixter, known to so many as the ‘Pink Hat Guy,’” Cubs spokesperson Jennifer Martinez said. “He represented the loyalty, joy, and spirit that make our fans the backbone of this organization. Our heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and all who knew him.”

Anixter first wore the pink hat that would become synonymous with his Wrigleyville legacy in 1990, when it was given away to fans at the All-Star Game. He loved it so much that he continued to wear it to every game. His wife, Lesley, loved the hat equally, but for different reasons.

“My mom could see him on TV, so she’d know where he was at all times,” Darren said. “Then he started to get a lot of attention.”

The hat started a legacy of its own. After a few seasons of wear and tear on the original cap, Anixter decided to create his own, with his trademarked “Pink Hat Guy” embroidered into the fabric. Seeing the new cap, other fans emailed Anixter to get one. So, he decided to give them away to fans who made a donation of any size to the American Cancer Society.

“He loved to do some good with it,” Darren recalled.

Outside of Wrigley Field, Anixter, a lifelong Highland Park resident, lived a full, family-focused life. Anixter spent enormous amounts of time with his four kids growing up, watching them enjoy their athletic endeavors and sneaking them out of class to attend each Cubs home opener. Eventually, Anixter would work alongside his kids to run the family business, AZ Wire and Cable.

Defined by more than his iconic pink cap or the nameplate on his Cubs seat, Anixter leaves a big legacy of love for family, Chicagoland and the Cubs community.

Funeral services will be held Friday. Following his pink-hat tradition, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, community members instead make donations to the American Cancer Society or Jewish United Fund Chicago in Anixter’s memory.