This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Patrick Wisdom stepped into the batter’s box for the Cubs in the third inning on Sunday, blew a large bubble with his gum and raised his bat. The new piece of lumber was a bright shade of blue, and the names Molly, Claire and Jack could be seen scribbled on the barrel in white.

Players up and down the Cubs’ roster used Players’ Weekend as an opportunity to get their creative juices flowing -- swinging colorful bats and donning custom spikes and batting gloves with a variety of themes -- and Wisdom was among those who added some personal touch.

“My girls love to draw and do arts and crafts,” Wisdom said.

For Sunday’s equipment, the father of three got his kids involved in the process. Wisdom and his wife brainstormed some ideas with their two daughters, Molly and Claire -- their son, Jack, was born earlier this year -- and worked with Homewood Bat Co. (his supplier) to create the custom bat.

“We asked them, ‘What’s your favorite activity to do with the family?’” Wisdom said. “And the girls said swimming, so they did their best drawing of us swimming in a pool. So the blue colors represent the pool, and it has their little drawings. And we had them write their names. That’s special.”

Standing at his locker this past weekend, Wisdom proudly showed off the bat, rolling it over in his hands to show off his daughters’ artwork. They wrote the three names for one side of the barrel and drew five stick figures for the opposite side.

“That’s us in the pool,” Wisdom said with a wide smile.

Wisdom also had a custom bat made to represent his wine hobby (he is a certified oenologist), and he also partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for bats and spikes in preparation for Saturday’s charity-themed game. For the latter, an 11-year-old St. Jude patient was given a pair of white cleats, which she decorated for Wisdom to wear.

Wisdom plans on auctioning off some of the items to raise money for St. Jude.

“It’s Players’ Weekend,” Wisdom said, “and I think it’s more impactful now that the players have more of a say in the creative input. I think it’s really cool.”