I am a Cubs fan, born and raised. I couldn’t even tell you WHEN I learned how to watch a baseball game, I feel like I was just born with the understanding! For generations, my family members have been waiting for last night, some made it, and some did not.
I’ve always grown up knowing that the Cubbies were our “Lovable Losers.” That was just our thing, we couldn’t make it to the World Series. Whether or not you believed the Curse of the Billy Goat, it was heartbreaking to get so close some years and STILL never make it to the World Series.
I remember 15-year-old me in 2003, in my basement (I was too cool to watch it with my parents upstairs), five outs away from going to the World Series, full of fifteen years of hope! I lived mere blocks away from Illinois State University’s campus and the students were LOUD with excitement. The whole town seemed to be buzzing. We were five outs away. And then it all came crashing down. We lost that infamous game, and I cried. It was my first true realization of how much the Cubs meant to me. I was thirsty for more American League Championship Series. They’d go on to play in it 3 more times before this year.
Last year was pretty magical. They had been pretty good, but really amped it up in the second half of their season and earned the Wild Card title. Cubs fan’s were delighted. We went on to beat our rivals and the division champions, the Cardinals, and we got really excited again, especially because Back to the Future 2 had predicted the Cubs to win in the 2015 World Series. Our boys had so much momentum coming out of that series, just to lose four straight in the NLCS. “Next year.” Cubs fans recited their mantra they’d used for the last 107 years.
Then there was 2016. Out of the gate they were a phenomenal team, and heavy favorites, but no Cubs fan was going to believe it until they saw it, even if statistics said so.
A great NLDS series, an EXCITING advance to the World Series, despite Joe Buck’s love affair with Kershaw of the LA Dodgers. I had no idea what to do with myself at that point. For the first time in 71 years, the Chicago Cubs were headed to the World Series. Then in game four, the Curse of the Billy Goat looked strong. Losing game four put us down three games to one, and all it took was one more win for the Cleveland Indians to be crowned the champions. The Cubs fought hard and brought it into one of the most anticipated Game sevens of all time. We looked good, but everyone was holding their breath. In the bottom of the 8th, the score was tied up by the Indians 6-6, and Cubs fans across the country swore loudly. We couldn’t score in the top of the 9th but fought to keep Cleveland from crossing home plate in the bottom and to the 10th we went. It was pouring by this point, and suddenly, the grounds crew was putting the tarp on the field. I had no idea if I would be getting any sleep. The rain delay was short, but worthy for the Cubs as our boys took two in the top of the 10th and kept Cleveland to only one more on the board in the bottom before the third out was thrown from Bryant to Rizzo with a huge grin on his face and then the country erupted.
THE CHICAGO CUBS HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 108 YEARS!
Screaming ensued (sorry, neighbors). I was shaking. I called my dad, and joined temporarily in his celebration with my brother and sister-in-law. I got emotional.
Then I totally met some random stranger at some point in this story who looks a WHOLE lot like me but is totally NOT me, cough cough, as she embarrassed herself on all social media platforms.
Once I had calmed down and cleaned my face (I mean, this random twin of mine), I headed to Dick’s Sporting Goods, who promised they’d be open. I mean, I was already going to be tired, I might as well be tired in the right gear!
It was like Black Friday.
Except, not stomp-on-the-fallen, fend-for-yourself Black Friday. A happier version where fans were helping each other grab the sizes they needed in the shirts and sweatshirts they wanted. I made friends with the people next to me in line. We all took part in a few choruses of “Go Cubs Go.” It was a wonderfully unifying experience. Totally worth the $120 and 2 1/2 hours of sleep!
I still haven’t fully grasped it. The Cubs are World Series Champions. It’s a reality I never thought possible. Harry Caray did, though. (It’s cued to the right spot)
My heart is full. Thank you, fellow Cub fans, for sharing in this experience with me. Thank you, Cardinal’s fans, for graciously giving us the spotlight for a year, and letting us be happy. Thank you, Cleveland Indians, for an AMAZING World Series. That’s one that won’t soon be forgotten, because both teams fought incredibly hard, and BOTH deserved the title. I wish them the best in future years. Fans who haven’t experienced their team’s victory in the World Series, I am rooting for you, too, because EVERY die-hard fan deserves this amazing feeling.
With love,
