Well, Chicago Cubs, you finally did it. You finally won the World Series of baseball after going 108 years with no title. You broke the so-called curse, but not without a complete and absolute nail-biter of a game seven, of course. The roller coaster of emotion from Cubs fans during the Series was simply a microcosm of what we’ve endured for more than a century.
Being from Chicagoland (the Northwest suburbs in McHenry County to be exact), the Cubs were our team. As far back as I can remember, since the early 1980s, we always wondered if the next year, or any year, was going to be their year.
The seasons dragged on and the Cubbies could never quite reach the pinnacle. They’d either start out strong during the first half of the season, the series, or the game, and then they’d tank. Gradually, our expectations dwindled. It wouldn’t be too much of stretch, then, to think that when the Cubs were down 3-1 in the World Series they’d probably never come back.
“At least let them win one game at Wrigley,” I muttered to myself during game five, considering the team hadn’t won a World Series game at home since 1945. “We deserve at least this much.”
They managed to win their first game in 71 years against the Cleveland Indians at home, but not without feeling the pressure. What a relief it must’ve been for fans when the Cubs’ shortstop Addison Russell hit a four-run home run (a grand slam) in the third inning of
game six, eventually winning the game, and tying the Series. This was the turning point.
Even before it got to this point, watching the Cubs fall a game behind the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division and Championship Series (NLCS), respectively, evoked the frustration of Oct. 14, 2003, during the NLCS against the then-Florida Marlins.
That’s when Chicago fan Steve Bartman reached out to catch a home run hit to his seat in the front row of the left field corner. Cubs’ left fielder Moises Alou attempted to catch the ball, but it was (arguably) intercepted by Bartman.
Despite being up three runs to zero and 3-2 in the series, the Cubs eventually lost to the Marlins, who went on to win it all that year. After the game, Bartman disappeared from the spotlight and hasn’t been seen, nor has he spoken publicly, since then.
And when the Cubs made the NLCS last year, they were swept by the New York Mets, four games to none. What a disappointment.
After tying this World Series, it became clear that the Cubs were one game away from history. But the insecurity returned during game seven when Indians outfielder Rajai Davis hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to tie the game 6-6.
The ninth inning came and went, and the game was still tied. As if things weren’t already stressful, the rain came, delaying the inevitable even more. Tenth inning, still tied. Then at the top of the 10th, the Cubs’ second baseman Ben Zobrist hit a double, allowing his team to put two more runs over the Indians, 8-6.
Yet, this wasn’t the end. At the bottom of the 10th with two outs, the Indians’ Davis smacked a line drive to center field, allowing his teammate Brandon Guyer to score, bringing it to a one-run game.
However, the Indians’ Michael Martinez grounded out, with Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant picking up the ball and tossing it to first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Cubs win! Dammit, Cubs! We love you, but you almost gave us a heart attack.
Win or lose, David Minsky will always be a Cubs fan. You can email him at dminsky@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 10-17, 2016.
