The Greatest Game Ever Played
Its now been 14.5 hours since the greatest words from the greatest game were uttered. The words like so many other loved ones who have come and gone before us have never heard before. The Chicago Cubs are World Champions!
I have spent these last 14 some odd hours like so many of you have, trying to hold onto the moment. Trying to live in that moment. Continuing to feel that moment. I have tried to think how I would put what happened into words, how I could explain how this moment felt to thousands of Chicago Cubs fans trying to find a way to extend the feeling of this World Series championship. I toyed with putting out the personal experience I had over the past few days, talking about my trip to Cleveland, spending the time with the people who taught me the game, and brought me to Chicago Cubs baseball.
I thought about that and realized, everyone that clicks to read this will have their own experience to share. All of you will have a special story of how you celebrated, what it meant to you, who you shared the most special time in your sporting life with.
I knew this, so I wanted to create a log of sorts. I would like to open this forum up to ALL Chicago Cubs fans to tell your personal story, so we keep this as a running diary of what you did, how you felt, who you were with. A running list of real Chicago Cubs fans stories of their World Series experiences.
In the comments on the website, or in the FanPage or on Twitter – tell me your story. We will post it to this thread and keep this going.
I can’t wait to hear all of your stories.
Fans Stories
Helen: My sisters Barb and Gloria are teaching at an international school in Zagreb, Croatia. They are 7 hours ahead of us. They set their alarm for 2 am to watch the game on their computer. We started to Skype every half hour. At the 8th inning, they skyped and said they were having trouble with the computer feed. I turned my computer toward my TV and they were able to watch the 8th, 9th, and 10th with me! Miss them, but they made it to school and sang “Go Cubs Go” to their students.
Eric: I was diagnosed with brain cancer in February, had a tumor removed in March, underwent radiation and chemo treatments through June, and currently on a chemo cycle for the next 6 months, but through it all I was able to watch pretty much every single Cubs game this season. Coincidence? Most likely, but I’m very thankful that this, of all years, was the year they pulled off the unthinkable!
Rick: Well, Jamie, you know most of my story, but let fill in the fans. I went to Wrigley for the first time in 1960. Saw Santo hit a homer in that game. I have been a staunch supporter of Cubs baseball ever since, and currently in my 12th season as a season ticket holder. I was at game 3, flying in from Phoenix for that momentous occasion. I was at my son Marks home for game 7, and Bobby and Tracey joined us. Some have cried, some have laughed, or went totally bananas when our boys finally won. My reaction can best be described in the grin on Kris Bryant’s face as he scooped up that final grounder , and gunned them down. We got em, and baby, this is just the start of something awesome! The monkey is off our back, look out baseball, cause hear we come!!
Brad:
For the past 7 seasons we called the corner of Waveland and Kenmore home, with Wrigley Field and the Cubby faithful as our neighbors. As a ‘lifer’ Cubs fan, having that unique experience to wake up every morning, head out my door before sunrise and silently walk in the shadow of the bleachers will stay with me forever.
We knew this year would be bittersweet as we prepared to purchase a home far from the friendly confines and at the All-star break took our memories with us and headed for the burbs.
While we love our new family home and the opportunities ahead I couldnt help but miss that atmosphere last night as Wrigleyville erupted with jubilation and pride for our Cubbies. A piece of me was still there, right outside left field, knowing we were no longer waiting for next year.
Here are some memories in words and pictures
We moved from a downtown highrise to a stones throw from the brick & ivy just before pitchers and catchers reported in the spring of 2010. I couldnt believe it. The coolest thing i didnt know before moving in was that the Wrigley Field public address greets the neighborhood every morning with a booming “Gooood mooorning Wrigleyville!”
Happy news, our first born was due to arrive opening day 2011. He had other ideas. B was born a week later after the first homestand.
Over the next couple seasons having the Cubs home every other week throughout the sumner was fun living although any renditions of ‘Go Cubs Go’ were few and far between.
During homestands we became used to endless batting practice homeruns landing on our patio, the ballhawks friendly banter, and the background noise of a 40,000 capacity stadium outside our kitchen window.
When the Cubs were on the road we became friendly with the Wrigley Field employees that worked around the clock, often receiving balls, stickers, pins, or other small collateral they had in their pockets from around the field.
B’s walks around the park would require a stop outside center field so he could sing “the Harry Cary song” by his statue. Then his first game and the heartbreak he felt after hearing the organ for the 7th inning stretch and realizing as Andre Dawson started to sing that everyone else knew “his” song too.
Our daughter A would not arrive until the last homestand of 2014. No postseason yet but change was in the air as demolition of the bleachers started the day after the season ended.
Along the way there was a broken window from a Soriano homerun, a mob pile for a homerun on my front porch, the sureal nature of watching a game on tv, while listening to the radio call, and all the while hearing the crowd react first.
Seeing Theo, Jeb, and countless other players and staff year round constantly walking by my yard and knowing the best was coming.
Meeting players familys that lived near by and whose kids played at the same parks with mine.
All the off season memories like pulling sleds around the field in the snow or when they rebuilt the bleachers and M’s white car was speckled wrigley green from the overspray when they painted on a windy day.
During the 2015 season i soaked up all i could knowing we would be moving the following year. When the postseason arrived i thought how fitting it would be if they went all the way as a sendoff before i packed up my Wrigly field dream. I guess it was not meant to be…
This season was a blast! Every game i was able to listen to or watch was like magic. I fed my baseball soul knowing my days coming home to the ‘W’ flying high above the scoreboard were numbered.
The 2016 Postseason was amazing. I made it down for a NLDS game and that was good enough for me. I did my part and the rest is history…. CAN’T WAIT TIL’ NEXT YEAR !!!
Well, Jamie, you know most of my story, but let fill in the fans. I went to Wrigley for the first time in 1960. Saw Santo hit a homer in that game. I have been a staunch supporter of Cubs baseball ever since, and currently in my 12th season as a season ticket holder. I was at game 3, flying in from Phoenix for that momentous occasion. I was at my son Marks home for game 7, and Bobby and Tracey joined us. Some have cried, some have laughed, or went totally bananas when our boys finally won. My reaction can best be described in the grin on Kris Bryant’s face as he scooped up that final grounder , and gunned them down. We got em, and baby, this is just the start of something awesome! The monkey is off our back, look out baseball, cause hear we come!!
Nancy: Jamie, you know about my son Danny; you even mentioned him in an ESPN article. He fell in love with the Cubs by watching them with me since he was very young. As to me, I was born on the North Side. We moved out here when I was 5 from the 3300 block of Southport. My dad was a fan, and I have been one since the 60’s. It was great wondering what new slogan Ernie Banks would come up withwith at the start of each season: “The Cubs will shine in ’69!”. Good or not, my passion for them has never waned. This moment, this season, and this young team of champions has fulfilled the hopes of 3 generations in my family. I say 3 because my dad and Danny were – and still are – surely rooting and cheering from Heaven. We love our Cubs!