Superstitions, Traditions and FlyTheW

Great post and fun read.  Did not know that about CF.  Had one of my students come up to me today and say "did you know that there is only one person alive who saw the Cubs win the world series?"  I looked at her and just said "actually there are a few billion who are alive to see the last Cubs series".  Needless to say it flew completely over her sophomore year head for a few minutes until she got it.  Here is what I wrote on facebook last night.  I'll understand if nobody reads it because it's long.

About 30 years ago a less fat but still slightly chubby fat kid in Southern West Virginia discovered cable TV. We went from the 3 major channels (and PBS) to a whole lot (probably like 15 but felt like 500). In that lineup was a channel from Chicago IL called WGN. Everyday in the summer they always played Cubs baseball. I would watch almost everyday because I loved baseball. Got to watch Sutcliffe, Dawson, Sandberg, Davis and many others. Saw the emergence of guys like Dunston, Grace, Prior, Wood and many more. But the one thing I rarely got to watch were playoff games. It seemed each year the season would end with the last game of the season. I would switch over to football but knew spring was around the corner. I learned early I would have to "wait til next year".

The few playoff opportunities always ended in sadness. In 84 the collapse to the Padres. In 89 it was Will f'n Clark of the Giants. Braves tomahawk chopped us in 98. In 03 we got revenge on the Braves but the Marlins got us later (still not sure if I forgive Bartman although he did exactly what I would've - I'm just glad it was him and not me). Somehow in 07 the Diamondbacks (I thought they were a minor league team) got us.........seriously the Diamondbacks. But we had momentum and returned in 08 to run into the Dodgers.

Then we hired Theo Epstein. Seriously THE smartest man in baseball. He promised a 5 year plan which would turn us around but it would require sacrifice and patience. He traded away all our "talent" and we lost 95 plus games for a few years. The fans were losing their minds and wanted Epstein fired (so much for the patience). I kept the faith and believed he knew what he was doing. In 14 we got hot in the second half of the season and looked like a real baseball team. Offseason before 15 we hired Joe Maddon. The mad genius of baseball as our manager. We started the 15 season and had the hated Cardinals in our division who just happened to be the best team in baseball. Lucky us and in true typical Cub fashion the second best team were the Pittsburgh Pirates who were in our division as well. Season looked bleak because we had 3 rookies starting full time. By middle of the season we had a 4th rookie starting. No way would this season amount to anything. Even Epstein said this wasn't out year. But here it was early September and it played out like it was supposed to - Cardinals first and Pirates second. But there was this spunky team called the Cubs hot on their heels. We ran out of time but finished third and in the wildcard game against the tough and strong Pirates. Next thing you know Jake Arrieta ate them alive. We now faced........the best team in baseball the hated Cardinals. Funny thing happened, we grew up and eliminated the mental block we had over them as we dispatched them. In the NLCS now, could this be it? Could this be the year? Possibly because we were facing the Mets who we beat every single game in the season. OK so the fairytale ended as their pitching wiped us out. But we have, for the first time in a long time, there's hope.

Start of this season we started hot and we stayed hot. But mid-season we took a small break to catch our breath. After the break we got hot and stayed hot all the way to the end. Best team in baseball. But people said we hadn't beaten any good teams, couldn't beat good pitchers and other crazy stuff. First up was the Giants and their even year junk and Madison Bumgarner. One of the best pitchers in baseball. Eliminated them 3-1. Next the Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw. Nobody can beat Kershaw.......we beat them 4-1. Now the World Series and the Cleveland Indians. They obliterated the Red Sox and Blue Jays who had the best offenses in MLB. All of a sudden we were down 3-1 and it was over except I said it wasn't. I said we had them just where we wanted them. People thought I was crazy (fair assumption) but Lester wins to make it 3-2. Then Arrieta wins to tie it up (not so crazy anymore am I?). Now it all falls on Hendricks and while he did great it was decided much later in one of the best baseball games ever. To quote Harry Carey "CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN, HOLY COW THE CUBS WIN"

For 30 years I've waited patiently for this and it's even better than I thought it would be. This is for Santo and Banks and Harry who are no longer with us. All the fans who lived a long life and never experienced this. This is for all you and all of us who never gave up. People believed this would never happen. My phone rang in the start of the 10th. It was Satan in Hell and he said it was starting to snow down there. At that point I knew it was over and we just had to finish it out. Finish it out we did. The Chicago Cubs are the 2016 World Series CHAMPIONS and we earned it. I wouldn't be surprised if over next 4 to 6 years it's the Cubs vs Indians. Two great organizations going at it.

The one thing that saddens me is as the game was turning epic I really wished I could be watching the game with my dad. He wasn't a Cubs fan but he loved good baseball and I really miss talking baseball with him. So this is for you too dad. Love you and mom both and miss you both.

Well now I'm going to bed because although the greatest thing in sports just happened I still have to be a responsible adult and go to work. I can honestly say adulting sucks.

Go Cubs Go
Go Cubs Go
Hey Chicago whattya say
Cubs are gonna win today

If you ever get the chance, do the tour of Wrigley field.  The money collected goes to the Cubs charities.  Lots of good info during the tour.  That's where I learned about CF.  The tour is run during the season when the Cubs are out of town.  As a bonus, if its available you can play catch in the outfield.  I've been on the tour a couple of times and sometimes you can get out there and others not.  It just depends on the condition of the field.  If you can't get on the field they will let you play catch on the warning track.  I have some great pictures of my kids sitting in the lockers in the visitor locker room, sitting in the dugout, and playing catch in the outfield.

Wow that sounds awesome.  A buddy of mine from college that I played baseball with (another huge baseball fan but he likes the Reds) traveled up to Chicago to catch a couple of games about 10 years ago. Best trip of my life.  I've been thinking how I could make a return trip and now I will plan it around so I can take that tour.

WTG Cubs!

My Cub's fan story is much like Coach's. I often get asked how a girl from Oregon became a die hard Cubs fan. Well, I grew up watching WGN with my Grandpa. If it wasn't the Cubs, then we were watching the Braves on TBS. Those games were available nationally back in the 80's and were pretty much the only televised baseball in our area. But, there was just something about watching those Cubbies. Dunston, Davis, The Hawk, Sandberg. My number throughout high school softball was 17 for Mark Grace. I cried when he was traded and cried again later when he finally won a WS with the Diamondbacks. I watched Kerry Wood's record breaking strikeout performance. I rooted for Sosa to beat McGwire to the HR record (we didn't know about their PED use until later). I have personalized Cubs license plates on my car and my dog's name is Wrigley. So many people were rooting for the Cubs and it's overwhelming that this day has finally come. My kids got some pretty embarrassing video of me last night during and after that final out. I'm not sure if my emotions have recovered from the ups and downs of this entire series, but I am going to bask in this joyous feeling for a few days. And, next Spring, I will be at Spring Training to root on my team. Go Cubs Go!  

Welcome Back!  We had a big discussion this week on throwing the HR ball back, sorry that you missed it.

Thanks for the post, great stuff.

There is something about the Midwest fans, like no other, courteous, fun and fiercely loyal , learned this when son was with STL. 

I started following the Cubs  years ago, re: Anthony Rizzo. His aunt worked with me and we all supported Anthony's Cancer Foundation when it was created about 4 years ago.. It has been fun watching a local boy do good!  Drafted by the Red Sox in 2007, not surprised he was traded to Chicago via the Padres in 2012.

Once again, congrats Cubs fans and enjoy!

Steve Bartman can now move out of the flat he shares with Salman Rushdie.

Now that's classic 2022NYC!

Better yet, if at the final out of game seven, Montgomery ripped off his mask....and it was Bartman.

but kudos to the Rushdie reference.

Also was at Wrigley field during the 1998 HR Chase w/ Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Saw Sosa hit #60..family left early in the 8th with Cubs leading big. Sosa hits #61 as we are walking towards our car (heard the cheers).

Joe you forgot about something else you don't see much, that helps the family budget. Arrive at the ball park 90 minutes or earlier before game and ALL food and drinks are discounted (15 or 20%). If we were running behind and car was parked, wife would allow me to run ahead to order the "discounted food". Would buy enough for the 9 innings.

TPM. Rizzo is a major hero around my son and his HS team right now. The 1B from our HS who graduated two years ago had to put his college baseball career on hold due to cancer. Rizzo found out and has tweeted out support for him as well as visited him in the hospital.   He recruited Bryant to come along as well.  They did this during one of their rare off days during the heart of the season. 

All just got back from the victory parade and rally. All I can say is insane. Over 5 million people packed into the heart of the city. Considering IL has a population of 11.7 million, that means that almost half of the state was down there.  Very well behaved crowd. 

BTW I started a change.org petition yesterday to have Bartman throw out the first pitch next year. I will post the link when I get a few. 

joes87 posted:

TPM. Rizzo is a major hero around my son and his HS team right now. The 1B from our HS who graduated two years ago had to put his college baseball career on hold due to cancer. Rizzo found out and has tweeted out support for him as well as visited him in the hospital.   He recruited Bryant to come along as well.  They did this during one of their rare off days during the heart of the season. 

Rizzo is what a ml player should be.

When the Cubs rewarded him with a nice contract, he called his mom and dad and said your working days are done.  Just a nice kid from a nice italian family.

I hope that your sons teammate is doing well.