“This is going to be a tough play, Bryant…The Cubs…Win the World Series! Bryant makes the play…It’s over, and the Cubs have finally won it all! 8-7 in 10.”
(Anthony Rizzo sticks the ball in his back pocket. A mob proceeds in the middle of the diamond.)
The wait couldn’t have been any longer. Through years of heartbreak and years of absolute disappointment, the fans in Chicago have mustered a stretch of over a century without a title being hoisted in their name.
But on a Wednesday night in Cleveland, the Cubs’ faithful got a chance to breathe for the first time in ages. 108 years to be exact.
With a matchup between two organizations that have combined for 176 years without a world championship, it was inevitable that we would be witnessing a storied World Series. Did we all think it would go to a historic Game 7 that went to extra innings, with a nerve-racking rain delay in the midst of it all? Say for yourself.
Either way, sports fans were treated with possibly one of the greatest World Series’ of all-time. Two teams: Cleveland and Chicago. Two teams that have had little, to no success in the past and built with a core of young players who have carried their teams into baseball’s best.
Chicago brought in the longest drought in sports history, a football team that has seen light one time in this century so far, and not to mention they are sharing the city with the Chicago White Sox down on the south side of the city. The Blackhawks have been the only success Chicago fans have seen in a long time.
But then a man named Theo Epstein hops over from Boston and puts together a dangerous lineup with young talent and ends up winning over 100 games in the regular season. Then the playoffs come and they outlast both San Fransisco and Los Angeles to get to the big time.
Cleveland was blessed with an NBA title back in June with LeBron James and company for the Cavs’ first title. On the football side of things, the Cleveland Browns haven’t even made the Post-Season since 2002 and are currently winless this season. So the Indians had a chance to stand up for Cleveland and defend the NBA title they captured earlier in the year.
With the Chicago Cubs as the favorite going in, the Indians hushed everyone up and took a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 in Chicago. But as expected, the Cubs won and sent the series back to Cleveland for Game 6 where they took care of business with Jake Arrieta on the mound.
And then there was Game 7.
As if the series didn’t have enough history and huge implications on the line. It was just made out to be a terrific series.
After an early 5-1 lead for Chicago which took the air out the stadium, the lead squandered a bit and kept Cleveland still in it. But then fireworks came too early. With a 6-3 lead and two outs in the eighth, the Cubs brought in closer Aroldis Chapman for the 4-out save. Game’s over right?
Well, Rajai Davis said no. On a two strike pitch, down in the zone, outfielder Rajai Davis stuck out his bat head and sent the ball on a rocket down the left-field line and into the crowd to tie the game.
Unbelievable. Are the Cubs really going to blow it? Is there really a curse?
As the game resumed, we found ourselves heading into extra innings. But not before a rain delay that kept everyone’s heart in their stomach for a little longer. As the game resumed play, the Cubs put two guys on with one out and a man named Ben Zobrist delivered an RBI hit that would put them ahead. After a Miguel Montero base hit to extend the lead to two, it was time for the Chicago to hold their breath for 3 more outs.
As the rain continued to trickle slowly into the night, the Indians found themselves down to their last out with the winning run at the plate. With an 0-1 count and Michael Martinez at the plate, the next pitch is history.
After third baseman Kris Bryant makes the throw to first baseman Anthony Rizzo for the final out, the baseball world explodes. They finally did it.
With TV ratings through the roof and Game 7 being the highest TV rating since the 2001 World Series, it is evident that this story for Chicago had more on the line than just a baseball game. It had pride, glory and accomplishment written all over it for people who aren’t even fans of baseball. It is a story of 108 years where old men and women had waited their entire—literally entire lives for. It will never be forgotten.
So when Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo was asked what he’s going to do with the ball that recorded the final out, he said, “It’s going to be cherished forever. We’re in the books. We’re in history forever.”
And by the way, that ball is being valued at three million dollars. Can you say historic?
