He was smiling.
He was smiling the whole time.
I was asked multiple times who I thought would win this World Series. How could anybody answer that question? We’re talking about a pair of teams with legendary championship droughts. This was truly uncharted territory for sports fans. Somebody was going to have to win, that much was certain, but how such a thing was going to occur, much less the result, was beyond human precognition.
In truth, my loyalties were a bit divided. As many sports fans, I had long yearned to see a Cubs’ championship in my lifetime. I had watched the Cubs as a youth on cable on WGN America. A couple of years ago, I spent many afternoons watching them play at my parents’ apartment. I got to see the nascent beginnings of this years’ cadre with the debut of Anthony Rizzo in that time. But when my parents cut their cord and the Cubs simultaneously deserted national daily broadcasts, my loyalties waned. Though many Cubs’ games were broadcast nationally this year, somehow my personal relationship with them had ended. It was like they’d hit the big time, and I felt left behind.
The Chicago Cubs were picked by everyone, including me, at the start of the season to get to the World Series. With the immense weight of history, fans, and pundits upon them, this team more than shouldered that burden. They ran away with their division. Even with a serious challenge by the Dodgers in the playoffs, it truly looked like the only thing that could beat the Cubs was themselves. They came into this championship as the undisputed heavyweight favorite.
By contrast, the Cleveland Indians had flown under the radar for much of the regular and post-season in spite of having a great team. I mentioned them in my notes about the season as they won 14 in a row through June and July. That impressed the heck out of me. While watching them beat the Kansas City Royals in a game, I offhandedly referred to them as “the chosen ones.” I probably didn’t mean it at the time, but later in a September game, I learned that four of their starting pitchers had double digit wins. At that point, I took them seriously. Unfortunately, they lost two of those pitchers going into the playoffs, though that didn’t slow them down a bit. The Cubs had the stats, but the Indians had the intangibles, especially their two-time World Series winning manager, Terry Francona.
Having the second-longest championship drought in baseball and being the underdogs, I just couldn’t root against the Indians. By the same token, I knew these Cubs a bit better and liked them with their funky manager, Joe Maddon, and that big “little kid” Rizzo, and the absurdly handsome Bryant. Even my Cardinal fan Aunt Judy was for them. Who could root against a team trying to win it all for the first time in over a century? I was committed to enjoying the celebration of whoever won, and lamenting the Shakespearean tragedy of the opposing fan base. It was going to be tough on whoever lost, I thought, devastating. I was wrong in the end and glad for it.
For such a momentous baseball/sports/cultural event, my coverage for this event was lacking, but I make little apologies for watching these games rather than trying to write about them. Like the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 between the Irish and the Norse, this event was too important to be trusted to mere historians or Sabrmatricans, and passed directly into legend to be recounted in the songs of the skalds and bards and bloggers.
Game 1 Cleveland, 10-25-16, Indians 6, Cubs 0
My first note of the series was “Scream.” The Cleveland fans were excited. Right before this first game, I’d wondered if Cub Kyle Schwarber was sufficiently recovered from his early season injury to play as the DH. Cubs’ management was thinking along the same lines and activated him.
But tonight was all about the Indians. Cory Kluber dominated the Cubs’ heavy hitters with 8 of the first 9 Cub outs being strikeouts. He was helped by a wide strikezone. For offense, his “light-hitting” catcher, Roberto Perez, hit two home runs. It was a Cleveland wind that night that pushed out a couple of Indian home runs, while knocking down a couple Cub ones.
Game 2 Cleveland, 10-26-16, Indians 1, Cubs 5
Jake Arrieta had a no-hitter going into the 6th, until the broadcasters jinxed it. His only run came on a wild pitch. Schwarber could indeed still hit with a couple of RBI’s. Rizzo and Ben Zobrist also knocked in runs. The game was played under a threat of rain, but they just got it in.
Game 3 Chicago, 10-28-16, Cubs 0, Indians 1
Holy cow! The Wrigleyville streets were crowded like Mardi Gras. The first pitch of the game was a strike and the crowd roared. However, this would not be a game of uproarious emotion, but rather extreme nervous tension. The nervous fan reaction shots in the stands were priceless. This was a pitcher’s duel, in spite of a stiff wind blowing out of Wrigley Field. Another wide strikezone may have contributed to that.
The Indians had a great chance in the 5th with the bases loaded, but the inning ended with a double play. But, they would finally push across a single precious run in the 7th. The Cubs had runners on first and third with two out in the 9th. Javier Baez at the plate, let out a huge breath right before he struck out to end the game. The tension was even getting to the young players in this one.
This was the first game I noticed the Marlins Man wasn’t behind home plate. He wasn’t present for the entire series. Was he ill? Was even he priced out of these tickets? The regular ball girl at Wrigley was there. She’d been there when I was watching a couple of years ago. I wonder how those positions are filled.
Game 4 Chicago, 10-29-16, Cubs 2, Indians 7
This time the wind was blowing in, but the balls were flying out. Carlos Santana hit a home run in the 2nd. Joe Buck reported that the bleacher fans immediately threw the Indian ball back. Bull. They switched it out with a BP ball and threw that back. Well, that’s what they do in the regular season. Perhaps they did toss the real ball back, not wanting to jinx the team. Given that Kris Bryant also had two errors in the inning, I’m thinking there was a switch.
Jason Kipnis pretty much sealed it with a 3-run homer in the 7th. This ball may have also been thrown back (yeah right). There was a cutaway shot of the stands in Cleveland. The Indians had opened up the stadium for fans to watch the game on the big screen there. The seats were full and the fans were going crazy. In the 8th, Andrew Miller gave up a homer to Dexter Fowler. This one was caught by a Cubs fan with a mitt and obviously not thrown back. This was the first time Miller had been scored on this post-season, and he’d thrown quite a few innings.
There was some guy in a Harry Carey outfit, hoisting a beer, behind the Indians’ dugout. I saw him on the MLB International feed. The moment I noticed the game was being broadcast on a Mexican station, I immediately switched channels. I’d had more than enough of Joe Buck’s histrionic game call and John Smoltz’s endless nitpicking. After the game, Cubs fans were cheering in the background of the post-game show like they’d won big, as opposed to being one loss away from elimination. Meanwhile, I hadn’t seen more than a couple of Indians fans at these away games. I’d seen plenty of Cubs fans in Cleveland.
Game 5 Chicago, 10-20-16, Cubs 3, Indians 2
In the first inning, Anthony Rizzo sent a monster foul ball out of the stadium and on to the street. I think that was the first ball hit all the way out. How could Fox not have had a camera view of the chaos that no doubt ensued amongst all the fans out there? During the regular season, there are ballhawks on Waveland waiting for home runs. This night there was block party going on, and we don’t get to see them fighting over a Rizzo ball. I’m a bit irritated for other reasons, namely I forgot to buy any snack food for these weekend games. How dumb was that?
The Cubs flashed some leather in this game. In the 2nd, Rizzo caught a foul off a tip by catcher David Ross and a juggle. Bryant also made a good play defensively later. However, the Indians took a 1-0 lead on a Jose Ramirez home run. The ball (cough) was thrown back. In the 3rd, Jason Heyward climbed a wall to grab a Trevor Bauer foul. Bauer actually applauded the effort. A fan started to reach for it when it came towards him, but then he immediately thought the better of it. In the 4th, Rizzo and Ross again met on foul pop up. This time, Ross came up with it. I know you guys are close, but you don’t have to do everything together.
In the bottom of the inning, Smoltz all but called a home run by Bryant to lead off the frame. Joe Buck got to do his usual overdone home call. It’s the same call he uses for deep fly ball outs. He calls everything hysterically for posterity, just in case it’s an important play later. Now these guys will be insufferable for the rest of the series. I should have went with the Mexican broadcast. Regardless of my snark, it’s an awesome shot. The crowd finally has a reason to “Go crazy folks! Go crazy!” (Pity Joe didn’t get any of Jack Buck’s broadcasting genes.) The whole stadium shakes. The Indians shake too, and the Cubs end up getting three runs in the inning. Francisco Lindor, playing with way more ability than experience, drove in another Indian run in the 6th, but the Cubs held on to win.
Game 6 Cleveland, 11-1-16, Indians 3, Cubs 9
My notes are really sparse here. I was watching at work and was busy. The Cubs’ bats woke up big time. Much like the NLCS versus the Dodgers, this many good hitters can’t slump forever. Kris Bryant started it off in the 1st with a home run. Indians’ centerfield, Tyler Naquin, did not have a good game. Miscommunication with the right fielder, led to a fly ball dropping between them, scoring two. He later struck out with the bases loaded. Meanwhile Addison Russell had a monster game with a grand slam as part of a 6 RBI game.
Game 7 Cleveland, 11-2-16, Indians 7, Cubs 8
I brought my little stuffed bear, Bearly, to work with me, along with his Cubs baseball. While I might be a bit ambivalent, the bear is definitely a Cubs fan and wanted to come. (I should have gotten a picture taken. He’s so cute.) Dexter Fowler pops the seal on this game right off the bat with a leadoff home run to start the 1st. The crowd seems to be about half Cubs fans, judging by color and cheering. By the 3rd, the Indians tie it and Javier Baez accumulates his second error of the game. The fan shots are nothing but people insane with tension. In the 4th, the Cubs add two more runs.
The 5th, Baez hits a homer. Anthony Rizzo has his arm around David Ross, who is playing in this last game before retirement. Ross’ microphone picks up Rizzo saying, “I’m an emotional wreck.” This doesn’t keep him from driving in Bryant for another run. We’re at 5-1 Cubs when Jon Lester enters the game in the bottom of the frame with two on. A wild pitch bounces and then hits Ross on the head and both runners manage to score. 5-3 Cubs. Ross hits a home run next inning, 6-3.
There’s a shot outside of Wrigley field in the 7th. Fans have gathered there in front of the marquee scoreboard. In the 8th, Brandon Guyer, who’s having a great series off the Indians’ bench, doubles in a run, 6-4. Aroldis Chapman enters the game. Rajai Davis hits a two-run homer off him. I nearly fall off the couch yelling, “I can’t believe this!” I’m sure I’m not the only one. Rain starts falling in the 9th, but doesn’t stop play. Jason Heyward gets on, steals a base, and moves to third on an error, but is stranded there. I don’t think anyone in the stadium is enjoying the game at this point, even the people in the $10,000 seats behind the Cubs’ dugout, but everyone wants to see what’s going to happen next.
Not enough tension for you? How about a short rain delay to cool things off? Myself and my boss, Ron, who’d been watching with me, decided to leave work finally. At one point in the 9th, his boss, who working very late, asked to be walked out. Me and Ron looked at each other as we were on the edge of our seats waiting for the next play. Ron reluctantly volunteered. When I got home, I immediately turned on the TV to find that they were playing the 10th and the Cubs had men on.
This rain delay has been credited for the Cubs’ victory. Jason Heyward, channeling Hunter Pence, took the team into the weight room and gave them a highly effective motivational speech. Ben Zobrist, named MVP for this play alone, drove in a pinch runner. Miguel Montero would drive in another. But, it wasn’t over yet. In the bottom of the 10th, Guyer again got on and, again, Raijai Davis drove him in with two outs. At 8-7, we complete the loop this post started with as Kris Bryant got the final out.
And there we had it: the perfect World Series. There was no massive umpire interference. No major goats. There were questionable managerial decisions, but on both sides equally. There wasn’t any signature moment, such as Hosmer’s mad dash to home last year. Ironically, Rajai Davis’ Game 7 home run was the most memorable hit. No unexpected heroes, like Royals’ bench player, Christian Colon, driving in the winning run in extra innings in that same game with Hosmer’s play. There weren’t even any real heroes. The players mostly performed as they had all year. All those great, but overused pitchers ended up failing, one by one, in the end. Again in Game 7, Aroldis Chapman got the win, but blew the save.
No, this series featured two great teams who were both pushed to their limit and beyond. There was nothing to be ashamed of, and it truly was a team effort. Afterward, even in sorrow, Terry Francona had a glint in his eye, waxing about how great it was to have been a part of that Game 7. Reportedly, even Indians fans could smile about the game. Even in losing, they’d won a tremendous memory.
The Cubs win the World Series. With that, an entire category of symbolism and metaphor has been destroyed. There’s no more generational angst in the Windy City. All’s right with the world. I slept well with happy dreams. In the morning, somehow in some small way, the world really did seem irrevocably different and better. There was a lot hand-wringing before and during the series about a Cubs win possibly destroying their fans’ defining “lovable loser” character. I think Cubs fans wanted what the Red Sox achieved in their long-awaited championship: respect. After this wait, after this series, after that Game 7, they certainly earned it.
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