After 71 Years...


...the World Series is returning to Wrigley Field. Let's put that moment into context: in October 1945, not-quite-three year old Ferguson Jenkins might just have picked up his first Spaldeen, five-year-old Ron Santo's hometown team was the Seattle Rainiers, and seven-year-old Billy Williams was a second grade student. Ernie Banks, then 14 (the number he'd make his own with the Cubs) was a year away from entering Booker T. Washington high school in Dallas -- a school that did not field a baseball team! That was 1945, the last Cubs pennant winner until now.
Those beloved Cubs never played a World Series game in Chicago. Neither did later-decade favorites Ryne Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe and Leon Durham. A 71-year drought developed and lingered since the days of Phil Cavaretta, Bill "Swish" Nicholson and Stan Hack. Last night, thanks to Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Hendricks and Aroldis Chapman, the streak was ended and the Cubbies' ticket to the Big Dance was finally punched.
An iconic franchise and its classic ballpark, rebuilt, reinforced and ready to shine next weekend when games 3, 4 (and Chicago fans hoping) 5 will be staged in the Friendly Confines.
My pal Dennis and I had a great time following the Mets to Wrigley in May 2015. The weather was chilly... but the ballpark was everything we expected -- and more! Early May weather is a lot like the late October conditions fans will find next weekend.


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