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The Cubs are World Series-bound!

Let me get this straight. The Cubs beat the Dodgers on Saturday night and will now play in the World Series for the first time since 1945--a series that they haven’t won since 1908? Seriously?

YOU BETCHA!

To be able to explain the emotion and removal of weight from my chest after watching the so-called “lovable losers” for thirty-five years is a truly difficult task. But I’ll chronicle those emotions in chronological order for you to see how monumental Saturday night’s win was.

First, let’s begin with 1969. At that time, I wasn’t a fan. Heck, I wasn’t even born yet! But the ’69 Cubs were destined for greatness until the miracle Mets stole their thunder and won the World Series. Friends of mine have told me that their heartbreak began at this point, and I don’t blame them whatsoever.

Second, let’s fast-forward to 1984. By then, I was a card-carrying “die-hard” Cubs fan down in Florida who watched the Cubs games in the afternoons since Wrigley Field didn’t have lights at that point. The Cubs traded away some kid named Joe Carter for a right-hander named Rick Sutcliffe. Did Carter do anything worthwhile during his career? I forget.

Sutcliffe and the Cubs won the National League Eastern Division back in 1984. From memory, I can still recite the lineup from game 1 of the NLCS against the San Diego Padres:

Go ahead. Google it. Tell me I’m wrong. It’s only my memory so I can’t be too far off.

Anyway, the Cubs took the first two games from the Padres and were headed to the World Series until the Padres found every humanly possible way to beat the Cubs three games in a row instead. That was my first heartbreak with this team.

Third, we travel back to 1989. Some kid named Greg Maddux led the team in wins and Mike Bielecki was his counterpart in taking the Cubs back to the NLCS. This time, they faced Will Clark and the San Francisco Giants.

Do you wonder why pitchers cover their mouths with their glove while the catcher keeps his facemask on during a mound discussion? Here’s why. Will Clark read Maddux’s lips and knew what pitch he’d throw next. The rest is history, and the Cubs, once again, failed to make it to the World Series making this Cubs fan disconsolate.

In 1992, the Cubs traded George Bell to the White Sox for a kid named Sammy Sosa. Back then, I knew he would amount to great things. In addition to buying several of his rookie cards, I even added him to my rotisserie league team. Early in his Cubs career, he was a 30-30 man. For those not in the know, that means he hit over 30 home runs and stole over 30 bases. Regardless, I knew the Cubs could build around him.

Fourth, let’s travel to 1998. While Sosa was no longer a 30-30 man, he could hit the cover off a baseball better than almost anyone. In June of that year alone, he hit 20 home runs. I couldn’t believe my eyes. As you would expect, the ’98 Cubs hopped onto Sammy’s back and beat the San Francisco Giants in a one-game playoff to earn a berth in the NLDS. Unfortunately, they ran smack dab into the juggernaut Atlanta Braves and lost three straight. Yet again, I was crushed.

Fifth, in 2003, the Cubs won the NL Central Division by one game over the Houston Astros. On the strength of pitching by Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, the Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves in five games to win the NLDS series. Next, they faced the Florida Marlins. I remember it vividly.

Sitting in a bar in New York City with my Cubs’ hat and jersey on, I watched the Cubs take the series advantage three games to one. Josh Beckett threw a 2-hitter in game 5 so the series shifted back to Chicago for game 6.

With Mark Prior on the mound, the Cubs cruised to a 3-0 lead. I could smell it. The World Series! Just six outs away! Mike Mordecai flied out to left. Five outs! Holy Cow! Then it happened.

Luis Castillo hit a foul pop down the left field line. It looked playable. Moises Alou went up against the wall, and a fan interfered with the catch. His name, as you may know, was Steve Bartman. Instead of getting out of the way of his team’s fielder, he felt the need/desire to get a foul ball. Alou was FURIOUS! And it disrupted the flow of the game.

Here’s where I add my two cents. Where was the Cubs’ manager Dusty Baker after this happened? Shouldn’t he have gone out to the mound to settle down the 23-year old Prior? After all, it was just a foul ball. Nothing game-changing happened. But he remained in the dugout.

From there, Prior walked Castillo with ball four getting away from catcher Paul Bako. This allowed Juan Pierre to advance to third. So with runners on the corners, a double play could get the Cubs out of the jam, right?

After Ivan Rodriguez singled to make the score 3-1, Miguel Cabrera hit a routine ground ball to Cubs’ shortstop Alex Rodriguez who was an adept fielder. Most certainly, he was going to turn a double play to get out of this, right?

Wrong. Gonzalez booted the ball to load the bases. Derrek Lee doubled to tie the game. Prior’s night was over. Farnsworth came in, and the flood gates opened. The Cubs lost 8-3. I practically cried in my beer.

But there was a game 7! All I remember is Kerry Wood’s home run. It wasn’t enough as the Cubs lost again. The Marlins would beat the Yankees to win the World Series. I was devastated especially since the Cubs could have played at Yankee Stadium which was a rather short subway ride from my home.

Sixth, we move to 2007. The Cubs won the NL Central and faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS. They lost three straight. Again, I was a dismayed Cubs fan.

Seventh, moving on to 2008, the Cubs won the division again. However, they lost three straight to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Life wasn’t as good as it should have been as a Cubs fan yet again. Am I hammering home the disappointment so far? Read on.

From 2009-2014, the Cubs lost more than they won as they went through a significant rebuilding phase mostly under the regime of Theo Epstein. Since Epstein had helped the Boston Red Sox overcome the curse of the Bambino, I’m certain he could break the curse of the billy goat.

In 2015, the Cubs exceeded expectations and found themselves in a one-game playoff with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They beat the Pirates 4-0 to advance to the NLDS. They then beat the Cardinals three games to one to advance to the NLCS. Things were looking good.

Then the New York Mets steamrolled the Cubs four games to zero to dash any further postseason hopes for the Cubs. While I was heartbroken, I saw good things moving forward.

So, here we are, after dispatching the Dodgers in six games and beating their ace Clayton Kershaw in the sixth game, the Cubs advance to the World Series.

I am overcome with joy. I feel awful for friends of mine who were Cubs fans who aren’t with us anymore. But I know, like Harry Caray and Ernie Banks, they’re looking down upon the 2016 Cubs and rooting them on to history.

Let’s make it happen, Cubs. I’ll be there every step of the way. See you there!

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).

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