Mission completed

By Doug Schroder

Editor

After 108 years it can finally be said that the Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions. Like the characters Jake and Elwood Blues from the movie “The Blues Brothers”, it can be said the Cubs were on a mission from God.

First, the Cubs came back against the San Francisco Giants by scoring four runs in the ninth inning to take the Division Series three games to one. The Giants had won 10 consecutive playoff-elimination games before that game. The Cubs pulled it off though.

Then the Cubs overcame the Los Angeles Dodgers to win that series four games to two, and move on to the World Series for the first time since 1945. It seemed all curses, and previous bad luck from other seasons, were finally fended off by the Cubs.

But then the Cubs found themselves down three games to one against the Cleveland Indians in the best of seven World Series. The Cubs had to win three games in a row to win it all, with the last two games at Cleveland. It didn’t look good for the Cubs.

It all came down to Game 7, as the Cubs won two games to tie the series. Chicago jumped out to the early 5-1 lead and things looked good.

Cleveland came back though and tied it at 6 all in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.

Things weren’t looking so good for the Cubs now.

Before the next inning could start, divine intervention stepped in as the rain began to fall on Progressive Field in Cleveland. There was a 17-minute rain delay. During that time Cubs player Jason Heyward gathered the players together in the clubhouse and gave a speech about the team pulling together and not quitting. The speech rallied the players.

The Cubs then came out after the delay and scored two runs in the top of the tenth inning to make it 8-6. Cleveland did score one in their half of the inning, but could do no more, as the Cubs won the game 8-7.

Cubs fans throughout the nation erupted in the late night air. Here in Pecatonica, fireworks could be heard going off. It was reported by radio the next day that firework could also be heard going off in Rochelle, Byron and Rockford, although in Rockford it could not be confirmed if it was gunfire or not.

Finally! It could be said the Cubs are champions! It made many people think of loved ones who cheered on the Cubs all those years, yet never saw a title. One man from Machesney Park, Ryan Warren, came out to Winnebago Cemetery the very next morning after the Cubs victory to adorn his great-grandfather’s grave with a Cubs hat and the W flag, as Ryan remembered Clarence Gruhlke as the man who taught him so much about baseball, and who was also a Cubs fan.

How exciting it is to be a Cubs fans right now.

Machesney Park resident Ryan Warren made the trip out to Winnebago Cemetery to adorn his great-grandfather’s grave (Clarence Gruhlke) the day after the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series. Many like Ryan paid tribute to those fans that weren’t able to see the Cubs win a World Series during their 108-year drought.