CHICAGO (AP) — Next year has finally arrived for long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans.
At exactly 11:47 p.m. local time Wednesday, the Cubs won the World Series title that had eluded them for 108 years.
As the game ended, the roar from inside the bars and the throng of fans on the streets was deafening, before the crowds both inside and out sang “go Cubs go” at the top of their lungs.
Thousands poured into the neighborhood around the ball park to celebrate in the shadows of the statues of Cubs greats Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and legendary announcer Harry Caray.
Fans hugged each other, many of them crying.
For the first time in more than a century there was no need to say, “Wait until next year.”
CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs have returned to sweet home Chicago hours after knocking off the Indians in Cleveland to win their first World Series in 108 years.
A caravan of team buses was welcomed by a raucous crowd outside Wrigley Field early Thursday morning. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo showed off the World Series trophy for the cheering fans.
Players took turns passing the hardware around on their way back from Cleveland. Numerous Cubs players can be seen on Twitter posing with the trophy on the team plane, including Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler and John Lackey.
Catcher David Ross, who homered in the final game of his career, shared his picture with the trophy and quipped, “Look what the boys got me for my retirement.”