It’s oxymoronic, isn’t it? The Chicago Cubs, perennial losers yet beloved baseball team, ended the season losing four straight games to the New York Mets, and somehow, as they typically do, came out winners—more beloved than before.
At least that’s my take on it, a biased and openly prejudiced follower and fan of the Cubs.
The North Siders, their nickname based on the location of their home field (Wrigley) in Chicago, participated in three World Series between 1906 and 1908, winning the last two. They last appeared in the championship series in 1945, when they lost to the Detroit Tigers, and ever since it has been a drought of frustration mixed with annual hopes for “next season.”
I look at life from the clichéd position of my cup being half full, but 115 years of being thwarted in their pursuit of capturing the title—wow, that is amazing. I say this as a 50-year fan whose frustration and hope pale compared to other lifelong fans, both resident in the Windy City, and spread out across the country, if not the baseball-loving world.
Yankee fans, and perhaps the organization as well, expect to bring home a World Series Championship every season—after all the Bronx Bombers (the Yankees’ nickname) have won 27 of the titles compared to the St. Louis Cardinals, who rank second with 11 of their own. When the Big Apple team (my condolences to their sibling, the Mets) doesn’t come through with number 28 there is widespread gnashing of teeth and written and verbal expressions of anger as well as headlines suggesting that so and so be fired. And they’re not alone.
Consider the Boston Red Sox, winners of eight Championships, including three out of four between 1915 and 1918. They too had a drought: 86 years before the 2004 team brought home the title. In Red Sox Nation winning is imperative, and as a friend of mine has said after an opening day loss by the “Sox” (regardless of the year), “I’m done. The season’s over. When does football season begin?”
Cub fans, on the other hand, who populate “Cubville,”an amorphous global village, remain happily content and hopeful for the next season. Needed, wished for, and enacted staff changes both on and off the field don’t alter this state of being.
Their nickname, Cubbies, has an endearing innocence about it. Can you imagine the Detroit Tigers being called the Pussy Cats? Just consider the Brooklyn Dodgers’ nickname for their frustrating on-field results: “Dem Bums!”
A friend, who knows my team allegiance, offered her commiserations when the Cubs were driven from post-season play by the Mets, who are now in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals. I accepted them with a measure of grace and appreciation while thinking, “They’re the Cubs. There’s always next year.”
The majority of us, simple or complicated as we may be, suffer defeats and embrace victories. I know it’s baseball, and not a metaphor for life, but bear with me—there’s something beyond the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field and the “water” consumed by Cub fans that captures my attention.
I smile when I think of the Cubs. Of course, I acknowledge disappointment when losses mount—much as they did in late June of this year when my college buddy and I made our annual pilgrimage to Wrigley field and then St. Louis to attend four games—all of which my beloved North Siders lost. I vowed, superstitious as I am, not to wear Cub Tee’s or sweatshirts for the rest of the season. Even when they ended the season with the third best record in baseball I resisted wearing a Cub Tee-shirt for fear of jinxing their run through the playoffs. That said, I didn’t burn Cub memorabilia, threaten to never watch another game, or drink myself into a silly stupor, but instead folded the sweatshirts and t-shirts and placed them on the shelf to await the beginning of the 2016 season.
My smile has its roots in a soul filled with more than the joy and pleasure of baseball.
Does being attached to a team that strives but underachieves, until this year and on lesser occasions in the past, remind me of my own frustrations, losses, and the equivalent need to be mindful that there’s a tomorrow filled with hope and possibility and to live fully into it?
I think that has some validity, so my answer is yes.
I recently underwent two hip replacements, to repair and rejuvenate arthritic joints that had served me well since birth. I’ll never leap tall buildings again—not that I ever did—but I will have a wonderful new quality of life.
We win and lose, and if you’re like me, do so in equal measure with a slight tilt toward the winning side.
Here’s to next season—I can’t wait.
by 
I share your affinity for the Cubs.
Winning it all would be a bonus. However small wins , and losses , are embedded in life.
Yet, the ability to rebound shows resilience which is essential to joyful living.
As long as there is hope, we can enjoy the journey.
Even if we don’t win the big prize we can contribute and have significance.
Alan, and what an affinity it is! This love affair with the Cubs, its wins and losses, but I wonder what will happen if between 2016 and 2018 history repeats itself and they win two out of three? Thanks for your comment, and see you at Wrigley! Roger
Growing up in Pittsburgh, I am a lifelong Pirate fan. But I have had the joy of THREE World Series ’60, ’71 & ’79. In those same growing up years, I’ll bet like you, Roger, I knew the team rosters for EVERY NL team. Of those “Non-Bucs” players and teams that I followed most, Ernie Banks and those “pesky Cubs” were favorites. A few years ago, I finally made a bucket list trip to Wrigley – it was the first Cub home game after 9-11, when Sammy Sosa ran around the field waving an American Flag. (As visually memorable as those Wrigley Hot Dogs were tastefully memorable.) Only made my hopes for the Cubs grow more real.
I thought THIS was their year. They finally, FINALLY, F I N A L L Y beat the dreaded Cardinals who had the best record in baseball. The “Back to the Future” movie even had Marty McFly (M J FOX)going into the future date of 10 – 21 – 15 AND THE CUBS WINNING THE SERIES – it was PROPHETIC!
Then … swept. SWEPT … by the Mets. You have got to be kidding. This is NOT happening. I thought they even kept Steve Bartman away from any where near Wrigley. I think we all heard Harry Caray’s voice come out of the grave … “CUBS LOSE, CUBS LOSE.”
So … Ernie … we still love ya … and we promise to be back again pulling for the Cubbies NEXT YEAR. Thinking of you makes me want to engage this game, not just of baseball, but of life … “Let’s play two.”
Chuck,
I knew it–in the heart of every Pirate fan lies a true-blue “Cubbie! Thanks for reflecting on this piece, and sharing your experience, Chuck–but I still won’t trade my Topps Ernie Banks card for your Bill Mazeroski even though mine is a bit tattered from being “clothes-pinned” to the frame of the front wheel of my Schwinn Roadster!
Yes the Cubs were swept, by a great playing team. They did their best, it just wasn’t enough. Now the Mets are in the same boat. I am just grateful that we are seeing such a high level of play. and, yes, there is next season…
The Cubs win, not for losing, but rather for living and loving, ever engaging in the joyful quest with hopeful optimism and faith in themselves. The loyalty and
faithfulness of devoted fans such as yourself helps fuel their annual renewed season of playing hard and believing in the possibilities. Are you sure baseball is not a metaphor for life? Your smile in your Cubs gear tells the story. Write and live on with the joy of rejuvenated hips and hopes for the next season!
I will admit that it has been many years since I had any loyalty to a baseball team (the Dodgers back in the 70s when I was attending seminary in LA) and now can’t even imagine it. Maybe it is because life is too complicated and too busy to ever keep up with any kind of team, professional or otherwise. But I always enjoy your posts even if team loyalty has faded into the past
Roy,
Thanks for your comments. Life does get more complicated. And even for me, an avid fan, players follow the money while owners want the prize now making allegiances difficult. Free agency has value across the board, but has changed the landscape of team loyalty. Those ’70’s Dodgers, I was an usher for three seasons, had a strong fan base, played well, and reignited the rivalry with the “hated” Yankees. In the six degrees of separation world in which we live you may have passed through my turnstile!
Hello Roger! It was excellent to read your thoughts on this topic so dear to me. I am, in fact, a New York Yankees fan, and I have felt the intense emotion that comes with their losses, even a meager year removed from their last championship. I have sobbed over outcomes of games, trades of players, and other events that shouldn’t so viscerally affect me. I think this is because of the connection, which you mentioned, to our own lives. When I feel helpless in my own life, I like to have a team to turn to who is winning. I feel joy by proxy. But I didn’t truly find peace as a baseball fan until I distanced myself a bit. When I don’t watch every single game, I am able to accept the losses more easily. I believe this balance is important- I can’t allow the game to be a substitute for my own actions and decisions. Thank yo for this reflection!
Allison,
I love your sentence “I feel joy by proxy” because it not only applies to “a team to turn to who is winning,” but to the many other areas we look to for joy when we feel helpless. I also think you touch on another important point–that being able to distance ourselves from wins and losses both on and off the field of play–perspective and balance, as you suggest w/re your own peace as a baseball fan, is important in all our successes and failures–which makes me scratch my head. Why am I still a Cub fan? Balance is elusive at The Friendly Confines–Wrigley Field.
Roger