Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs warms up prior to Game One of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP
CHICAGO, United States — The bronze lions guarding the steps of Chicago’s Art Institute are decked out in giant caps emblazoned with the blue and red logo of the city’s baseball team.
As the Cubs attempt to win a coveted World Series championship for the first time in more than a century, the Windy City is plastered in their colors — and Chicagoans can barely believe what is happening.
READ: Cubs beat Dodgers 5-0 to reach 1st World Series since 1945
“We might be seeing something that we haven’t seen in over a hundred years,” said Peyton Hester, 28, who had come to replace his worn-out Cubs hat at a store across the street from the team’s home stadium Wrigley Field.
“Everyone’s going nuts,” Hester said. “It’s pretty exciting.”
The store has not been able to keep Cubs World Series merchandise on the shelves, said clerk Ryan Nagle.
“This is uncharted territory for everybody,” he said.
“Everyone’s going nuts,” Hester said. “It’s pretty exciting.”
Everywhere you look, the city is awash with flags with a blue W on a white background — traditionally used at the baseball team’s stadium Wrigley Field to indicate a win.
The Cubs have not been at a World Series since 1945. The last time the team won the championship was 1908. Theodore Roosevelt was president.
Local lore blames the Cubs’ losing streak on the Curse of the Billy Goat — allegedly placed on the team by a vexed Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, after being thrown out of a game in 1945 due to a foul-smelling pet goat.
Cried for joy
Generations of Chicagoans have since waited and hoped, their collective disbelief and elation at the happy turn of events best expressed by actor Bill Murray at the weekend.
When the Chicago Cubs baseball team won their league championship Saturday, meaning they would head to the World Series, Murray cried for joy.
Video of his emotional reaction has spread on social media, capturing the mood gripping the city.
“All you see is blue and red everywhere, in the shop windows and just on the streets,” said Justin Moynihan, 39, an Australian visiting Chicago with his wife and two children.
“The colors and the atmosphere is very exciting,” he said.
“The colors and the atmosphere is very exciting,” he said.
Few Chicagoans will get to actually watch one of the World Series games in person, however. Tickets in the resale market are commanding outrageous prices — with figures reported in the $3,000 to $7,000 range.
Such prices have been the source of political controversy. The Cubs at first offered the city’s elected politicians World Series tickets at face value (at $200, for example). With resale prices so high, the city’s ethics board ruled elected leaders could not accept the tickets, leading to a lot of griping.
For many visiting outside Wrigley Field on Tuesday, that was as close as they were going to get to history.
Ryan Gonzalez brought his wife and two children to pose for a photo.
“Starting tonight, everybody’s going to get crazy,” he said with a laugh. CBB