Anthony Rizzo and the 2016 Cubs’ Glass Case of Emotion

The Cubs Win the 2016 World Series

The stories have continued ever since. Emotions remain high to this day. When Anthony Rizzo told David Ross he was in a “glass case of emotions,” millions around the world felt the same. This victory was more than a game; it was a moment that touched generations.

After 108 years, on November 3^rd, 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians 8–7 in a historic extra-innings Game 7.

No matter where people watched that night, a ripple of shared feeling spread across Chicago, the nation, and beyond. Some dismissed it as “just a baseball game,” but for many the win represented history, family, tradition, community and hope.

In Chicago the Cubs carry a deep, living history. Talking about the team evokes memories of summer evenings at Wrigley Field, tales passed down through families, and a civic unity rare in modern life.

When the celebrations began, Chicago united in a way few of us had ever seen. Stories and dedications poured out of the city; people reached for one another. I wanted to understand how this win affected lives, so I collected personal stories from Cubs fans. Below is the first collection—many more follow. I hope these recollections move and inspire you.

“What Does the Cubs Win Mean to You?”
The Stories Began with My Brother and His Son, Cameron

 

 

My brother and I were raised by a remarkable single mother, and I was privileged to help raise him. Today I take pride in watching him raise his sons. My nephew Cameron, at eight years old, is one of the most devoted Cubs fans I’ve met. In May he won the Cubs Move Challenge and joined the team for pre-game warm-ups at Wrigley Field.

And then I saw this….

More Stories from Cubs Fans

Adam Pearce
Producer, World Wrestling Entertainment

“I grew up a Cub fan 30 miles north of the city in Waukegan, Illinois. Harry Caray and Steve Stone were the voices of my youth, and I watched players like Sandberg, Grace, Maddux and Dawson. As a kid I felt the hurts of 1984 and 1989, and later the sagas of Sosa and the Bartman incident. I dreamed of the day the ‘W’ would fly over a World Series win.

During Game 7 I was on a plane to Saudi Arabia with WWE. The inflight Wi-Fi was poor, and messages came through in fragments. For the whole game my wife texted play-by-play while friends and colleagues crowded the aisles to get updates. ‘Russell up. Struck out. Ross up. OMG. Home run.’ Those choppy updates painted the game in my mind. When the final text read ‘Martinez up. Montgomery pitching. Cubs win!!!!!’ I closed my eyes, folded my hands, then thrust my arms into the air. Dreams do come true—even for the Chicago kid nearly 8,000 miles away. The W flew. Harry said ‘Holy Cow.’”

Adam with his son…

Colt Cabana
American professional wrestler and podcaster

“Both my parents grew up on Chicago’s North Side, and my mother was a die-hard Cubs fan. She’d tell stories of going to every game in 1969, sitting in the bleachers. The Cubs were a constant in our home; the game was always on. My mom could recite lineups from multiple eras and never missed a game. I wanted the Cubs to win for her more than anything.

Rather than brave Wrigleyville’s crowds, I watched the victory with her in the suburbs of Deerfield. After all those seasons of hope and heartbreak, seeing the Cubs win was a cathartic release for both of us.”

Phil DeNapoli

“My mother, Dorothy DeNapoli, was born in 1919 and was a devoted Cubs fan her entire life. I remember my first Cubs game with her; we sat behind the Cubs’ dugout and players greeted her by name. She loved players like Phil Cavarretta, Dee Fondy and Ransom Jackson, and she never missed Ladies’ Day. Her brother had connections to local baseball and the family’s ties to the team ran deep.

Growing up, my mom would iron while watching the games on our small TV, listening to the voices of Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd. She even played catch with me in the alley and owned her own glove. Her loyalty inspired me to play semi-pro baseball, to coach, and to pass the love of the Cubs on to my family.

In 2016 health issues kept her in a recliner, but she watched every game. She would call each morning asking what channel the Cubs were on, and my brother or I would join her to watch. At a family party after the NLCS she said, ‘If it wasn’t for my Cubs, I don’t think I would have made it. They made me want to live one more day. They’re my new doctor.’ The morning after Game 7 she had a simple request: get her a Cubs World Champions shirt.”

Kelly Kaufman

“I’m a lifelong Cubs fan from Chicago. My father, Yale Gordon, was Ernie Banks’ business manager and a close friend for over 30 years. I helped with Ernie’s speeches and events for a time, and my dad even wrote many of those speeches, including the one when the Cubs retired Ernie’s number in 1983. Growing up I spent time in dugouts and alongside players—experiences I didn’t fully appreciate until later.

One cherished memory is when Ernie Banks surprised our town of Deerfield by coaching my brother’s little league game. Word spread quickly and the day became legend. Ernie often told us the Cubs would win the World Series one day; his faith was infectious. The last time I saw him he said, ‘The Cubs will reign supreme in 2015.’ He was only one year off. I wish he could have witnessed 2016—thinking of how thrilled he would have been brings me to tears. This victory felt like ours.”

 

And the stories continue… Thank you, Chicago Cubs. We love you!

Stay tuned for Part Two!