The rivalry.

It seems like just yesterday when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Well, if yesterday were 37,065 days ago that would be the truth. Sorry to say for Cub fans, but it has been a long time since they hoisted the winning pitcher in the air and walked off the field as champions.

Now in all fairness the Cubs have come close---it happened nearly 55 years ago when they last played in the fall classic. It’s not as if these two times were the only apparences the team has made, they have been there a total of 9 times, but unfortunately they lost 8 of them. Oh well. (Something, however, has stuck from the 1908 season--- the song, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” made its debut.)

To be fair I have to let you know I am a Cardinal fan; I am not sure if I can hold back my bias, but will give it my best shot. Consider Wrigley field; there is little doubt this ballpark has seen its run of some of the best ballplayers the National League has ever seen. Sure, they may have played for other teams, but they did play in the “Friendly confines.”

Up until August 9, 1988, Wrigley Field had never played host to a night game; it was supposed to have taken place on 8/8/88---however it was rained out. Maybe that should have been a sign of things to come. Probably the most memorable World Series near miss happened 95 years to the day when a fan in the stands by the name of Steve Bartman “interfered” with a fly ball. He was literally banished from Chicago. Now, to be fair, I believe anyone would have done what he did---and more important, the Cubs ended up making errors, misjudged plays and other flub ups that evening causing them to lose the game. They had a chance the next evening, but lost the final game---ending any hopes of making it to the World Series that year.

Probably the funniest note of this incident was when Governor Rod Blagojevich suggested Bartman join a witness protection program; funny how the tables have turned on former-Governor Blagojevich as his trial approaches for trying to sell Senator Obama’s seat.

The photo above was taken at Wrigley Field when the Cardinals played the Cubs a couple of seasons ago---the Cubs were heading into post season and the Cardinals were not. But as confident as the Cubs were at that point in time, the Cardinals wanted them to know---don’t even think we are going to roll over. As you might guess, once the Cubs went into post season, their days were numbered.

In 2010, the campaign for the Cubs was all about starting over in year 1; it’s because they have new ownership, they figured they could put the past 102 years behind them. Unfortunately it looks like year 1 is going to be a bust---the Cardinals are moving ahead quickly and the Cubs, well there’s always next year.

Thanks for stopping by.