Springfield, Illinois has always loved baseball. After all, it is the American pastime. In Houston, most are Astros fans. In Miami, most are Marlins fans. However, the citizens of Springfield do not have a professional baseball team, so they are forced to choose between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.
Even the 1989 movie “Back to the Future II” believes in Chicago this year. In the movie, Marty McFly travels into the “future” to this current year, 2015. The background of the scene in which he arrives in the future shows a baseball stadium with the headline, Cubs win the World Series. The Cubs are closer to this prediction now than ever before.
The fans’ adage “Maybe next year” may actually be coming true. This year, the Cubs have gone further than they have in years. The Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908. They have not made it to the playoffs since 2008 and they have not made it to a World Series game since 1945. The Cubs placed third in the National League Central Division this year, behind the Pittsburgh Pirates at second and the Cardinals at number one. They fought valiantly in a sudden-death Wild Card game against the Pirates and won to earn a spot playing against the Cardinals. In this instrumental series against the Cardinals last week, the Cubs advanced, winning the first, third, and fourth games in a best-of-five series.
But what has led to the Cubs’ success? SHG Sophomore Steven Bentley believes their success stems from first baseman Anthony Rizzo. “I believe the most influential person for their success is Anthony Rizzo because of the good season he has had.” SHG Junior Colleen O’Brien credits second baseman Starlin Castro. “Although he started off rough, [Castro] pulled everything together for the end of the season.”
It has been a successful season for Chicago and for Cubs fans everywhere. Bentley says, “I do believe the prediction in “Back to the Future II” will come true.” All fans can do is hope.
Update: The Cubs were eliminated in a 4-game sweep against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Campus Crier Online 