Wrigleyville crowd soaks up World Series atmosphere
Hours before the first World Series game at Wrigley Field in nearly three-quarters of a century, Wrigleyville swarmed with Cubs fans eager to partake in an event their parents and grandparents had waited in vain to see.
The scene played out like the ultimate family reunion, uniting Cubs fans and their families across the country.
Although there were carnival elements in the crowd around the perimeter of the park, including a dog wearing Harry Caray glasses and a couple dressed in bear suits, most of the fans confined themselves to wearing traditional uniforms, many bearing the names and numbers of Cubs legends such Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Ryne Sandberg.
Rob Wodek of Grayslake posed for pictures on Waveland Avenue while carrying an oversized photograph of Santo on a stick.
"I actually have been watching a lot of the playoff games with my father and my grandfather (Ken Wodek), who was alive for the last World Series they were in 71 years ago," he said. "He had a blast going to the games. He used to pay like a nickel to go in the bleachers. And now we're paying hundreds and thousands of dollars."
Scott Richmond of South Elgin, donned a Banks replica jersey and waited on Waveland Avenue about three hours before game time with his aunt Heidi Kapovich of Downers Grove, milling about in the crowd.
"This is a big deal for all of us," Richmond said. "I'm a huge Cub collector. I actually had to give up a Jake Arrieta game-used bat to another collector for my ticket."
The bat, which was signed, was used by Arrieta last season.
"I never actually thought in my lifetime I was going to see this because we had some pretty bad years there for a while," said Kapovich, who was born in 1965. "Once the Ricketts family bought the Cubs, it was like a gift. It was like a gift to the city. It was a gift to Cubs fans. I just wish my dad (Karl Swartz) was here to see it.'"
Richmond, who was born in 1981, also has memories of heartbreak.
"2003 was the heartbreaker for me," he said, although he doesn't blame infamous fan Steve Bartman, directing his wrath about Game 6 of the NLCS toward the pitching staff, Dusty Baker and Alex Gonzalez.
There was a huge line beside Murphy's Bleachers, and it was easy to see why. As fan Cindy Muller, who hails from Rockford but now lives in Denver, said, "There is no cover to get in here. That's why Murphy's rocks."
Jennifer Fuson, a former Arlington Heights resident and Buffalo Grove High School graduate who traveled from her home in Baltimore, stood outside Murphy's bleachers in an L-shaped line that stretched almost to Addison Street, carrying a bag stuffed with such paraphernalia as a sweatshirt, socks, jacket, cellphone, peanuts, and blue and white "W" flag.
She said she was at the ballpark last year when the Cubs were swept by the New York Mets.
"The feeling just went out, like you were deflated. I feel different this year," she said.
Across from Murphy's, fans congregated around the Fox television crew.
"I couldn't afford those tickets, but I can afford to get down here," Linda Fagin of Aurora said.
She said the sole purpose of being there was to represent her 87-year-mother, die-hard Cubs fan and Naperville resident Jean Jungels.
"When I called my mom today and I told her where I was, and then she started crying," Fagin said. "I said, 'Mom, don't cry.' And she said, 'But I really wish I was there with you.' I said, 'You are with me in spirit.'"
Many of the fans sheathed themselves in Cubs gear from head to toe, including the Cubs bow in Mary Andrews' hair and apparel she kept hidden "because it's a little personal."
At her home, "I have everything is Cubs," the Naperville woman said. "My whole house is Cubs."
Andrews and her daughter, Dianne Kremidas, also of Naperville, bought season tickets for the first time this year. Clutching her tickets, Andrews said, "It's a thrill of a lifetime to hold these. I have waited all my life for this."
She saw Banks' 500th home run and Milt Pappas' no-hitter. The World Series appearance is a dream come true.
"I knew eventually it would happen. I was just praying it would happen before I die. This has been on my bucket list," Andrews said. "Win or lose, all I wanted was to see a World Series in Wrigley Field. If they lose, they gave us a great year, and I love them no matter what."
Jason Gilley also wore his Cubs allegiance - painted on his face and bare torso.
Gilley, a Round Lake High School graduate, said he hitchhiked all the way from Orlando, Florida, to save money for food, souvenirs and a program for his father-in-law.
"I stayed from truck stop to truck stop. I tried to avoid walking out on highways," he said. "There's a couple times where you're left alone in a truck stop at 2 a.m., going, 'Oh, crap, am I going to be stuck here?' I had a Cubs jersey and a sign that said 'Wrigley or Bust.' There were so many people cheering for the Cubs out there that aren't even Cubs fans, they all looked out for me."
Gilley isn't even going to stay in a hotel. "I'm walking around the streets until the parade," he said "That's all I'm doing."
While some fans patiently stood in queues leading to storied watering holes, others, including Crystal Lake resident Greg Goze, rushed to the Wrigley Field Premium Tickets kiosk when last-minute seats went on sale.
After some spirited discussion revolving around how they were going to shell out $1,500 each, Goze and his three mates lucked out, grabbing seats in the 500 level on the third-base side.
Asked if they were worth it, he said, "We'll see."
Saying he has bought tickets at the kiosk before, Goze added, "We pay considerably less being here rather than online."
Some arrived to soak up the block-party atmosphere. Mike Viscito of Naperville and his wife, Laura, arrived with a stroller and mingled among the crowd at Clark and Addison with Kaitlyn, 3, and Gavin, 5.
They could have watched it on television, but "it's not the same," Mike Viscito said. "We have been in front of the TV all week. We were going to come down here and do it for real."
"We're just down here for the heck of it. It's been 70 years since the last home game for the World Series. Who knows how many years it will be before it happens again?"
After the game, Mundelein resident Jonathan Schmitz, a senior at DePaul University who watched at a friend's place in Wrigleyville, said, "I really am disappointed in Javi Baez at the end of the game swinging on that high fastball. But we got a Game 4 coming up. I'm really excited."
Naperville resident Ann Laboe attended the game with a friend who had season tickets. Although the outcome was disappointing, the experience "was fabulous."
"It was electric when we first got in there," Laboe said. "My first baseball game ever was in Wrigley Field in 1974. It was in April. It was a Montreal Expos game. It was a doubleheader. And it was about 30 degrees."