How Zobrist joining Cubs turned some Cards fans blue
EUREKA, Ill. - Ben Zobrist's hometown is split about evenly among fans of the Chicago Cubs and fans of the St. Louis Cardinals.
So when Zobrist signed a four-year contract with the Cubs in December, some fans were happy and the others just had to deal with it.
Even Zobrist has had to do some adjusting in his life.
"I grew up a Cardinal fan," he said. "When I got drafted into professional baseball, I kind of left that behind. I was with the Astros first. I was with the Rays. So I feel I've kind of moved along with that. But I still have family that are both Cub and Cardinal fans back home.
"So the Cub fans were dancing in the street, and the Cardinals fans were sulking for about a week. They've gotten over it. They realize where their allegiance has to lie now. So it's exciting for everybody to be Cub fans down there."
Eureka is close to Peoria, long a battleground area for red and blue. There was one silver lining for Cardinals fans with Zobrist signing with the hated Cubs.
"Cardinal fans are like, 'We're glad he's closer,'" said Tom Zobrist, Ben's father. "I know one guy in particular, he's converted to being a Cub fan from being a Cardinal fan. Even in families, they're not all the same in who they root for. It's pretty close to being split even."
The two-hour drive from Eureka to Chicago should help Tom and his wife, Cindi, see their son play in person more often. Ben has played for Tampa Bay, Oakland and Kansas City. When he was traded from the A's to the Royals last July, that brought him closer to home, and the Zobrists were able to enjoy the Royals' run to the world championship firsthand as much as they could.
"My wife and I went to all the World Series games," said Tom Zobrist, senior pastor of Liberty Bible Church. "This year we're looking to go to a lot more.
"Maybe I can buzz up in the evening and catch that game and drive home at night. I can do that because it's not that far away. This will be a new dynamic this year with him being with the Cubs."
Being in Kansas City last year for the World Series also was a special experience for the Zobrists, who have five children. When their family was young, they lived in Kansas City when the Royals were winning the 1985 world championship.
"To be there last year when they won it again and for (Ben) to be on the team, a couple of times my wife and I just sat there thinking, 'Can you believe this? We were here 30 years ago with our little kids, Ben was one of them. Now we're here and he's playing for the Royals in the World Series,'" Tom Zobrist said. "It was very surreal."