Watching Cubs win World Series was emotional night for Pete Crow Armstrong, dad Matt
If there's anyone on the current roster who knows all about the ups and downs of being a Cubs fan, it's Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Not that he had much choice. Crow-Armstrong was born and raised in Los Angeles, but was gently guided toward Cubs fandom by his father, Naperville native Matt Armstrong.
"I grew up liking players kind of individually," Crow-Armstrong said. "He finally gave me an ultimatum, 'If you want to be a Cubs fan, this is the year to do it or I'm not going to let you be a Cubs fan once they're good.'
"That was probably 2010, 11, 12 around that area and I finally jumped on the bandwagon. He knew (what was ahead)."
Crow-Armstrong wasn't expecting Nov. 2, 2016 to be such an emotional experience for his dad. They got to watch the Cubs break the 108-year championship drought together.
"I actually had an opportunity to go to Cleveland for Games 6 and 7 and I'm so glad I didn't go because I wouldn't trade the moment I had with Pete for being there," Matt Armstrong said.
Mom (Ashley Crow) was out of town that night, so it was just Matt and Pete at the house. The epic extra-inning Game 7 was emotionally draining even for casual fans.
"I lost my dad like 23 years ago, my grandmother was a huge Cubs fan," Armstrong said. "So you're not just watching the game alone, you're watching it with ghosts. So getting to hug my kid and bawl like a baby was special."
Pete wasn't feeling the 108 years of history when the Cubs finally won, but he understood.
"The reason he probably stayed home is he had missed out on doing anything like that with his father," Crow-Armstrong said. "I think that's was probably what made it the most special for him was being able to remember his dad.
"From what I've seen, that's kind of what all Cubs fans possess is this genuine love for the ballclub and I think it was very special to see him in that state of being."
Armstrong attended dozens of Cubs games at Wrigley Field growing up. At the top of his list is the May 1984 game when the Cubs and Reds brawled after an overturned home run call.
"I'll never forget that, Don Zimmer losing his mind and Mario Soto getting a beer thrown on him after he's been ejected and he's going in the dugout," Armstrong said. "That was wild. I think I was 10 or something like that. That was the most exciting thing imaginable. It was amazing.
"Not that I'm advocating brawling. I don't ever want to see my kid in one, but that was pretty memorable. There's a bunch, though. I was there (in 2000) when Glenallen Hill hit that ridiculous home run that landed on the roof across the street. I'll never forget that sound."
Matt and Pete saw the Cubs a few times at Dodger Stadium, but never made it to Chicago for a game together. Crow-Armstrong's first trip to Wrigley Field was for the Under Armour All-American Game in 2019. He went to a few games last year while playing in South Bend.
Since being promoted to the Cubs on Sept. 11, Crow-Armstrong has found himself in the middle of some playoff contention drama. Even if they miss out on the postseason, this season barely registers on the Cubs' all-time list of soul-crushing defeats.
But with this team, you never really know what might be in store.
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