Welcome to the most anticipated month of the year for Chicago Cubs baseball fans

In past years, baseball would be long gone in the minds of local Chicagoans. Instead, October would be filled with Bears football tailgates, the beginning of the fall season, and the slow but brutal transition into the legendary Windy City winters. Chicago suburban streets would be lined with a colorful array of leaves while CTA transportation would soon become more and more crowded as city residents slowly give up on battling the shivering weather while walking to and from work.

However, this October is unlike any other. Wrigleyville, the iconic neighborhood where Wrigley Field is located, is livelier than ever. Skyscraper office windows across the city are filled with more W flags than ever before. While flying back to the east coast after the Cubs smoked the San Francisco Giants, O'Hare Airport was filled with a sea of proud fans sporting their finest blue Cubs shirts. Long story short, the Chicago Cubs are truly making history as they clinch the National League Champion Series and now embark in the World Series against the Cleveland Indians and hopefully, make their way to the beloved title. Fans across the country are coming together to cheer on the Cubbies on their journey through the World Series after over a century of patience and waiting. It's now our year. It is finally time to fly the W folks, once and for all.

So what does it really mean to fly the W?

Ever since the 1940s when the tradition began, the Cubs have flown a victory flag at Wrigley Field each time the team secured an at home win. The beginning of the tradition accompanied the construction of the Wrigley Field manual scoreboard in 1937. Rumors were that L train riders returning back home after a day at work would look out the window at the Addison stop to check whether or not the Cubs had won earlier that day. With the Cub's most recent success, social media has been blowing up with the hashtag, Fly the W. It has become an important symbol for fans and goes far beyond simply raising a victory flag. It's a symbol of the many years spent patiently waiting for the Cubs to return to the World Series mound. And this is finally that year.

Because it's been over a hundred years, but hey, anyone can have a bad century.

The Cubs deserve a World Series. Simple as that. It's been 108 years since the Cubs brought a World Series title back to Chicago, and I believe that the team has the ability to end the curse this year. The team is now stronger than ever. Whether it be their powerfully diverse and quite frankly, indestructible, roster of pitchers (Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, and Aroldis Chapman just to name a few) or the fact that two of the leading players (Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo) are MVP candidates, it is undeniable that the Cubs are one of the best teams in the league this year.

Because Cubs fans are eternal optimists and will never give up.

The commodity of Wrigleyville says it all. Cubs fans are always ready for a game of baseball, no matter the time, weather, or year. They have stuck by the Cubs through the many "rebuilding" years the team experienced, and I'd even argue that the fans deserve the World Series title just as much. Chicago Cubs fans are some of the most loyal fans in the world and it is quite possible that they have played a significant role in the team's success this year. Fathers, grandfathers, and even great-grandfathers have lived a lifetime and not seen their beloved Cubs win, yet they never lose hope that "next year will be our year." Last week I was lucky enough to go to Game 2 of the NLDS series in Chicago before heading back to college. Hearing the roars of cheers and chanting of "Go Cubs Go" the moment I stepped off the L train all the way throughout every inning of the game was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I realized quite quickly that once Chapman was pitching, there was no point in getting comfy because once he was 0-2, every single fan was standing on their feet applauding him. I could go on and on... but what other team can you name that has such undoubtedly loyal and supportive fans?

Because they have the best stadium in the league.

Wrigley Field. Not much more is needed to be said about this legendary stadium. The sheer history behind the place along with its breathtaking views from any part of the stadium will cause any first-time baseball fans to fall immediately in love. Adding in the legendary "bleacher bums" and towering rooftops that surround the stadium, all these and more add to the total experience of a game at Wrigley Field. Who thought love at first sight with a wall of ivy was a real thing?

Because they have Joe Maddon.

Joe Maddon truly has played a significant role in the recent triumph for the Chicago Cubs. Ever since 2014 when he joined the Cubs as a manager, the team's success has been on an upward slope. His stellar leadership is unlike any other the team has ever experienced. His so-called "Maddonisms" ignite team spirit and has kept the mood light and fun during quite the stressful month of postseason ball. For example, Maddon has been seen to have the team travel in costumes such as onesies and superhero costumes and notoriously tells his players to "try not to suck." I don't know about you, but I'd die to see Kris Bryant dressed head to toe in footsie pajamas. Maddon pushes his team to "do simple better" and doesn't let them get lost in the glory of making history, which is a great quality to have in a leader. He motivates, pushes, and encourages the players to play to their fullest potentials, yet never forgets to tell them, "Don't let the pressure exceed the pleasure."

Because they have the best walk-up songs.

Whoever doesn't get hyped when they hear Anthony Rizzo's iconic "Intoxicated" walk-up song or Addison Russell's shoutout to fellow Chicagoan, Chance the Rapper's "No Problem", simply aren't true Cubs fans. Each and every player's walk-up song notoriously gets the crowd amped and excited to cheer on the team as they approach the plate. Each game I've been to this year I've without a doubt witnessed fans of all ages busting a move or two when their favorite player's song played throughout Wrigley Field. If you haven't heard this awesome playlist, I suggest you check it on in the next upcoming week... it makes for great background music during game commercial breaks:

Because their stats are through the roof this year.

To wrap it up, the Cubs truly are the best team in the league this year. Each and every player on the team plays a crucial and irreplaceable role both on and off the field. Just to put that in perspective, two of the teams' most pivotal postseason members, John Lester and Javier Baez, were named co-MVPs for the National League Championship Series. This was the first time since 1990 that two players have shared the title. John Lester, along with Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks, is among three of the pitchers on the team with the lowest ERAs in baseball. Additionally, Javier Baez has been on a hot-streak since the Cubs picked him up in 2014. His performance this year has been unlike anything the team has ever seen; with 14 homers, 59 RBIs, and his strikeouts being down by 50% against last years stats, he is simply unstoppable. With Aroldis Chapman being the fastest throwing closer in the world, it is without a doubt that the Cubs have the strength to defeat the Indians, win the World Series, and fly the W once and for all.