Dear Chicago Baseball,
I love the Windy City. Whether it be the atmosphere colliding with the good vibes or the fact that you're surrounded by so many people off living their own adventure. Either way, it just excites me. It all makes me proud to be another Chicago suburb kid.
But within the city digs something deeper and who knew witnessing someone swing a bat at a ball flying towards him faster than my car will ever go can be so interesting?
With the power of baseball, however, brings forth competition.
And even better: rivalry. If any foreigner takes one look at Chicago, they'll notice that it's quite divided. Half are taking the trip to Cellular Field dressed in black and white with an article of clothing (the sock) proudly displayed on their jersey and the other is parading to Wrigley Field, sporting red and blue with a baby bear widely known to this city.
And that's what makes it unique. That's what keeps the land poppin'
You see, I don't remember much about 2005, seeing that I was merely eight, but I remember the World Series. And I remember the games leading up to that. Sitting on the end of the couch covering my eyes with my fingers crossed, looking away from the TV hoping to hear the crack of a bat whenever my team was swinging. It was hard, of course. Being so young I had sometimes fallen asleep since games were starting so much later, and I had always awoke asking my mom how the game ended up. Thankfully, luck was on our side that year. Nothing was as surreal as watching them win it all, tackling each other and spraying expensive bottles of who knows what everywhere.
Thinking the White Sox had done it.
And 2015 hit us and the baseball regular season had come and gone in a snap. For these last few years, Chicago barely finished the season with a sliver of a chance to be in the playoffs. But there was one team with a farm team playing the cards well and they had come in as an underdog with a bite that would lead them much farther than they have in many years. Their team consisted of young players who were ready to play.
The Chicago Cubs had a season worth writing about. And I, for one, didn't expect myself to even be mentioning them but here I am.
I'll be honest with you and say that I wasn't a fan of the Cubs making it so far. They had a season like none other and I wasn't having it for quite some time. Go ahead and throw all the shade at me now but I just wasn't. I actually was the one who would kid around with my friends and pretend to cheer on the Cardinals for the first set of games a few weeks ago. Why, you may ask?
As much as I have Chicagoan vibe in my veins, I'm also bleeding something more distinct.
I'm a Southsider.
It was in my blood since the day I was born; my parents both growing up on the South Side and me visiting plenty of games through my Grandpa’s and family-in-general's love for it.
It’s just where I was born and raised, and as much as my mind was telling me that I should be rooting for Chicago altogether, I was indifferent.
Not because I had an extreme dislike for the Cubs or anything; I just didn’t find myself with a strong urge for caring at that point this season. This whole thing sort of made sense when I was asked numerous times, “Shouldn’t you be supporting Chicago?,” as the Cubs made their playoff debut.
I wanted to say I should have been rooting for them but I wasn’t. You can’t just jump the bandwagon because another team is in the playoffs in the same state that you live in. Yes, both the White Sox and Cubs lie in the same state, but they’re different territories my friend. They bring forth different moments and memories.
Some people might be able to jump the gun and root for the Cubs but I couldn’t. And as much as I was asked and surrounded by people who did it, it just wasn’t to my liking.
As I watched them lose the last game against the Mets though, it all kinda hit me.
From rooting for a team since day one to rooting against a team, Chicago baseball is more than just another silly sport. For many it’s boring to watch on the television, but for others it’s nerve
wrenching and full of surprises with every curveball in store. And it gets even more surreal when you have a hot dog and peanuts in hand sitting in the stands experiencing it live in front of your pupils, especially for those generations waiting for a World Series run.
You see, Chicago baseball, you make me feel more than just passion for something. Whatever team fans root for, you, Chicago baseball, make us feel alive. And that’s all we’ve ever wanted from you in this city.
No matter who I cheer for, thank you for bringing hope and electricity back to the city.
