The Chicago Cubs are partying like its 1908, after triumphing over the Cleveland Indians in a 10-inning game seven battle on Nov. 2.
Backed by a city electric with hope and nerves, the Cubs certainly felt the weight of the world as they began the 2016 World Series on Oct. 25.
A tough start for the Cubs, the Indians grasped a momentous victory of six to zero in game one, with the Cubs turning the tide with a five–to-one win in game two.
Fresh off a win to tie the series up one-to-one, the Cubs arrived home to Wrigley Field and an ultimate fan base. Perhaps the deafening pressure got to the Cubs, as they fell behind in the count, losing the next two games (zero-to-one and two-to-seven, respectively).
Entering game five, the Cubs found themselves trailing behind in the series one to three. The odds certainly weren't in the Cubs favor, with only five teams in World Series' history clawing back from a one-to-three deficit to win it all. They held on though, scraping by the Indians with a final three-to-two score.
Game six took the teams back to Cleveland, and the Cubs delivered, with a nine-to-three victory.
And Nov. 2 brought what all baseball fans live for — the World Series game seven.
Padded with a six-to-three lead headed into the eighth inning, Cubs fans started to taste it — a victory beyond imagination. But just as unreal as a Cubs' victory, the Indians managed to tie it up in the bottom of the eighth, delivering a double and two-run home run.
A game seven already fosters an unrivaled tension, but a game seven with a tied score heading into the ninth inning embodies the splendor of the game. Both teams held the other to six runs in the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
With the two teams both overdue for a World Series championship (the Indians haven't won since 1948), it was only fitting that rain halted play before the tenth. What's 17 more minutes for one team that's waited 108 years and another that's waited 68?
But as it turned out, the rain delay may have been a blessing in disguise for the Cubs. Refocused and ready, the Cubs charged into the top of the tenth scoring two runs for an eight-to-six lead. But Cleveland wasn't ready to give up the fight, scoring in the bottom of the tenth.
Just one out away from writing a new chapter in baseball history, the Cubs were ready to take on their new identities as winners. Third-baseman Kris Bryant flashed a smile as he threw the ball to first base for the final out.