A Look Back – Not an Ordinary Day

The following is a minor adaptation of a post that was originally published as a guest post in November 2016 by Phares O’Daffer on Sara O’Daffer Marberry’s “The View from Here” blog. 

Phares O’Daffer, Cubs fan since 1941.

As I woke up on November 3, 2016, and shook myself out of my pretty much dazed condition, it began to dawn on me that this was not a normal day.

For 75 years as a Cubs fan, I have awakened on a certain day in late October or early November, sleepily reciting the time-worn phrase, “Oh well, wait ’till next year.”

But on November 3, 2016, all I could say, over and over, was “THE CUBS HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES. THEY ARE THE WORLD CHAMPS! “

Gone was any thought of a Billy Goat, a Black Cat, a Bartman, a Veiled Curse, or any other such outside manifestation.

It was a WIN, pure and simple, and it had come all from inside the Cubs organization of managers, players, and fans.

“But how did it happen?,” a die-hard Cubs fan like me is bound to contemplate.  And the answer is literally amazing.

It came from an owner who had the foresight and guts to not want to accept mediocrity any longer.

It came from a general manager and business manager who relentlessly pursued a vision and a plan—letting nothing get in their way.

It came from a creative team manager, who knew how to work with a team of young men and make high-level baseball fun—and who thrived on doing things differently and trusting in his players.

It came from a lot of people in farm team leadership who knew how to bring young players along—developing their skills and leadership.

It came from a lot of things you can hardly believe, like hiring a premier, highly paid pitcher from Boston who couldn’t throw a pick-off ball to first base, and who demanded to have his own personal catcher.

But a guy who ultimately pitched so darn well that he didn’t need a pick-off play, and whose catcher, a 39-year old journeyman they called Grandpa Rossy, became a clubhouse leader and a darling of all the fans. And who also seemed to surprise everyone by hitting home runs, even in the 7th World Series game when the team needed a pick-up the most.

It came from a bread and butter player from Eureka, Illinois, who transferred from the Kansas City Royals, and had a miracle bat about all year.  He didn’t care where they played him; he just wanted his team to win.  And he banged out the double in World Series game 7 that won the game for his team.

It came from a guy who was headed for the Baltimore Orioles from free agency, but who woke up one morning saying, “I want to play for the Cubs.” He just appeared at the Cubs workout and all year played impeccable center field and was the Cubs’ greatest lead-off batter in years.

It came from a couple of MVP candidates, a first and third baseman, who were skilled and mature way beyond their years, inspired their teammates, and who had this uncanny ability to somehow get a hit when you really needed it.

It came from a bunch of young kids, still green behind the ears who became a great shortstop, a great second baseman, and a great catcher.  Sure, they hadn’t quite learned to handle curve balls perfectly, but they had several hits and some home runs at the right times and were nearly perfect at everything else.

And it came, the most unlikely scenario, from a player who destroyed his knee on the second day of the season, condensed an 8-month rebuilding session into 6 months, and miraculously became available to be a designated hitter in the World Series, getting 4 hits and a couple of walks.

And it also came, unlikely as it was, from an outfielder who was a defensive whiz, who hit .296 with the St. Louis Cardinals the previous year, but who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn in 2016 and had gone 0-3 in game 7.

But who, in the ebbing stages of World Series Game 7 when it looked like the Cubs had thrown momentum to the wolves, disregarded his horrific batting, and personally called a team meeting during a short rain delay. He somehow moved them to get back to their basics, to remember their goals and what had made them successful, and inspired them go out and score two runs in the 10th to win the game.

Most importantly, it came from a bunch of selfless players who liked each other, had each other’s backs, and who played all year with grit and a never-give-up attitude.  And who, by all reports, were also pretty good guys.

And finally, it came from Cubs fans of all kinds, like the lifelong fan shown above, who followed the Cubs, win or lose, and never ever, ever, ever gave up on them.

It was a tremendous ride and I sure learned what it means to play with heart and give it your all.

Yes, it was not a Normal Day—for sure not a Normal Year. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

The Cubs won the World Series!

P.S.  Now (2019), let’s do it again!