#Cubs in 2017: How Do You Approach Baseball Season When Your Bucket List Is Complete?

It’s a question a lot of Cubs fans may have this year – at least those of a certain age.  For younger fans, especially those who have not been schooled in Cubs’ history by their fathers and mothers, while 108 years is a long time, they weren’t there for all that much of it.  Heck, before 2015, the Royals hadn’t won since 1985 (and weren’t in the playoffs until 2014).  The Mets haven’t won since 1986 (which is fine by me), the Tigers since ’84, the Orioles since ’83, and the Pirates since ’79.¹  For fans under 35, there wasn’t that much difference the Cubs’ drought and the drought these teams have.

But for fans of a certain age, there was a difference.  When you’ve gone 60+ years without a World Series, winning is a big deal.²  When there was 1969 (and 1973), 1977 (and 1978), 1984, 1989, 2003³, and 2007-08, you figure that there was always going to be something.  And for 60+ years, there was.  But now, it’s different.  Because, while for a minute, in the bottom of the eighth inning, it seemed like there was going to be something again, all of a sudden⁴, there wasn’t.  All of a sudden, it happened.  It really did happen. 

And now, all of a sudden, winter is over.  Spring training started a month and half ago.  The regular season starts tomorrow.  It seems like only yesterday KB was fielding the ball and throwing it to Riz.  I was still celebrating, and now I find 2017 begins tomorrow night.

For a lot of fans, it will be all about this year – and winning again.  As Ernie might say, “Let’s Win Two.”  I certainly hope that happens.  Two would be nice – just like it was nice 108 years ago.  But two in a row wasn’t on my bucket list.  In fact, before last November, I’m not sure that even one was still on my realistic bucket list.  But it happened, and now my bucket list is completed.  So what do I do now?

Well, I will go to games, just like I always did.  And I will go just like I always did, not because the Cubs might win the pennant this season.  I will go because the Cubs might win the game the day I go.  Except now, it will be a little better.  Because if my hopes for the season get up a little, like they have in the past (see the list above), and if things don’t turn out like I want them to (see the list above again), I will always have Zobrist’s double, Miggie’s single, and Bryant-to-Rizzo for the final out.  And going to the game, while knowing that – and remembering that, will be better than ever.
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¹ Plus the teams organized 45+ years ago that have never won it: the Rangers, Padres, and Brewers.
² When I was a junior in high school (1964-65), my English teacher asked me why I was a Cubs fan.  They never win.  And at the point, it had only been 19 or 20 years since the Cubs had won the pennant in 1945; i.e., really not that long.  (I responded, which shows you where I was, even then, that the Cubs had a winning record in 1963; i.e., their record was 82-80.  {1963 was the only year between 1946 and 1967 that the Cubs won more games than they lost.})
³ 1998 doesn’t count because there was never any expectation that year.  Just getting to the playoffs was all that was ever going to happen.
⁴ Thanks, in part, to a sudden rainstorm.  I also think it was probably a good thing that the rain delay only lasted 17 minutes.  If it had been longer, there might have been too much time for thinking.

Comments

[The guy sitting next to you]

Great post but I would personally add (and 2004) after 2003 and you maybe forgot the Astros in footnote one but that might have been intentional.

[Pat Allen]

Both good points.