Chicago's Pastime: Baseball

The year was 1870. And, only one team existed in the great city of Chicago: The Chicago White Stockings.

Today, those teams are separated by: the loop, Soldier Field, the Sears Tower, and all the tussle of the “Windy City.”

If you don’t know the names of those two teams you are in fact an alien. With that being said, the two mighty ball clubs of Chi-Town are: the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.

When I was really small (I’m talking like one or two years of age), I was apparently forced to be a White Sox fan. My mom and dad would dress me in black and white threads with the words: “Chicago White Sox” printed on the forefront. I will burn any of those pictures. To this day, my entire immediate family (mom, dad, brother) are all loyal to the Black and White. Myself, however, am extremely, almost obsessively (correction: literally obsessively) loyal to the Red, White and Blue. Not just the American flag, but in fact the Cubbies. Yup, those “Lovable Losers,” “The Boys in Blue,” “The North Siders.” Truth be told, I bleed the color blue.

How did this happen, you ask?

Honestly, I do not exactly know. I guess I’m just that much smarter. Kidding… nothing against Sox fans. As long as you’re not a Cardinals fan. Then, we have problems. But, overall, anyone who is a fan of the American Pastime is a friend of mine.

Getting back to me becoming a Cubs fan, and how my family affected that.

It all started in 1992, when I was roughly three years old (I don’t know the exact date; I would have to dig through my things under my bed to find the ticket). I believe it was the first time I had ever been on the “El” train in Chicago. My dad, uncle, and I all headed to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Obviously, I do not remember who any of the players were or what team we were playing, but I do remember that horrid “El” ride and a faint picture of a 1992’ Friendly Confines. At that time, I was so short my face was at butt-level with all the other folks on the “El” train, maybe that’s what kept the memory in mind, the fact that I was enveloped with asses. Or, maybe it’s the atmosphere and beauty of Wrigley Field; the true reason Cubs fans exist. That ballpark will always be a symbol of what it means to be Cubs fan. It’s a way of life. It makes Chicago the great city it is. Wow, I love the Chicago Cubs.

Sure, it’s been 101 years since the “North Siders” won the World Series, but once that drought is cured, it will be the best win in sports history. Maybe it’ll be this year, maybe it’ll be next year, nobody knows, but we do know it will happen. And, when it does, I’ll be there (or watching on TV, depending on my financial status at the time).

So, why does Chicago have two ball clubs? Maybe due to the large population of the city and the surroundings areas. Or, maybe because it separates two different people: those who yell “CUBS SUCK!” and those who shout “SOX SUCK!”

But, in the end, we have one thing in common, we both cheer for a team that exists in the greatest city on Earth: Chicago!

This article is also featured under the "Gym" section on Failurisms.