In 2004, when the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series for the first time in 86 years, many Cardinals supporters stayed at Busch Stadium to applaud the Red Sox. It was noted by observers as one of the classiest displays of fan appreciation ever, a tip of the hat by the locals who know baseball history so well and respect the game so much.
With that in mind, I have asked several Cards fans this fall whether they feel the same way about the Chicago Cubs, who are trying to notch their first World Series title since 1908. The unanimous answer is no. Chicago’s drought may be a decade longer than Boston’s was, but St. Louis’ love for the game is only exceeded by its hatred of the Cubs.
I’m not a baseball fan, so it doesn’t matter to me who wins the Series, but I have two friends who were truly upset that the Cubs beat the Indians to tie it up at a game apiece last night. I asked if they ever thought they’d be rooting for Cleveland, and both said the only other time they’d done it was when they watched the movie “Major League.”