MIDWAY — With hundreds waiting for their arrival, members of the Jackie Robinson West Little League team touched down at Midway Airport on Monday.
The United States champions were greeted by cheering fans holding signs, balloons and goodie bags, while others lined the windows at the Midway terminal gate to catch a glimpse of the plane carrying the youngsters arriving.
The players looked stunned as they walked through the terminal. Police cleared a pathway as travelers shouted congratulations and held their hands out for high-fives. A live band played "Celebration" at the baggage claim as the kids made their way through the crowds.
JRW player Darion Radcliff smiled when asked what he thought of the reception.
"I freaked out," Radcliff said.
Radcliff said the cheering fans and news cameras were fun but said "being on the field" playing baseball was his favorite part of the trip to Williamsport, Pa. Still, Radcliff said seeing the city's reaction to his team meant a lot.
"It's a dream come true," he said.
JRW player Brandon Green's parents, Chris and Venisa, caught an earlier flight home and waited with the crowd for their son to arrive.
Chris Green said he is still amazed at the sight of his son signing autographs or people who told him they came from as far as California to see Jackie Robinson West play for the title on Sunday. Green said he thinks the story has allowed Chicagoans to focus on something other violence on the city's South Side.
And Green said he hopes the team's success will steer more of the city's children toward playing baseball.
"I just hope this brings more kids to play baseball. I'm a big baseball fan. I've been coaching for a long time, and the amount of kids playing baseball, to me, it's at an all-time low," Green said.
Venisa Green agreed, saying she thinks baseball is a perfect way to prevent violence.
"If the mayor could invest in organized sports, we can duplicate and we can replicate this success all across the city of Chicago as a violence prevention strategy," she said. "If you invest in these kids, you will produce results."
After leaving the airport, the team met with Mayor Rahm Emanuel at Jackie Robinson Park on the Far South Side, where hundreds more fans greeted them.
Ed Howard, the team's shortstop, said he never expected for his city to react like it has.
"It's crazy. I didn't think it was going to be this big," Howard said. "I thought I was just playing baseball, come back home, and for all the people to be supportive, I'm grateful. Thank you."
The Morgan Park-based club beat Las Vegas on Saturday to earn Chicago's second-ever Little League World Series U.S. championship. Jackie Robinson West lost to South Korea in Sunday's world championship game in Williamsport, Pa.
A parade and rally will take place Wednesday to honor the champs.
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