CHICAGO — Jim Mowery was there when the Cubs fell to the Tigers in the 1945 World Series.
Now, 71 years later, the Cubs are preparing for Game 7 of the World Series, and Jim will be there again, cheering.
Jim's family launched a GoFundMe to raise money to buy him a ticket and to pay for Jim's travel and Airbnb stay in Cleveland, where Game 7 starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The campaign has raised more than $3,500 in just 16 hours, and Jim's family was able to get him and his 75-year-old brother tickets to the game. The family hopes they can meet their $5,000 goal to cover the rest of the brothers' trip.
"I don't think there's anybody that will be able to say that they were at both Game 7 in 1945 and Game 7 this time," said Andy Mowery, Jim's son and the creator of the GoFundMe campaign.
Jim was able to see Game 3 of the World Series at Wrigley Field along with his brother, David, when a grandson donated tickets to him.
After the Cubs made a comeback and won Game 6 on Tuesday night, Andy told Jim he had to get to Game 7. Jim was skeptical, saying he was unsure how the family could afford it, but Andy said he'd take care of it.
Andy stayed up all night creating the GoFundMe and sharing it, hoping his dad and another family member could get to the game. They were able to get Jim a flight to Cleveland, and then they secured tickets to the baseball game and are working on flying David out.
Once Game 7 kicks off, Jim will no longer be able to say he's one of the few to go to the last Cubs World Series games. He'll be "passing the baton," Andy said.
"... For any of the fans that are there, they'll now be able to say they were at the last Cubs World Series game," Andy said. "And no matter, that's at least going to be another year away, if not another 71 years."
And while Jim will be losing a coveted status, he knows how important a World Series game can be to a fan: He attended Cubs World Series games in 1938 and 1945 and was inspired to become a baseball player. He played in the minor leagues and, for a brief period, played in the majors for the St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles), Andy said. He's coached little league and softball teams.
And this year's Cubs team is particularly special for fans, Andy said, noting their players are "humble" and "play together as a team."
"Part of what really makes him smile is the fact that this is a very special team that has inspired many young people to look at enjoyment of the game," Andy said. "You're seeing a rebirth of love for the game of baseball. That's what it's all about."
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