OLD TOWN — The Cubs may or may not be returning to the World Series this year, but their fans can return to their victory in last year's fall classic starting Sunday at the Chicago History Museum.
The Cubs have given a series of World Series items to the museum, 1601 N. Clark St., and they go on display in its permanent "Crossroads of America" exhibit Sunday.
The items include:
• A World Series baseball, fouled off by the Cubs' Kris Bryant on a pitch from the Cleveland Indians' Corey Kluber in the third inning of the first game.
• Bleacher seats from Wrigley Field.
• A Ben Zobrist jersey worn in the third game and his hat from the clinching seventh game.
The Cubs have donated the ball and bleachers to the museum, while loaning the Zobrist uniform items for later return.
"We are honored to provide memorabilia from the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship to the Chicago History Museum,” said Kris Jarosik, team archivist. "The museum has been at the forefront of preserving Chicago’s history, which is why we are proud to support their effort to help tell the story of one of the greatest sports achievements in this city’s collective history for current and future Chicagoans."
The museum welcomed the materials.
"The Chicago Cubs' donation is significant in many ways," Senior Curator Libby Mahoney said. "Together, these objects provide Museum visitors with a powerful connection to one of the greatest stories in Chicago sports history."
The Cubs, of course, won their first World Series in 108 years last season, ending what's considered to be the longest championship drought in the history of major U.S. team sports.
The White Sox donated a replica World Series trophy from their 2005 championship in 2007, and that too is on display in the exhibit, along with a foul pole and a pinwheel from the exploding scoreboard in the original Comiskey Park.
The museum is open noon-4 p.m. Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and older students, free for children 12 and younger.
