WRIGLEY FIELD — The Cubs and Indians, who have a combined 176 years of championship futility, will meet in a winner-take-all World Series Game 7 on Wednesday.
The Cubs, who trailed 3-1 in the series, forced a Game 7 after winning Game 5 3-2 on Sunday at Wrigley Field and Tuesday's Game 6 9-3 in Cleveland.
Someone set off a firecracker after #Cubswin. https://t.co/0Lpel1XwpQ #flythew #worldseries pic.twitter.com/iIMH0MMbdY
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) November 2, 2016
Game 7 is Wednesday at 7:08 p.m. Chicago time in Cleveland. The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908; Cleveland's last title came in 1948.
Police escort for No. 22 Clark bus to get throw crowd at Clark and Addison. https://t.co/0Lpel1XwpQ #cubs #gocubsgo #flythew #worldseries pic.twitter.com/CLwWXAUUWJ
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) November 2, 2016
No team has rallied from a 3-1 World Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.
After the win, hundreds of fans in Wrigleyville rushed to the marquee in front of Wrigley Field.
#Cubs fans flocking to #WrigleyField marquee to celebrate, blocking traffic. https://t.co/0Lpel1XwpQ #flythew #gocubs pic.twitter.com/zzxZqJxQMS
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) November 2, 2016
The Cubs forced a Game 7 in their last trip to the World Series, in 1945, but lost to the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field.
Cubs fans very happy on Clark Street tonight. After the most recent homer: pic.twitter.com/V2KcKgo7QR
— Joe Ward (@JayDubWard) November 2, 2016
RELATED: Fans Celebrate Cubs' Game 5 World Series Win (PHOTOS)
"I think we all need to pray," William Bullard said as he watched the game outside Moe's Cantina.
He traded stats with a Town Hall police officer and voiced his full support for manager Joe Maddon.
Clark and Addison effectively closed due to pedestrians near Marquee. Police trying to get traffic off of Clark. pic.twitter.com/rymnNznrgZ
— Joe Ward (@JayDubWard) November 2, 2016
"I think the coach is going to get them into the locker room and say, 'This is it: Do you want to win it for the city?" Bullard said. "And the Cubs are going to do it for their city. They don't play just for themselves."
As a Braves fan hailing from Atlanta, Bullard has seen a team triumph over the Indians in the World Series before. He knows it can happen.
"It is the Cubs' time," he said. "So yes, they're going to do it."
Feeling good in Wrigleyville tonight. pic.twitter.com/P4zZus6zXh
— Joe Ward (@JayDubWard) November 2, 2016
After winning only one of the first four World Series games against Cleveland, the Cubs eked out a victory in the season's final home game on Sunday. The 3-2 victory rejuvenated fans as the first World Series win at Wrigley Field since Game 6 of the 1945 World Series.
Tuesday's triumph in Cleveland was a blowout from the start as the Cubs scored three first-inning runs and never looked back.
RELATED: Protests Busted In Front Of Wrigley Field At Start Of World Series Game 5
Wrigleyville bars had sizable crowds for the away game Tuesday, but Clark Street and the area around Wrigley Field were more subdued than some away game nights.
Fewer uniformed police officers were in the neighborhood, as well — on par with weekday away games last week.
Larger crowds are expected for Game 7, one bar manager said.
This about sums it up #Cubs #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/aAV7qiQ4fG
— Joe Ward (@JayDubWard) November 2, 2016
Construction crews working on the Addison & Clark development on Clark Street were peering over the work fence and watching the TVs at the bars across the street.
The crews had been off for about a half hour but were staying after to take in the game and the atmosphere. It's a different work environment than many of them have ever experienced, they said.
Construction crews take in the Wrigleyville scene Tuesday night. [DNAinfo/Joe Ward]
"I've been in Iowa for eight months before this," said Joe Chopp. "Absolutely [it's different]. It's wild."
The men were mostly from the South Side and were White Sox fans, which has provided a unique perspective while working in the heart of Cubs territory.
"They can't even enjoy the game," said Chopp, of south suburban Matteson. "It's funny. Everyone has their hands over their face, even in the first inning."
Over the three weekend games at Wrigley Field, tens of thousands of people flooded Wrigleyville, with three bars getting cited Friday for overcrowding.
The Chicago Police Department, expecting capacity crowds at Wrigley Field, poured in with 1,000 officers from varying city, state and federal agencies. Long lines of officers directed pedestrian traffic, and Sunday's win led to long chains of high-fives as fans offered hands to officers as they passed by.
Friday's huge crowds and block-long bar lines led some taverns to institute covers after planning not to. Others, faced with a lack of buyers for $250 cover packages and $3,000 tables, dropped prices Saturday and Sunday.
For the final two games, some bars were still deciding how large crowds will be during weekday away games. Others like Gman Tavern and Trace Bar will continue to not charge a cover.
Unlike Progressive Field in Cleveland, Wrigley Field didn't host a watch party Tuesday and won't Wednesday either.
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by an entity controlled by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
