Born and raised in Southern Illinois, I’ve had my citizenship in Cardinal Nation for more than 21 years now.
I have many fond memories with my Redbirds, from learning how to “charge” at my very first game, to cheering for them through nearly every postseason of late. I’ve grown to love the Cardinals culture, and I’ve developed great respect for the way the club develops its top players through its farm system.
But, for the rest of this postseason, I’m cheering for those despised Chicago Cubs.
Let’s be clear: I supported the Cardinals through the disappointing conclusion of Game 4 in the National League Division Series. And while my true loyalty continues to lie with my favorite St. Louis team, my cheers for the next few weeks will be in favor of those boys at Wrigley.
Call me a traitor or call me a bandwagon fan, but I’m sticking with this decision.
You see, while we’re all hurling good-spirited insults across rivalry lines, there’s something that unites all of us.
The love of the game.
It’s a cliché phrase that’s echoed throughout the history of baseball – and pretty much any sport – but it rings true for so many people, whether we’re tying up our own laces or simply donning a hat with our favorite team’s logo.
It is the emotions we feel when we see dust swirling in the stadium lights on a fall night and hear the resounding crack of a bat or snap of the ball landing in a glove’s pocket. It’s when we move to the edges of our seats as players set up for the ever-so-rare squeeze play or when a rookie pitcher actually pitches to the league’s top hitter with a tie score and men on base.
When your first love is baseball and your second love is a specific team, you can always find enjoyment in a good game of baseball.
This postseason, the Cubs promise us at least four more games of the best kind of baseball: October baseball.
As Cardinals fans, we’re used to seeing those pennants, rings and trophies (hey, I have to rub it in a little). Sure, we’ve spent some time as the underdog, but we’ve never been in the jersey of our Chicago counterparts.
There’s something special about the Cubs’ opportunity to break their century-long no-ring streak this year. The Cardinals may have been eliminated, but I still hope to see this year’s World Series title land in the hands of a National League Central Division team.
So, whether your closet is filled with Cardinal red or your car is decked out in Cubbie blue, grab some peanuts and get ready for the rest of this year’s exciting postseason.
