This is not your traditional piece of sports literature. This is not to tell you about something informational or share an opinion. Rather, it is meant to take you into the experience of a moment that reminds all of us why we love sports so much.
After trailing entering the bottom of the eighth, the Chicago Cubs walked off the game on Tuesday night 3-2 over the San Diego Padres. Cubs 1B Michael Busch played hero sending the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth into the right field bleachers.
Instead of a normal broadcast perspective, I want to take you into the moment as a fan. I want you to envision the emotions, the sights, and the feelings, of that moment on a warm, somewhat rainy night in Chicago.
After Jurickson Profar's home run to tie the game in the top of the eighth, you could feel the angst of every fan in the bleachers. It was unsettling, almost uncomfortable, knowing that Shota Imanaga's gem of a start could be all for naught.
However, the rally happened, the Cubs tied it in the eighth, and ultimately... set up for the ninth. Ian Happ made a great catch near the wall in the top of the inning, and the Cubs had a chance to end it in the final frame.
The Moment
Now is the time to open your mind and take in the moment.
Roughly 9:00 p.m. on a warm spring evening. The weather was truly perfect for a baseball game. The sun had set, the temperature cooled into the high 60s, and there was minimal wind at Wrigley Field.
It was warm. Rather, it was humid. Mother Nature dropped tons of rain on the area earlier in the day and was threatening once again. The skies opened up entering the top of the ninth, to a roar from the fans as rain fell. It wasn't enough to drench anyone, but enough to become a part of the ambiance.
Following Hector Neris' work, the restlessness in the crowd suggested everyone was ready for a walk-off. Lightning flashed over the top of Wrigley Field to the south, and rain continued to pitter-patter throughout the stadium.
Stepping up to the plate, Busch climbed into the left-handed batters box. Enyel De Los Santos returned to the mound after retiring Dansby Swanson on just one pitch in the bottom of the eighth.
De Los Santos threw a high heater up in the zone. Before most fans even knew the bottom of the ninth had started, it was over. The crack of Busch's bat echoed through the friendly confines.
As the ball left the bat, an audible buzz initiated within the ballpark. As the ball landed, the decibels of the roar increased, sending every fan, myself included, into a state of pandemonium.
The adrenaline was coursing through everyone's veins. Complete strangers seemingly became best of friends. Grown adults were celebrating as if they were youthful children. It was later in the evening, but everyone was wide awake with a jolt of overwhelming joy and excitement. Walk-off wins are rare. Walk-off home runs are even more rare. To experience one with a number of meaningful people in my life was truly special.
We "cover" the team as fans. Many others cover the team professionally. In the end, moments like these remind us why we ride the emotional rollercoaster that is the baseball season. These are the moments that stand out and make it all worth it.
In the end, the moment was unforgettable. The memory has been in my head on repeat since it happened. In fact, it is probably my favorite game I've attended at Wrigley Field in my lifetime. I was there for Willson Contreras' first at-bat home run. I was there for the 20+ run thumping of the New York Mets in 2021 before the sell-off. I've seen some fun games. But nothing, I mean nothing, will top this one... for now.
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