Seats for the World Series this year in Cleveland and Chicago will blow away anything spent on previous fall classics. Meaning that the majority of loyal fans for both of these teams will probably be watching from outside the ballparks. These will be the fans who have endured so many heartbreaking losses over the past number of years
In the case of the Cubs, their fans over all those bad years have never stopped coming to the games. The second oldest ballpark in baseball has a capacity of 41,268. This year they averaged a staggering 39,906 per game, drawing 3,232,420 of their faithful fans.
On the other hand, it looks like the Indian fans were saving their money for the World Series, being that not that many went to their ballpark this year. They should have no problem coming up with the cash for these exorbitant ticket prices. The Indians were in first place all year and had the third worst attendance record in baseball at 1,591,667 averaging only 19,650 at home. What’s up with that?
This year, we will be witness to one of these teams breaking their long drought of not winning a World Series. The Cubs last won in 1908 and last appeared in 1945. That means that there are probably only a handful of fans that have ever actually seen them in a World Series. The Cubs have never gone into late October let alone November in the fall classic, so we may even see that famous ivy turn red.
Then we have Cleveland who first won a World Series in 1920 and last in 1948. That year being the last time they were in the World Series. The fact that they have only been to the series six times makes it just as frustrating as the Cubs drought of 108 years. Did I just say 108 years? Holy smokes!
Speaking of 1948, I was born in 1948 and grew up in the golden age of baseball in New York. It was an era that saw a team from New York in the World Series 15 of 16 years from 1948 to 1964. Seven times it was an all New York series.
Yes, Seven times! The one time a New York team was not in the World Series during that span of 16 years was In 1959 when the new Los Angeles Dodgers beat the White Sox with many of those Brooklyn Bums playing for them. This was before the Mets were born and so the former Brooklyn fans, like my Dad, still had an interest in the Dodgers albeit hoping they lost every game for eternity.
I grew up with the belief that every year there would be a World Series in New York. I thought that was normal and to this day I love the fact that I was lucky enough to see all of that. Like many others from that time, we were spoiled. I still have the ticket from the 1963 game one seat field level behind home plate ($8.00). Lets face it, we all would rather see the Yankees playing the Mets in the series every year. But alas, this is the year of joy for some other city.
As a baseball fan you have to admit that the Cubs have the best team in baseball and the Indians are doing amazing things. It will be fun as we watch future Hall of Fame managers Terry Francona of the Indians and Joe Maddon of the Cubs duke it out with their creative moves.
Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller in the same game? Wow! If you try to predict this thing, you will be up against the ghosts of baseball past. Be it demon or angel, those mysterious things that create miracles or catastrophes will have the final say as to which city will celebrate and which one will go home and cry.
Who ever wins this year will make history and become immortals in that city. Never having to pay for anything there for the rest of their lives. This looks like it will be a good one. Enjoy it.
Editor’s Note: William Coppola just completed his 40th year in the game of baseball. He has been a coach, instructor and last week completed his third season as an associate advanced scout with the Atlanta Braves organization.