Cubs fan lives long enough to hear they won the World Series
The magnitude of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series shouldn’t be measured in the years it took. We must also weigh the dedication, the passion and the resolve of the fans who have waited those years — in some cases decades, in others even a century — because its their pain and their faith that tells the real story.
Fans like Darel Sterner, a longtime barber from West Liberty, Iowa. For most of his 85 years, Sterner loved the Cubs. His passion for them was displayed to every customer in the form of a banner. It’s also said the Cubs consumed many of the conversations that took place within his shop’s friendly confines, because he always hoped his Cubs would go all the way.
On Wednesday night in Cleveland, it happened. The Cubs 108-year championship drought ended with a dramatic 8-7 win in 10 innings.
Three hours later, Sterner died.
According to his family, his health had faded throughout the postseason. At the end, he was under hospice care. But he kept holding on or, as they believe, waiting to hear the news he’d always wanted to hear.
Donna Sterner, his wife of 62 years, was there to watch the deciding game, as were children Durk and Darla, Durk’s wife Jill and their two adult children, Holli and Nick. A few feet away in the bedroom, Darel had his own TV near the bed, the Cubs game against the Cleveland Indians roaring in his ears.
The broadcast on his TV was delayed a few seconds, so the family silently cheered each pitch in the next room. They checked on Sterner as he drifted out, whispering the score in his ear. Hospice workers told them that hearing was the last thing to go.
They were sure he knew of near heartbreak when the Indians came back to tie the score, and the final, glorious conclusion to the Cubs first championship in 108 years.
“They won,” his son Durk said in his ear. “The Cubs won the World Series!”
“We all believe he is in heaven, one of the first Cubs fans there to see them win the World Series before passing away,” Durk added.
You don’t have to be a Cubs fan or even a sports fan for that to stir up some emotions.
Most of us will never know the feeling of waiting that long to experience our favorite team winning the big one. By the same token, many of us have had someone important in our lives who lived their entire life without knowing that feeling or celebrating a Cubs championship. It’s such a whirlwind of emotions, but it must pale in comparison to what Sterner’s family felt in those hours.
It’s never easy to lose a loved one. But to have that moment, at that time, is something truly unique and special.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
