Chicago Cubs: It’s always good when we beat the New York Mets

The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets have a history and rivalry going back more than 50 years. Does it still exist?

I can remember my grandfather watching the Chicago Cubs battle the New York Mets in the 70’s and 80’s on WGN. He’d hoot and holler and slap the arm of his favorite “Cub-viewing” chair whenever the Cubs took advantage. With eyes glued to the television watching the game unfold, Grandpa would smoke his cigarettes and say “We can’t let them get the lead…” almost singing it.

“Why not Grandpa?” I asked one day.

“They’ll steal the game, the series, the pennant from us if we don’t pay attention,” he warned. Plumes of smoke trailed in the air from his cigarette like sky writing spelling ‘win’.

He was thinking about the 1969 Mets. That year, the Cubs lost 17 1/2 games  in the last quarter of the season. Essentially, the Cubs gave up the pennant to the “Miracle Mets” as they were dubbed. The Mets went on to win the World Series that season.

“It’s always good when we beat the Mets,” he concluded, bringing it back to the present.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune captured the sentiment my grandfather was feeling that day.

For fans of a certain age who grew up hating the Mets, the Cubs‘ visit to Citi Field this week is must-see TV, no matter their records. Memories of Ron Santo, Gil Hodges and the black cat are rekindled, along with the names of obscure players such as Don Young, Jimmy Qualls and Al Weis.

Chicago Cubs: World Series Champions changing history

Now that the Chicago Cubs have won a World Series the pressure is definitely off on the North Side. The intensity of Cubs-Mets games aren’t as critical as they once were before the two were placed in different leagues (1993). Cubs fans watching this week’s series can’t help but be nostalgic. They want the sweep. Yes, it’s still intense.

So why is it good for the Cubs to beat the Mets these days?

Because there’s some sort of recompense when the Cubs get a victory over the Mets. That good feeling of getting a little bit of history back with every win and even more when the Cubs sweep. It’s like we’re saying to all of New York: Hey guess what? Yeah, the lovable losers won! How do you like that? Respect!

Of course, we can never get back 1969 or1986 or any of the hundreds of times we suffered the abuse of New York. All we can do now is beat the Mets every chance we get.

My grandfather never got to see the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. He died of cancer in the 80’s.  I’m glad that he lived to see some of that great Cubs play during those years.

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The Cubs have won two of three so far  in this series. As I watched the Cubs go into extra innings in the third game of the series against the Mets, I was on my feet cheering. I can still hear my Grandpa say, “It’s always good when we beat the Mets”.

We did, and we will, Grandpa.