On a beautiful August afternoon in 2014, there I was standing just feet away from Wayne Messmer, listening to him and his wife sing the National Anthem. After cheering and clapping for what felt like ages, I heard my name echo throughout Wrigley Field, followed by lifelong Cubs fan. That was my signal to crutch my way to the pitcher’s mound to deliver the game ball and rosin bag. Just a couple weeks after having knee surgery, that was just one way the Chicago Cubs made me feel as if I was the most important fan they had.

Growing up in Chicago with two baseball teams, I was raised to love one and not the other. Whether it was having an asthma attack while playing catch at Wrigley Field when I was 4, studying for my science test in between the innings of a 2008 playoff game, or talking with Fergie Jenkins and Ernie Banks about how I hurt my knee playing baseball, most of my childhood has had to do with the Chicago Cubs.

Now, the Cubs are going to be playing in November, a month the franchise has never played in  for eons. As I watch the Cubs in the World Series with my neighborhood watch parties, I notice how special the Cubs team is. I notice how the crowd gives space for the foul balls to prevent another Bartman play. I see how Joe Maddon changes the lineup for every single game, and how the players blend together. The combination of the high energy Willson Contreras and Javier Baez, combined with the relaxed mentality of Anthony Rizzo and David Ross, makes the team mentally unbreakable.

The Cubs have proved to the entire world that they will not go down without a fight. Facing a one run deficit at the beginning of game 5, the Cubs showed no quit, and the dormant offense was sparked to life with a home run by the MVP front runner Kris Bryant, and then a double by Rizzo. Cubs fans are now excited as they have forced to bring the series back to Cleveland, in hopes of winning the World Series.

The Cubs hadn’t been to a World Series since 1945, 71 years ago. They haven’t won since 1908, 108 years ago. For all Cubs fans across the world, this series has significance in history. All Cubs fans can now say that they witnessed history, and that they have been alive for breaking the most cursed team. From the Billy Goat, to the black cat, all the way to Steve Bartman, the Chicago Cubs have had their fair share of bad luck and all Cubs fans want just one thing: a World Series ring.