Cubs fan drives all day to fulfill a promise and listen to Game 7 at his father’s grave

Wayne Williams drove all the way from North Carolina to Indiana to listen to Game 7 with his dad.

Dan Gartland | Nov 3, 2016

Cubs fan drives all day to fulfill a promise and listen to Game 7 at his father’s grave /

Wayne Williams and his dad had a deal—when the Cubs made it to the World Series, they were going to listen to the games together. Williams’s father, also named Wayne, died in 1980 but Williams followed through on their pact.

For Wednesday’s Game 7, Williams drove all day from North Carolina to the Indianapolis suburb of Greenwood to listen to the game at his father’s grave.

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What made this win so emotional for Cubs fans was knowing how many other fans had lived their whole lives waiting to see a championship, or even a pennant.

After the NLCS, Cubs fans started covering the wall outside the east the side of Wrigley Field with messages for loved ones who’d died before seeing a title. After Game 7, the wall was completely covered.

GALLERY: CUBS, INDIANS FANS REACT TO GAME 7

Emotional Cubs Fans, Indians Fans: Game 7 of the World Series

Game 7 of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians was a rollercoaster ride for fans of both teams. Here's a look at the ups and downs.

world-series-game-7-indians-fans-26 — Getty Images

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The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 1908 as they defeated the Cleveland Indians 8–7 in Game 7 in the early hours of Thursday morning at Progressive Field.

The Cubs led heading into the eighth inning before Indians outfielder Rajai Davis tied the game with a two-run home run off closer Aroldis Chapman.

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The Cubs reclaimed the lead in the top of the tenth inning with an RBI single by Ben Zobrist to score Albert Almora Jr. The Cubs added another run with a Miguel Montero single to score Anthony Rizzo.

Carl Edwards Jr. entered the game in the bottom of the tenth inning to close out the game. Davis stepped to the plate with another chance to tie the game against Edwards and hit an RBI single to bring the Indians within one.

Mike Montgomery entered to get Michael Martinez to ground out to Kris Bryant and end the World Series drought.

Published Nov 3, 2016

DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).