CHICAGO — David Ross was deflecting. He would begin answering a question about his last game ever at Wrigley Field and all the pleasantness sent in his direction Sunday night, then at some point veer his response to the team and the big picture of trying to win a title.

But then he was asked about the television cameras catching him hugging Jon Lester after the Cubs ace was removed following the sixth inning of World Series Game 5. Ross swallowed hard, then hesitated and then began to try blinking back tears, good-naturedly telling the reporter he owed her for asking that question.

In a cracked voice, Ross replied, “I just said, ‘I love you. Thanks for everything.’ ”

Lester signed a six-year, $155 million contract with the Cubs following the 2014 season, and Ross came as a package deal at two years for $5 million. The two formed a bond as Red Sox teammates that has only strengthened in Chicago, with Ross becoming Lester’s personal catcher; one of the key pieces that helps the lefty not just pitch well, but navigate his throwing yips to bases.

The last act Ross, 39, ever performed as a major league player at Wrigley was throwing out Francisco Lindor trying to steal to end the top of the sixth. He was helped by a slide-step quick delivery from Lester and the supernatural tagging abilities at second of Javier Baez. But Ross also has a quick release and said afterward throwing out a runner means at least as much to him as hitting a homer.

He did not clear the wall in Game 5. But he did hit a sacrifice fly to produce the final run in a three-run fourth inning. That was all the runs Chicago would score en route to a 3-2 victory over Cleveland that chopped the Indians’ lead to three games to two.

That was his final at-bat since he was pinch hit for in the bottom of the sixth. But as part of the seventh-inning tradition of having a famous person sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” Eddie Vedder dedicated the song to Ross.

Ross is retiring at the end of the season, and while he has had a nomadic, complementary career, he has emerged as a sage presence, leader and spokesman for the mainly young Cubs. They have taken to calling him Grandpa Ross and he has become a beloved figure with the fan base.

“I have had a storybook year,” Ross said.

Now, the Wrigley Field portion of that year — and his career — is done.