Shortly after the Chicago Cubs had beaten the Cleveland Indians in an emotionally draining Game 7 to win their first World Series in 108 years, one of the team’s most famous fans described what it meant to end baseball’s longest title drought.



Bill Murray, who was born in Evanston, Illinois, found himself in the clubhouse at Progressive Field after the Cubs’ 8-7 victory, and amid the champagne and celebrations, said that his team’s victory showed that dreams really do come true.

“It means a huge weight has been lifted,” Murray told Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the St Louis Post-Dispatch. “All this effort, wishing and hoping that it would work … and now it’s come true. It’s wonderful, it’s fantastic. You believe in something that actually was true, and it’s beautiful. The whole city, all its fans … they’re validated. Their dream came true. It’s OK. Dreams came true. And the great thing about it is we became such great losers, good sports. I just hope we’re good winners. I hope we’re as good sports winning as we were when we didn’t win.”

My interview of the night ended with Bill Murray asking if I recycle. He handed me his champagne bottle. #WorldSeries #Cubs pic.twitter.com/66jzAshLL9 — Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) November 3, 2016

Murray also interviewed Theo Epstein, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations. “Hey, is there anyone you want to say hello to that you haven’t thought about lately?” Murray enquired. “Yeah,” Epstein responded. “You.” Then Epstein sprayed a bottle of champagne in Murray’s face. “Yeah, Bill! We just won the World Series!”

“I guess that means I get a 10-day tryout,” Murray said.

Fellow Cubs fan Hillary Clinton, who was born and raised in Illinois, was speaking at a presidential rally in Arizona, but she managed to catch the end of the game on her tablet. She was pictured with a beaming smile as she stepped into an SUV to leave the rally in Tempe. Clinton later tweeted out her congratulations to her hometown team: “They did it! 108 years later and the drought is finally over. Way to make history.”

Hillary Clinton watches the Chicago Cubs win World Series Game 7. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP

President Obama, a noted White Sox fan, offered the Cubs an immediate visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. “It happened: Cubs win World Series. That’s change even this South Sider can believe in,” Obama tweeted. “Want to come to the White House before I leave?”

LeBron James, whose Cavaliers ended Cleveland’s long wait for a sporting title when they clinched the NBA championship in June, saw the Indians let a 3-1 lead slip through their grasp. James has been a notable presence at the Indians’ postseason games, and described his team’s season as “unbelievable” – even though they didn’t win.

“I just want to congratulate the Indians on an unbelievable season,” James said. “You guys did something nobody would ever think you guys could do, and we’re very proud of you. You guys got nothing to hang your heads about. Use it as inspiration and get ready for next year.”