Wayne Williams of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, fulfilled a promise to his late father on Wednesday to listen to the Chicago Cubs coverage with him if the team makes it back to World Series.
His father, also named Wayne Williams, died of cancer in 1980 at age 53. He was a Navy veteran.
The younger Wayne Williams, now 68, wore a Joe Maddon jersey and a Chicago Cubs cap upon reaching his father's gravesite in Indiana to listen on his smartphone while sitting on his foldout chair as the Chicago Cubs captured the World Series via an 8-7 win over the Cleveland Indians in 10 innings in Game 7. He revealed that he had a pact with his dad that they will listen together when the Chicago Cubs returned to the World Series, according to ESPN.
On Sunday night, Wayne Williams anticipated that the Chicago Cubs might win Game 6 on Monday and prepared for a Tuesday morning trip to his father's grave on the military section of Greenwood Forest Lawn Cemetery in suburban Indianapolis, in time for Wednesday's Game 7.
A retired customer trainer, Wayne Williams had to traverse unlit roads and minimized his stops to make it by the first pitch. He was greeted by TV news crews upon reaching the cemetery, which was kept open by cemetery workers for him. Wayne Williams listened for 10 innings on how the Chicago Cubs rallied to take the lead and held off a late surge by the Cleveland Indians. He also had to endure a delay in the game caused by rain.
But Wayne Williams' celebration was subdued, saying that he knows that he had nothing to do with the victory. He also thought about how much his late father would have enjoyed the win. Heading back home, Wayne Williams looked forward to watching a recording of the game. By that time, he feels that thought of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series will have sunken in.
Meanwhile, the city of Chicago estimates that there would be about 5 million people who will attend the World Series celebration, which is nearly twice the city's population, The Chicago Tribune reported. The Chicago Cubs parade will start from Wrigley Field will go south toward downtown before a noon rally at Lower Hutchinson Field.
