Wrigley Wall Becomes Memorial for Cubs Fans Who Died Before ‘Next Year’ Finally Arrived

One of the rueful sayings Chicago Cubs fans have consoled each other with after decades of failed seasons was “wait ’til next year.” But after Wednesday’s World Series win, hundreds of Cubs fans took to one of the outer walls of Wrigley Field to leave messages for those many fans who didn’t live long enough to finally see “next year” arrive at long last.

Fan after fan stood before the brick wall off Sheffield Avenue with chalk in hand to write messages to loved-one Cubs fans in their family who passed away before the big night finally came to pass.

The wall stands as a touching memorial to thousands of fans and their devotion to their favorite Windy City team. Harry Caray, Ernie Banks, Jack Brickhouse, Ron Santo, and even Murphy the Goat all lived and died before the Cubs won a World Series. So, too, did millions of Cubs fans lacking such notoriety.

This is so great.

Cubs fans turned a Wrigley Field brick wall into a memorial for loved ones who couldn’t make it. https://t.co/1Jc1ukeHmk

— Brian J. Manzullo (@BrianManzullo) November 3, 2016

Had to get my Great Papas name on the brick wall outside of Wrigley Field. He’s the reason I’m a Cubs fan.. RIP Papa.. this one’s for you!!! pic.twitter.com/Bn7egeVWey

— Champs (@FrankieLaVere) November 2, 2016

Cubs fan told me her husband never takes a day off work – he took off today to write his late dad’s name on the wall at Wrigley pic.twitter.com/VltKQxmpER

— Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) November 3, 2016

People are writing the names of loved ones who didn’t live long enough to see this all along the Sheffield wall at #Wrigley #FlyTheW #Cubs pic.twitter.com/VRkdaI6HzT

— Alex Nitkin (@AlexNitkin) November 3, 2016

Wrigley Field’s makeshift memory wall dedicated to decades of Cubs fans who weren’t here to experience a #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/NO7CTGNQ1n

— newsburrow (@newsburrow) November 2, 2016

Went down to Wrigley to chalk a friend’s late mom’s name on wall. Hard not to be moved by the sight of so many similar tributes. #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/dVjT1JbyLU

— Dan Epstein (@BigHairPlasGras) November 2, 2016

One fan told Lauren Comitor of TheAthletic.com, “My parents are gone. But they’re here.”

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.