Back in January when spring training tickets went on sale, hundreds lined up hours before the sunrise just to make sure they saw their beloved Cubbies in the desert.
KJZZ’s Katherine Fritcke was there in January and this morning, Cubs fans lined up again. But this time, to see the team’s World Series trophy.
Cubs fans are some of the most dedicated in baseball. They stood by their team for over 100 years, during their World Series drought. And today, 1,000 lucky fans get see the material proof of the World Series win, the team's first since 1908.
A devoted fan got to the Solan Park at two-o’clock yesterday. Loretta Schwinn is from Chicago and lives in the Valley now. Seeing the trophy was a family affair for her. She was there with her son and was keeping the memory of her uncle in mind.
Lisa and George Espinoza drove their grandson up from Tucson to see the trophy. They slept on the concrete for a couple hours early this morning even though temperatures dipped into the low 40s overnight.
The Espinozas arrived just after two in the morning.
And right behind them were Eileen and Al Dullam, a brother and sister duo from Chicago. They were there in honor of their father who is no longer as close to the Cubs as he once was when the team played at Hohokam Stadium.
But, they said seeing the trophy is helping to make up for it. Only the first 1,000 people will get the chance to take a picture with the trophy. And all the people that I talked got into line early enough.
Wrist bands were handed out at 8 this morning. And after many people got theirs, they headed back to their car to sleep for a couple of hours before the Cubs World Series Trophy Rally. That event is open to everyone and begins at noon.
The Cubs — and all the Cactus league teams — play their first official spring training games tomorrow.
