Luckily, that didn’t happen and we were able to bask in the joy with the fans. We pitched this idea because Cubs fans were known as the ‘Lovable Losers’ because fans have been waiting 10, 30, 60 years for this opportunity, and that’s how the story would have taken shape if the Cubs had lost. When the Cubs were down in the series three to one, we were nervous and prepared for the worst, but the documentary was still going to be about the fanbase. Obviously, it wasn’t a sure thing that the Cubs were going to win the World Series, so what was the game plan, if the Cubs lost? The fact that they could be a part of something bigger than them. The subjects were thrilled and having that story filmed and cemented into Cubs history made this World Series more special. The documentary itself had a positive response among Cubs fans and the subjects especially because the Cubs won. Did the MLB Network follow up with the characters following the release of the documentary? How did those characters respond? He, and the others, were happy to be given the opportunity to talk about their favorite team and what it means to them and their family. Williams was so into the game and that moment with his father that he ignored our camera and audio guy. He made a promise with his father that they would be together when the Cubs won the World Series. For one of the fans, Wayne Williams, we traveled to his father’s grave in North Carolina for Game 7. A lot of it came easily to them because their love for the Cubs is so strong and something they wanted to share. We had a lot of contact with them beforehand, but they really opened up as soon as we sat down with them and had real conversations. How did you get these characters to open up? A lot of the stories are about death and family. During the games, we would have a crew walk into the fire station or the Felician Sisters Convent to just chat with the people about the game and their favorite team. We reached out to the team to get in contact with season ticket holders.

How did you pick these subjects?Īs soon as we found out the Cubs were in the World Series, we immediately started doing research. Most sports documentaries focus on the players, but in the case of the Cubs, the fans are just as important as the team. When the Cubs were reaching the World Series, we wanted to showcase how much the fans were a part of the story, really trying to showcase the spectrum of the Cubs fandom and what this World Series meant to them. What inspired you to want to focus the story on the fans rather than the team? I spoke with Jed Tuminaro, a producer on the project, to learn more about the making of this MLB special.

For many fans, they still couldn’t believe that their favorite team won, so the MLB Network created an hour-long special that fans could watch over and over and feel that joy again and again. “ Joy in Wrigleyville” is a MLB Network special documentary that showcases the Cubs fandom, an exploration of the cheers and tears of a piece of baseball history. The 2016 World Series marked a momentous and unforgettable event in the hearts and minds of sports fans everywhere, and needed its own story. But before 2016, the team hadn’t won a championship in 108 years. The Chicago Cubs are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball.

2016 world series game 7 ticket