America’s love affair with its newest baseball heroes made its way to Main Street U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park on Saturday afternoon when baseball’s world champions did what so many sports champions do: They “go to Disney World!’’
Championship MVP Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Javier Baez, who all helped lead the Chicago Cubs to the world championship earlier this week, rode along with Mickey Mouse in a celebratory parade at Walt Disney World Resort. A throng of cheering fans, many dressed in the team’s colors, lined the parade route at Magic Kingdom waving “W’’ flags and holding signs. Mickey Mouse and Goofy both dressed for the occasion, wearing their classic baseball uniforms!
The players and their families enjoyed some of the theme park’s signature attractions, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Plus, they spent time hanging out with Mickey Mouse and Goofy and took photos to capture the memory.
“I can’t believe how many (Cubs fans) there were at the parade. It’s just unbelievable,’’ said Zobrist. “It’s an amazing following of people right here at Disney World.’’
The parade was the perfect exclamation point on a championship celebration that was 108 years in the making. The team last won baseball’s Fall Classic in 1908, the longest interval between championships in sports history.
The parade was also one of the most heart-warming salutes in Disney Parks’ long tradition of sports champions celebrating their victories by “Going to Disney World’’ which dates back to 1987.
The Cubs rallied from the brink of defeat (they were down 3-1 in the best-of-seven-game series) to win a nail-biting Game 7 in 10 innings. Zobrist hit a double in the 10th inning that scored the go-ahead run that led to their momentous victory.
Likewise, Russell and Baez were both huge contributors throughout the Cubs’ playoff run. Baez accounted for the Cubs’ only run – a solo homer – in their 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series. And Russell hit a grand slam home run in Game 6 that helped force the deciding Game 7, keeping the team’s title hopes alive.
