After the Cubs won the NLCS and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1945, I wrote this story about Chicago hitting coach John Mallee and the meaning of No. 11 for him. Now that the Cubs have ended their 108-year championship drought after that amazing Game 7 on Wednesday night, I want to provide an update.
Mallee brought the framed military patches that belonged to his late father, John Sr., with him to Cleveland for Games 6 and 7, telling him: “I’m packing you up. You ain’t done yet.”
Mallee placed the frame in his locker at Progressive Field. And as the Series reached its conclusion, Mallee noted several coincidences involving the No. 11 — freaky stuff, but kind of cool, too.
Now all of this might sound silly, and none of it would carry the same meaning if the Cubs had lost. But anyone who has ever lost a loved one can relate to the way the John and his sister Kathy are keeping the memory of their father alive.
Here’s to No. 11 and John Mallee Sr.