There were all kinds of crazy stories that came out of the 2016 World Series. Cubs fans have been waiting for 108 years now to win a title, so when they finally did it by beating the Indians in Game 7 of this year’s World Series, they celebrated by sharing those stories. But this next story might just be the craziest of all.
In the days leading up to the World Series, several Chicago-area media outlets ran stories on Mabel Bell, a 108-year-old Cubs fan who was born the same year the Cubs won their last World Series in 1908. She literally spent her entire life waiting for the Cubs to win another title, and while she only ever attended one Cubs game—on her 90th birthday—she said that she’s been listening to Cubs games for years on the radio. And like all Cubs fans, she was hoping this would be the year they finally took home a championship.
It happened, and it apparently couldn’t have worked out any better for Bell, because on Friday, her son Rich revealed that his mother died this week. Call it ironic or coincidental or whatever you will. But it sure is crazy the way Bell’s life and death worked out. "The cruel irony, the almost unbelievable irony, is that the person who waits and waits and waits, after it happens, says, 'I’ve done what I’ve got to do, and I’m out of here,'" Bell’s son said on Friday. "It ain’t funny, but it’s funny."
It sure is. And it just gave Cubs fans yet another reason to be thankful for their team’s looooooong-awaited World Series title.
