CHICAGO -- Given the number of decades that had passed between the last time the Cubs played in a World Series and their current participation, it's understandable that this postseason has drawn a fair amount of older fans to Wrigley Field.
While it's impossible to know exactly how many nonagenarians -- people between the ages of 90-99 -- there are waving the Cubs' "W" this month, one elder statesman in particular made sure to be in attendance at Wrigley Field for Saturday's Game 4, won by the Indians, 7-2. And he drew quite a bit of attention as he made his way to his seat.
John Paul Stevens, retired associate justice of the Supreme Court and lifelong Cubs fan, was comfortably nestled in a seat behind the Cubs' dugout about an hour before gametime. At 96, Stevens, like many older Cubs fans, had been waiting a long time to see the Cubs in the World Series, and he expressed delight at being a part of the celebration Saturday.
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"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "It's a wonderful night. I'm going to have a good time."
Stevens, who was born in Hyde Park in 1920, said though he was in the Army in 1945 and therefore was unable to attend any Cubs World Series games that year, he was there for the Cubs' appearances in the Fall Classic in 1929 and '32.
He was also at the game when Babe Ruth allegedly called his shot at Wrigley during the '32 Series.
Stevens closely follows the Cubs to this day and didn't fret about his team's World Series deficit, which grew to 3-1 in favor of the Indians after Saturday's Chicago loss.
"I think the team will repeat after being down 2-1 like they did with the Dodgers [in the National League Championship Series]," he said. "They'll be OK."
Stevens served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1975 until his retirement in 2010. He retired as the third-longest serving justice in the history of the court, with 34 years and six months of service.
Through a lifetime of service and accomplishments, the same thing has eluded Stevens as it has thousands of fellow Cubs fan -- celebrating a World Series championship.
Stevens hopes that changes this year.
"I'm a Cubs fan, and I've always been a Cubs fan," he said.