Eddie Vedder Reacts to Cubs’ World Series Win
We’ve been following the World Series in part through our own baseball fandom, but also through the eyes of Pearl Jam frontman and lifelong Chicago Cubs fan Eddie Vedder. With the Cubs’ clinching the championship in a thrilling 10-inning Game Seven last night, their first since 1908, he was naturally sought out by television cameras to get his thoughts.
As a genuine famous person, he was able to be on the field of Cleveland’s Progressive Field after the game without getting arrested and was spotted by a reporter from Chicago’s WGN-TV, whose parent company, Tribune Media, owned the Cubs from 1981-2008. “I’m just so proud to be able to witness this team and witness these guys and witness that manager and witness those coaches and witness everybody in the office,” Vedder said in the video above. “They’re a truly inspirational group of fellas.” He attempted to say more, but was interrupted by somebody he recognized, and then he went off to continue celebrating.
Vedder was given the honor of singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch for Game Five, which was played at Wrigley Field, the home of the Cubs. The night before, following Game Four, he, Bill Murray and former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Derek Trucks were spotted singing the Band’s “The Weight” at a house party not far from the stadium.
Although Vedder famously lived in San Diego until moving up to Seattle to join the band that would become Pearl Jam, he was born and raised in Evanston, Ill., just north of Chicago, until his family relocated to San Diego in the mid-‘70s. Earlier this year, his band played two shows at Wrigley, which they also did in 2013. At each show, he’s played “All the Way,” a song he wrote for the Cubs’ 2008 playoff run, reportedly at the request of Cubs legend Ernie Banks. Earlier this morning, the team released a minute-long video of the team and city celebrating the championship with “All the Way” as its soundtrack. You can see it below.
Watch the Cubs’ Video for “All the Way”
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