London a perfect getaway for Cubs to renew Cards rivalry, soak in history

LONDON -- David Ross spotted plenty of Cubs hats around London while sightseeing with his daughter after the team’s arrival on Thursday. And a few of those fans -- nearly 4,000 miles away from Wrigley Field -- recognized the Cubs manager as he made his way around the city.

Ross shared a handful of quick conversations and stood in for a few photos, understanding that this London Series was a rare experience not only for his ballclub, but for the fans who will be at London Stadium this weekend.

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“To see families walk around in Cubs gear, Cardinals gear as well,” Ross said, “it's just good for baseball. It's really cool to see the city full of baseball fans.”

The Cubs and Cardinals -- who make up one of baseball’s oldest and fiercest rivalries -- held a workout on Friday at the home of the Premier League’s West Ham United. There were fans scattered in the stadium to watch the proceedings, and the players were also soaking in the spectacle.

Cubs outfielder Ian Happ chatted up Formula 1 driver Lando Norris as an F1 car was parked behind the batting cage. Christopher Morel snapped a photo with Cardinals legend Albert Pujols. Former Cubs ace Jake Arrieta was on hand, catching up with old teammates after taking part in some community events.

Fully aware he was in West Ham’s house, Cubs first-base coach Mike Napoli took the field wearing an Arsenal kit.

“I just wanted to ruffle some feathers,” Napoli said with a smirk.

A staffer yelled, “Flame test!” ahead of a large blast of pyrotechnics before the workout began. It was a loud, overwhelming scene as the teams tested out the turf field, got in their batting practice and prepped for an even more-heightened environment during the games on Saturday and Sunday.

“We are definitely aware of the atmosphere,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “We're lucky to play in one of the best, if not the best atmospheres in baseball in Chicago. I think the players reflect that passion back to fans.

“So I think you'll definitely see some exciting moments that definitely feel like more than just a regular-season game.”

The players are also trying to balance the scale of this experience against the fact that these are regular-season games within a tough division race. The Cubs have rattled off 10 wins in the past dozen games to pull within 3 1/2 games of the National League Central-leading Reds.

That made for a happy flight across the pond for a Chicago (36-38) squad that sits two games below the break-even mark with its heated rival next on this unique road trip. And the way Hoerner sees it, the fans who flock into London Stadium should appreciate a rivalry that covers 142 years.

“It's not just any two teams that are coming,” Hoerner said. “I think that Cubs-Cardinals is a special thing. We haven't played them that much this year yet, but there's a lot of history there. It's amazing that baseball is able to not only have these showcases, but do it with teams with good tradition.”

Christopher Morel said seeing Big Ben in person was a highlight for him. Ross noted that his son had been sending him pictures of the famous clock tower for months leading up this trip, so seeing it was big for the manager, too.

Multiple players also mentioned getting to see Westminster Abbey. In fact, the Cubs had a private team function -- organized by chairman Tom Ricketts -- on Thursday evening at the Abbey, which has a history that traces back more than 1,000 years.

“It was really cool to tour that building,” said pitcher Justin Steele, who is slated to start Saturday for the Cubs. “To see all the history that's in there and have your family there to experience it, it was really, really cool.”

And that gets to the heart of Ross’ advice to his players for this weekend in London.

“Enjoy yourself,” said the manager. “We don't get this opportunity a whole lot. It's a great venue. It's a unique opportunity to come over here. I've never been over here. A lot of players, their families, it's time to enjoy this. I think players are better when they are having fun.”

The players also know they are ambassadors of sorts for the game during their stay in the United Kingdom. What does Dansby Swanson hope the fans take away from watching America’s pastime?

“Just the beauty within the intricacies of baseball,” said the Cubs shortstop. “It’s just such a wonderful game when you really start to understand the ins and outs of it.”