Chicago south side Rep Chuy Garcia loves north side Cubs

CHICAGO – Like thousands of Cubs fans of a certain generation, Congressman Chuy Garcia is a fan of the north siders in large part because of WGN. His baseball loyalty raises eyebrows, though, because he is a political icon from the Windy City’s south side, home of the White Sox.

I can relate to Chicago’s most historically relevant Latino politician. Heck, I’m one of those north siders who grew up loving the Cubs from watching afternoon games on WGN. Thank you, Harry Caray and Steve Stone. 

Garcia represents Illinois’ 4th Congressional district, which includes the iconic south side Mexican neighborhood known as the Little Village. The south side belongs to the White Sox, and the north side belongs to the Cubs. That’s how it has traditionally been for more than 100 years.

That is clear this weekend at Rate Field as the White Sox play their crosstown rivals.

Garcia caused Crosstown Classic controversy this week while promoting his annual political  fundraiser at the Cubs-White Sox series by reminding everyone that while he is proud of his south side roots he loves his Cubbies.

Chuy Garcia’s fundraiser had all the proper fiesta ingredients. It had a live banda, drinks, lots of food and good times.

’Proud Cubs fan’

“I’ve been a proud Cubs fan since 1966, and I don’t care what anyone says,” Garcia said.

I was surprised to find out that a political icon from the south side could be so loyal to the hated Cubs. Garcia’s brand pretty much represents the south side working-class roots. To Garcia, though, it’s simple. It was WGN. 

“I fell in love with the Cubs because of WGN and Jack Brickhouse,” he said. “I would watch them, and I became a Cubs fan for life.”

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The Cubs – White Sox rivalry is arguably the biggest regional rivalry in baseball. It’s the longest running by both teams. The rivalry pins the more well known and wealthier north side against the working class of the south side.

It’s a rivalry that can split families and be downright ugly.  So how does he handle the vitriol that the rivalry stirs up?

“My son over there, he’s a real big Sox fan and he hates that I’m a Cubs fan and always reminds me,“ Garcia said. “But I don’t care. I also get a lot of (grief) from everybody for being a Cubs fan and I don’t care because we’ve won it all.”

Frontrunner in 2005

Funny enough, he went to The Rate to watch the White Sox win the 2005 World Series for the city’s first Fall Classic  since 1959. But los Cachorros are the team he will always love. 

The congressman proudly told me he had the unique pleasure of tossing the first pitch at Wrigley Field. He excitedly told me that he had also tossed la primera bola at the former ball club of his native Durango, Mexico, los Generales de Durango. 

Chuy Garcia admitted that he hasn’t made it up to Clark and Addison for a game this season. When asked if he’d go back if invited for another first pitch, Garcia said he’d be more than happy to get to his first ball game at Wrigley Field in 2025.

He would even throw it right down the middle, Garcia says, like he did last time he was on the venerable mound.