Sports

CHICAGO (CBS) ― It's official – the Cubs are back to Central Division champs for the first time in 100 years. The bubbly was flowing at Wrigley Field and they're hoping this is just the first of several celebrations to come in October.

Most Cubs fans expected this year's team to clinch the division, but that didn't stop them from celebrating Saturday, as CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports.

Whether they were outside of local bars looking in or even in the $250 seat rooftop parties complete with air-conditioning and lush buffets, they kept the faith the Cubbies would pull this one out.

And they did do just that. The Chicago Cubs stormed up the dugout steps, spraying champagne bottles the whole way. Then came a victory lap around Wrigley Field to douse their loyal fans and soak up a second straight NL Central title.

"It's a relief and you have to let it out and enjoy it," first baseman Derrek Lee said after Saturday's 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals wrapped up the division championship. "We're still trying to get to our ultimate goal. We still have a lot of work to do."

The 41,597 fans jammed into the old neighborhood ballpark were ready to party as they watched the Cubs earn back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since they participated in three straight World Series from 1906-08.

And no one can forget 1908. That's the last time the Cubs won the World Series, a 100-year championship drought they've been hearing about since they were swept out of the playoffs in the first round a year ago by Arizona.

"This team has got to stand on its own merit," a wet but happy manager Lou Piniella said.

"We'll give everything we can in the postseason. That's all we can do."

As usual, nothing comes easy for the Cubs. And it didn't Saturday, either.

Ted Lilly (16-9) was sailing along with a 5-0 lead when the Cardinals scored four runs with two out in the sixth, including a three-run homer by Troy Glaus. St. Louis began the day with faint hopes for the NL wild card, 5 1/2 games out.

Lilly regrouped in the seventh and relievers Carlos Marmol and Wood held off the Cardinals. Wood gave up a leadoff walk to Glaus in the ninth before finishing for his 32nd save in 39 chances.

Aaron Miles' game-ending flyout set off a celebration on the mound as Wood's teammates stormed from the dugout and bullpen.

"We're looking at the big picture and it's nice to get in," said Wood, who's been with the Cubs longer than any other current player -- he was Rookie of the Year in 1998. It will be his fourth trip to the playoffs.

"We expected to get in and be in this spot and we're going to enjoy it tonight and probably a little bit in the morning," Wood said.

Piniella went to the grass between the third-base line and mound and hugged his players as they came of the field. Some players waved to the fans as they headed into the dugout -- Chicago clinched on the road last season.

"We're celebrating this, kinda of giving back to the fans," Lilly said. "No question they are a big reason why we are here."

And so is the attitude of the team, he said.

"We all want the same thing. You don't have guys who are looking to do anything other than win a championship," Lilly added. "So it's a pretty special thing to be a part of."

The fans didn't want to leave. Several thousand hung out behind the home dugout nearly an hour after the game, shouting "We want Lou." And finally, Piniella emerged from the dugout onto the field, as did general manager Jim Hendry, who built the team and then saluted his players.

"They pretty much felt all year they were going to end up right here today and get the first step done and you can see how they are handling it," Hendry said.

"They should be enjoying it, but you can tell they got some other business on their mind to take care of this year."

The Cubs got a couple of breaks from the Cardinals' shaky fielding to build the five-run cushion, and Lilly added a squeeze bunt for an RBI.

"They're a good club, you can't give them those opportunities," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.

Chicago loaded the bases in the second on two walks and former Cardinals star Jim Edmonds' double. Alfonso Soriano singled in a pair with two outs and a third run scored when the ball got by left fielder Brian Barton.

Chicago added two in the fourth off Joel Pineiro (6-7), taking advantage of third baseman Glaus' error.

Now, Piniella can give his team some rest while prepping for the playoffs.

After losing three straight to the Diamondbacks a year ago, the Cubs were active in the offseason and stayed busy during the year. They signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who has slumped in the second half, to a $48 million, four-year contract. They picked up castoffs Edmonds and Reed Johnson, and they've formed a solid platoon in center field. And they brought in hard-throwing Rich Harden in a July trade with Oakland to bolster an already strong rotation.

There was also a pivotal change in the pitching staff.

Ryan Dempster, now a 16-game winner, went from closer to starter. And one-time ace Wood, whose career has been sidetracked by injuries, made the transition to closer with a fastball still registering in the mid 90s.

Catcher Geovany Soto emerged as a handler of pitchers and one of the team's most potent bats.

Add in the 65-year-old Piniella's wisdom, his humor, occasional angry outburst and his ability to use all his players and the Cubs have another division winner. Last year they overcame a slow start to overtake Milwaukee. This year they've been in first or tied for it since May 11.

Patrick Rodriguez, 23, of Chicago and his friend Stan Lasko, 23, of Chicago didn't have tickets to the game. Instead the friends roamed Wrigleyville listening to the game on a small portable radio.

"It's always in the back of my mind that something unexpected really could go wrong," Rodriguez said, standing outside a packed bar across from Wrigley Field. "But I really do think this could be our year."

Outside Wrigley, revelers celebrated on streets closed to traffic by police outside the ballpark, randomly parading around and high-fiving strangers.

Among those high-fivers were Jon Weber, 26, and his wife Katie Weber, 24. The couple was headed out of Wrigley for a 3 1/2-hour drive home to Rock Island. Jon held up a sign that read: "The Hunt for Blue October" and echoed the day's confidence.

"I'm convinced that this is the year they're going to go all the way," he said.

Meanwhile, vendors outside Wrigley Field were doing a brisk business selling division championship T-shirts. One vendor, 62-year-old Hector Sanchez, said he received the shirts at the end of the game and sold more than 20 in 10 minutes at $25 each.

The fans had no reason to mask their enthusiasm. They rocked the evening away, confident an eventual World Series will happen.

"I remember 1969, and it was a heartbreak," said "This year, we're gonna go all the way."

Murray Scheinman brought his daughter to witness this piece of history. Though she wore Kerry Wood on her jersey, her dad says a true team effort is what makes this year's Cubs great.

"You don't have one star, you've got a bunch of stars -- you've got Derrick Lee, You've got Kerry Wood…and Soto," Scheinman said.

And right after the seventh inning stretch, it was Wood who helped hold back the Cardinals.

"Kerry Wood, an exciting moment for him. You know he's been through some things, but it's great that Kerry stepped up and did it in the end. This is what we needed," said Cubs fan Clark Morgan.

And at the luxury rooftop parties, several stories up, the winning confidence flowed – even before the clinch.

"I think we're actually going to do it today, pull it out and have fun," said Cubs fan Thadious Fischer.

"I've been a Cubs fan for years and this year we're going to go all the way without a doubt," said Cubs fan Ken South.

"I think that just their courage and their strength… they're going to make it all the way," said Cubs fan Marie South. 

A guy in a mascot suit hopes to help with that – hoping new energy for the team might spark interest in a team mascot, too. That individual is hoping to sell his mascot idea to the team.

And to be fair, CBS 2 did talk to Cardinals fans, many who left the friendly confines quietly, but not before urging Cubs fans to wait until they have a World Series title to celebrate.

Sox fans want some of this good fortune to rub off on the South siders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Editor's Picks

• Gay Celebrities
• Did You Know? Stars From Chicago!
• Celebs Who Lean To The Right
• Real Or Fake?