Kenwood Tap owner Flo Decker had the champagne chilling in the back for when the Chicago Cubs clinched their first World Series victory since 1908.

A rain delay in the bottom of the ninth inning prolonged the suspense and made some Northwest Indiana fans wish they'd have brought more ulcer and sedative medication. Ultimately, however, the Cubs prevailed in an 8-7 barnburner that brought the Cubs faithful to the brink of despair and ecstasy.

Pre-eminent city anthem “Sweet Home Chicago,” as sung by the Blues Brothers, blasted through the Hammond bar as fans sobbed and hugged each other. Around the seventh-inning stretch, however, Decker was worried about Cubs pitcher Jon Lester, who'd pitched in relief Wednesday night.

“Lester is very depressed,” Decker said. “But we need to keep our spirits up. And if the Cubs win, I just hope I have a bar left.”

Three-sixths of the McLeod family — Matriarch Clea McLeod, of Schererville; and daughters Donora Gard, of Highland; and Lynda Lutes, also of Schererville — gathered at Kenwood Tap for the last game just like they have five others. The Cubs have been a mainstay in the family since Clea McLeod married her second husband, Russ McLeod, some 40 years ago.

“The first year they were married, he told us he had a statue of Ernie Banks and that it was going on top of the Christmas tree. No angels and no stars, just Ernie Banks, and it was on the tree for 40 Christmases,” Gard said. “When he passed away seven years ago, my brother took the statue.”

And the McLeod kids played heck getting a sick day off from school most days, Lutes added — except for the first week in April.

“We got to ditch school for Opening Day,” Lutes said. “Russ would pile us and our friends into the station wagon, and we would get seats behind the dugout.”

And when the McLeod family gathered at Kenwood for the first World Series game, no one was left out: Not the brother who lives in Las Vegas, nor Russ McLeod himself.

“We brought his ashes here and bought him a beer,” Gard said. “We know he's up there enjoying himself.”

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.