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Fans cheer during Game Five of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians at Wrigley Field on October 30, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Fans cheer during Game Five of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians at Wrigley Field on October 30, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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The enthusiasm and devotion of die-hard Cubs fans is nothing short of remarkable. And one person felt that that fandom should be celebrated, so he created My Cubs Story, a “Humans of New York”-esque Facebook page where fans can share stories of why the Cubbies hold a special place in their hearts.

After experiencing what he described as an “emotional awakening” as the Cubs moved deeper into the playoffs, 43-year-old Tom Lillig said he needed an outlet to share what he was feeling for his favorite baseball team. He also wanted to provide a platform for other fans to share their tales.

“I reflected on how much of my identity has been shaped by being a Cubs fan, and I figured this must be something that other Cubs fans are feeling, too,” he said. “I had my own little ‘If you build it, they will come’ moment.”

Lillig, with the help of his colleagues at River North ad agency Stone Ward Advertising, launched the My Cubs Story page Friday, which coincided with Game 3 of the World Series. Within the first 48 hours of its launch, the page gained 1,908 likes, which also happens to be the year the Cubs last won the World Series.

The first story you’ll find on the page is Lillig’s, which recounts his feelings of joy (and subsequent heartache) as an 11-year-old growing up in Oak Park during the 1984 NLCS between the Cubs and San Diego.

“I would tape posters of the players to my wall, and I’d have dreams of them becoming World Series champions,” Lillig said. “Even after they lost, I still kept the posters on the wall long enough to yellow. My belief in the team never died out.”

He went on to explain that after arriving in Chicago, his grandfather quickly became a Cubs fan and raised his children and grandchildren to follow suit. And as if the Cubs fandom didn’t run deep enough in his family, Lillig said his uncle played alongside Steve Goodman on the recording of the famous “Go Cubs Go!” song.

Lillig said that since its launch, the page has seen about 50 stories come in, and it was nearing 3,000 likes on Tuesday. Stone Ward employees have been assisting Lillig with the story review process, which includes following up with the fans to get pictures and additional details for their stories. They’re aiming to post two stories a day to the page.

Some of the standout stories include one about a pair of framed tickets to the 1984 “World Series That Wasn’t” and the memorable first night game at Wrigley Field on Aug. 8, 1988. Another story details the traditions passed down through generations of maternal Cubs fans. Still another recalls the sacrifices a widowed mom took to get her daughter to her first Cubs game.

Will the My Cubs Story page remain active if (and when *fingers crossed*) the Cubs win the World Series? Lillig said it’s likely.

“We will keep the page up as long as there are stories to tell.”

@RianneCoale | rcoale@redeyechicago.com