PITTSBURGH — A giddy Pete Crow-Armstrong scanned the visitors clubhouse Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park to take in the boisterous scene.
Crow-Armstrong, with ski goggles resting on the top of his head and eye black smeared across his face, tried to describe how he had envisioned the Chicago Cubs’ postgame celebration after making the playoffs for the first time in five years.
“I didn’t think I’d be so cold, like, my feet are cold and it’s making my upper body cold,” a grinning, shirtless Crow-Armstrong said. “Just picturing being able to give everybody a hug and let them know I appreciate them, and I feel like this moment has absolutely achieved that. So excited to do this today and then excited to forget about it and work to just achieve the ultimate end goal. This is the best.”
Dozens of empty beer and champagne bottles filled carts in the center of the plastic-encased room. Matthew Boyd and Justin Turner broke out cigars moments after Cade Horton was doused in beer by Moisés Ballesteros and Carlos Santana. Carson Kelly found plenty of victims to spray with champagne. And in the quieter moments within the rowdy atmosphere, hugs were exchanged among teammates, coaches and staff. Crow-Armstrong embraced Ian Happ, who told him this won’t be the last time they experience this type of jubilation.
“It’s a grind of a season, and you celebrate your first goal accomplished, we’ve made it to our first goal,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And that’s exciting for everybody that’s been a part of the grind the whole year, for everybody that’s worked so hard to put us in this position, it’s a fun thing to do.
“You don’t get to do this in regular jobs where you get to celebrate and throw champagne on each other. You just don’t get to do it, right? And so you take advantage of and have fun with it, and enjoy each other and celebrate each other.”
Happ, the longest-tenured Cub, gave a postgame speech before the champagne corks were popped. Counsell said he was happy and proud that Happ addressed the team.
“I just love looking around the room and seeing all these faces, and everyone’s at different points in their careers, and everyone’s present right now celebrating each other,” Nico Hoerner said to the Tribune. “That’s pretty cool.”
It was not lost on some Cubs players what a day like Wednesday meant to Happ and Hoerner, who in his seventh major-league season has not played in a playoff game, or other longtime members of the organization and behind-the-scenes support staff.
“If there’s anyone who deserves this, it’s (Hoerner) and Happer,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said to the Tribune. “What they mean to this organization, what they mean to this group, what they mean to the city of Chicago and what we’re about, they embrace it and they deserve this moment and I couldn’t be more proud of him and Happ.”
The Cubs still have something to play for over the final 10 games. They head to Cincinnati looking to lock in the top National League wild-card spot, currently a 5-game lead ahead of the San Diego Padres, who they would host at Wrigley Field starting Sept. 30.
For one night, though, the Cubs fully planned to embrace the moment and celebrate the work that led them to this point.
“Just this group, the work that they’ve put in, the guys that have been here for the last few years, it’s really special,” Happ told the Tribune. “The young guys that have contributed so much, they deserve this. This whole group deserves this.”
Column: A muted celebration in Wrigleyville as Chicago Cubs fans await a bigger party in October
Chairman Tom Ricketts and multiple members of the front office, including president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, general manager Carter Hawkins and assistant GM Jared Banner, arrived in Pittsburgh on Wednesday morning for the potential playoff clinch and celebration. The Cubs’ return to the postseason comes from a rebuilding process that began in 2021 and has seen a spectrum of moves, from shrewd waiver wire claims and prospect development to free agent signings.
“In baseball, you never celebrate, it’s next day, next day, next day,” Hoyer said to the Tribune. “I think this is a moment where you can take a deep breath and say, we accomplished something, and you should celebrate, then get back to work tomorrow. But everyone’s earned that. It is nice to let it loose after being pent up for seven months.”
Within all the postgame exuberance, the Cubs didn’t forget the big picture — and the end goal.
“I want more of this,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I think this is just our first taste.”