Baseball-Chicago buzzing as World Series returns to Wrigley

By Steve Keating CHICAGO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - After more than seven decades, Chicago is finally gearing up for the return of the World Series to Wrigley Field on Friday when the Cubs will host Game Three of a best-of-seven Fall Classic tied at one game apiece. With Cubs fever sweeping across the Windy City, Chicago is bracing for a weekend of sporting drama that is sure to have pulses pumping and cash registers humming, especially around Wrigleyville neighbourhood which will be baseball party central. For over a century, the Cubs have left their long-suffering supporters heartbroken at every turn but a split of the opening two games with the Cleveland Indians has their legion of fans around the world believing their time to celebrate has come. "Wrigley ... it's always crazy good but I'd have to imagine a little bit more than that, especially coming back at 1-1," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said after the Cubs' Game Two victory on Wednesday. "It's the finest venue there is in professional sports and maybe in all of sports ... but now having a World Series to root for, it's going to be incredibly special." After being blown out 6-0 in Game One the Cubs rebounded behind the brilliant pitching of Jake Arrieta to earn a decisive 5-1 victory in Game Two and a trip back to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field with a chance to end a 108-year World Series drought at home. Game Three will be the first Fall Classic involving the Cubs played in Chicago since 1945 with Game Four set for Saturday and Game Five on Sunday. Kyle Hendricks (16-8) will be the man in the spotlight as he gets the historic start for the Cubs while the Indians will counter with Josh Tomlin (13-9). "I love baseball history, and Wrigley Field is as good as it gets when it comes to that," said Cubs left fielder Ben Zobrist. "You've got the ivy, and the first time we pulled up to that stadium back in I think 2013 or something with Tampa Bay, the bus is going through the neighborhoods, and then all of a sudden this stadium just pops out of nowhere. "I ride my bike to the field and things like that kind of makes it feel like old school baseball all over again." When the Cubs take the field on Friday for their first home World Series game in 71 years anyone hoping to be part of the epic moment will have to pay up as tickets on resale site StubHub are asking as much as $250,000. While the Cubs are guaranteed a sellout for all three games an end to their World Series drought is far from certain. Despite decades of finding ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it was the Cubs, who led Major League Baseball with 103 wins during the regular season, who entered the playoffs as the World Series favourites. But history is on the side of the Indians, who themselves have gone 68 years without a World Series, with the winners of Game One going on to take 12 of the last 13 Fall Classics. (Editing by Frank Pingue)