CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo caught the ball for the final out and Wrigley Field erupted.Im sleeping with this thing tonight, the Chicago Cubs first baseman told the pulsating crowd moments later, kissing the prized souvenir. Are you kidding me? Were going to the World Series.Cubs ... World Series? Yes, the Cubbies!Next up, Game 1 in Cleveland.With fans chanting, singing and waving those Ws, shaking the century-old ballpark and jamming the streets of Wrigleyville, the Cubs celebrated a moment many of their faithful wondered whether they would ever see.Kyle Hendricks outpitched Clayton Kershaw, Rizzo and Willson Contreras homered early and the Cubs took their first pennant since 1945, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 Saturday night to win the NL Championship Series in six games.Listen to them. Outside before the game was crazy. Inside the game was crazy, Cubs pitcher Jon Lester said.These guys have done nothing but support us from Day One. Its been unbelievable to be here and be part of this. Words cant really describe where Im at right now, he said.Cursed by a Billy Goat, bedeviled by Bartman and crushed by decades of disappointment, those Lovable Losers now have a chance to win it all.Trying to win their first crown since 1908, manager Joe Maddons team opens the World Series against Cleveland on Tuesday night.The Indians havent won it all since 1948 -- Cleveland and Cubs have the two longest title waits in the majors.This city deserves it so much, Rizzo said. We got four more big ones to go, but were going to enjoy this. Were going to the World Series. I cant even believe that.All-everything Javier Baez and Lester shared the NLCS MVP. Baez hit .318, drove in five runs and made several sharp plays at second base. Lester, a former World Series champion in Boston, was 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.The drought ended when Aroldis Chapman got Yasiel Puig to ground into a double play , setting off a wild celebration. And if they bring home the elusive championship?I may make the `W a tattoo, said chairman Tom Ricketts , who once lived across the street and met his wife in the bleachers.Deemed World Series favorites since opening day, the Cubs topped the majors with 103 wins to win the NL Central, then beat the Giants and Dodgers in the playoffs.The Cubs overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Dodgers and won their 17th pennant. They had not earned a World Series trip since winning a doubleheader opener 4-3 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 29, 1945, to clinch the pennant on the next-to-last day of the season.The eternal wait till next year is over. No more dwelling on a history of failure -- the future is now.Were too young. We dont care about it, star slugger Kris Bryant said. We dont look into it. This is a new team, this is a completely different time of our lives. Were enjoying it and our works just getting started.Hendricks pitched two-hit ball for 7 1/3 innings . Chapman took over and closed with hitless relief, then threw both arms in the air as he was mobbed by teammates and coaches.The Dodgers sent the minimum 27 batters to the plate and no one got past first base.The Cubs shook off back-to-back shutout losses earlier in this series by pounding the Dodgers for 23 runs to win the final three games.And they were in no way overwhelmed by the moment on Saturday, putting aside previous frustration.In the 1945 Series, the Billy Goat Curse supposedly began when a tavern owner wasnt allowed to bring his goat to Wrigley. In 2003, the Cubs lost the final three games of the NLCS to Florida, punctuated with a Game 6 defeat when fan Steve Bartman deflected a foul ball.Even as recently as 2012, the Cubs lost 101 times.This time, no such ill luck.Bryant had an RBI single and scored in a two-run first . Dexter Fowler added two hits, drove in a run and scored one.Contreras led off the fourth with a homer.Rizzo continued his resurgence with a solo drive in the fifth.That was plenty for Hendricks, the major league ERA leader.Hendricks left to a standing ovation after Josh Reddick singled with one out in the eighth. The only other hit Hendricks allowed was a single by Andrew Toles on the games first pitch.Kershaw, dominant in Game 2, gave up five runs and seven hits before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth. He fell to 4-7 in the postseason.This day is never fun, the ending of a season, Kershaw said.The Dodgers havent been to the World Series since winning in 1988.Pitching on five days rest, Kershaw needed 30 pitches to get through the first. Fowler led off with a double against the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, and Bryants single had the crowd shaking the 102-year-old ballpark.Fans had more to cheer when left fielder Andrew Toles dropped Rizzos fly, putting runners on second and third, and Ben Zobrist made it 2-0 a sacrifice fly.The Cubs added a run in the second when Addison Russell doubled to deep left and scored on a two-out single by Fowler.LINEUP SHUFFLEMaddon benched slumping right fielder Jason Heyward in favor of Albert Almora Jr.Kershaws pitching, so I wanted to get one more right-handed bat in the lineup, and also with Albert I dont feel like were losing anything on defense, Maddon said. I know Jasons a Gold Glover, but I think Albert, given an opportunity to play often enough would be considered a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder, too.Heyward was 2 for 28 in the playoffs -- 1 for 16 in the NLCS.SEENKerry Wood, wearing a Ron Santo jersey, threw out the first pitch and actor Jim Belushi delivered the Play Ball! call before the game. Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder and actor John Cusack were also in attendance. And Bulls great Scottie Pippen led the seventh-inning stretch. Larry Johnson Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Joe Delaney Jersey .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-damien-wilson-jersey-large-1696n.html . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Austin Reiter Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Deon Yelder Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. WINNIPEG -- He may sit on the bench but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed a 20-year-old junior football receiver for their game Friday night against the Toronto Argonauts. Its a Cinderella story for Brett Carter but also a sign of how banged up the Winnipeg receiving corps is right now. "I cant put it into words," said a grinning Carter. "Its unreal. Im so thankful for the opportunity." And Bombers coach Tim Burke says Carter should be ready for anything. "He might get his chance to get out there and play in a CFL game," he said. Carter will back up slotback Jade Etienne while Rory Kohlert will move from that spot to fill Cory Watsons position. Watson is expected to be gone two-to-four weeks with a hamstring injury. "I think Rory Kohlert will do a great job running routes," said Burke. "Well have to find a different way to block . . but well be fine." Argos coach Scott Milanovich isnt concerned about Winnipegs woes. "Ive got my own problems," he said. "This really is a new team." The Argos will be trying out a new receiver as well Friday in John Chiles. "Were excited to see what he can do," said Milanovich. Theres a lot on the line for both Winnipeg and Toronto as all four teams in the East Division head into action with underwhelming 1-2 records. "Would we like to be 3-0, yeah," said Argos receiver/kick-returner Chad Owens. "But were just going to continue to work. Its a very long season." Quarterback Ricky Ray said the Argos can certainly help themselves with a win but added that wont be easy against a Winnipeg defence thats recorded a league-leading 18 sacks. "You watch film and they can get after the quarterback," he said. The loss of Watson certainly complicates matters for the Bombers. Not only is he their leading receiver and best blocker at that position, but as a Canadian hes also a ratio changer. With Chris Matthews and Terrence Edwards also out, import Doug Pierce is getting another chance to start at receiver. And hes excited about that after spending most of his year and aa bit with the Bombers as a backup.dddddddddddd "Ive been ready to go since last year, the end of the season, but a little extra work never hurt anybody," he said after Thursdays walkthrough. Burke said he apologized to safety Dan West after re-examining his hit on Watson that injured the receiver on the final play of Wednesdays practice. Shortly after Watson was hurt, Burke vented about West shoving the receiver out of bounds but added Thursday that Watson wasnt without blame. "You never should say anything until after youve watched the video," Burke said. "I apologized to Dan for making him the villain. . . Cory had a part in it. "He shouldnt have stiff-armed Dan." Watson caught a long pass and stiff-armed West on the helmet before being pushed out of bounds and falling to the ground. Carter, 20, attended Winnipegs training camp and appeared in both exhibition games before being released. He continued practising with the Bombers as a territorial exemption and was expecting to do so until the start of the Winnipeg Rifles junior season next month before signing with the CFL club. The Bombers have been impressed with his enthusiasm and ability. "What a great moment for him and Im excited," said quarterback Buck Pierce. "Were proud of him and we know that he can play." Pierce says hes excited at the prospect of facing Torontos defence. The unit has struggled -- allowing 32 points and 162 yards rushing per game, both league highs -- but Pierce is expecting an aggressive gameplan from Argos defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones. "(Jones) wants to go out there and brawl," he said. "My mentality coming into this game is its going to be a fight. "Its going to be a fight and Im ready for 12 rounds of it . . . Whoever they bring, Im going to get the ball out and Im going to make plays when plays are available." Winnipegs defence has been solid but its offence has failed to click and Pierce admits the doubters wont go away until that changes. "Those question marks are still kind of floating around," he said. ' ' '