Chicago Cubs Ignite Playoff Fever With âOctober is Whyâ Hype Video Ahead of Wild Card Series
Anthony Rizzo Lends Voice to Emotional Postseason Tribute
The Chicago Cubs have launched their postseason campaign with a powerful 90-second hype video titled âOctober is Whyâ, narrated by former Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Released Monday night ahead of the teamâs National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, the video quickly gained traction, surpassing one million views within its first 24 hours online.
Set to soaring music and punctuated by cinematic highlights, the video showcases iconic Wrigley Field moments, the grit of the current roster, and the anticipation surrounding the Cubsâ first full-season postseason appearance at home since 2018. For fans, the return of Rizzoâs voiceâone of the clubâs most celebrated leaders during its 2016 World Series triumphâstrikes a particularly poignant chord.
âThis is what we play for, this is why we fight,â Rizzo declares in one segment, his words echoing as images of a packed Wrigley drum up a sense of continuity between the franchiseâs winning past and its current ambitions.
Playoff Atmosphere Returns to Wrigley Field
The Wild Card Series marks a significant milestone for the Cubs, who finished the regular season with an 89-73 record, clinching the No. 3 seed in the National League. They now face the San Diego Padres in a best-of-three playoff series beginning Tuesday at Wrigley Field. For Chicago fans, the return to meaningful October baseball in their beloved ballpark is long overdue.
Wrigley Field, often described as the âFriendly Confines,â has long been a stage for possibility and heartbreak alike. The Cubsâ last full-season postseason run at home came seven years ago, when they reached the National League Wild Card Game in 2018 but fell short in an extra-inning loss. Since then, expectations have been clouded by rebuilds, roster turnover, and moments of inconsistency.
Now, the teamâs latest surge has reignited an eager fan base, many of whom see this October as a resetâan opportunity to re-establish Wrigley Field as one of the leagueâs defining playoff backdrops.
The Emotional Weight of Rizzoâs Narration
Few figures in Cubs history occupy the same emotional territory as Anthony Rizzo. A three-time All-Star and cornerstone of the 2016 championship team that broke the franchiseâs 108-year title drought, Rizzo remains a symbol of resilience and leadership. Though he now plays for the New York Yankees, his voice immediately rekindled emotions for Chicago fans.
Social media lit up with reactions shortly after the videoâs release. Many supporters described the narration as âgoosebump-inducing,â while others praised the team for bridging the past and present through Rizzoâs familiar cadence.
The choice of Rizzo underscores how professional sports organizations often look to create continuity through storytelling. For the Cubs, who remain in transition with a mix of veterans and younger players, revisiting the memory of their golden era reinforces the belief that new October stories can be written on the same stage.
A Season of Grit and Resilience
The Cubsâ path to the postseason was far from guaranteed. Through much of the summer, they battled inconsistency, hovering only slightly above the .500 mark. Yet when the stakes grew higher, the roster delivered in critical stretches. Behind a surprisingly strong pitching staff and timely offense, Chicago surged in September to secure its postseason berth.
Centerpiece players such as Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger delivered momentum-changing performances, while younger contributors like Pete Crow-Armstrong brought both energy and defensive brilliance. On the mound, the rotationâs stability and bullpen resiliency turned the tide in tight contests.
Their reward is the chance to prove themselves on one of baseballâs biggest stagesâagainst a San Diego team equally hungry for postseason redemption after falling short in last yearâs playoff chase.
Comparing Regional Rivals and Competitors
Chicagoâs playoff return places them alongside other Midwestern franchises shaping October baseball. The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals have been mainstays in recent postseasons, with the Brewers riding a dominant pitching staff and the Cardinals leaning on tradition and veteran hitters. For the Cubs to insert themselves back into that conversation marks an important competitive shift within the region.
Meanwhile, across Major League Baseball, the Cubsâ 2024 resurgence mirrors stories from other clubs that leaned on balanced team construction rather than superstar dependency. Franchises like the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins have also succeeded by blending developing players with targeted acquisitions, creating sustainable contention without breaking payroll records.
For Chicago, the lessons from these teams suggest a similar long-term blueprint: consistency rooted in depth, defense, and pitching stability.
The Economic Impact of October Baseball at Wrigley
Postseason games at Wrigley Field not only energize the team and fans but also deliver a substantial economic jolt to the surrounding neighborhood. The Wrigleyville district, known for its vibrant sports bars, restaurants, and rooftop venues, thrives on playoff activity. Local business owners report that postseason games can often double or triple their revenue compared to a typical regular-season night.
Hotels around downtown Chicago and in nearby Lakeview also anticipate a surge in bookings, with fans traveling from across the Midwest to attend. The teamâs playoff appearance further boosts merchandise sales, with playoff-specific apparel often selling out online and at stadium shops within days of release.
City officials and tourism boards note that each postseason game hosted in Chicago contributes millions in direct and indirect spending. The national attention drawn by Wrigley Field also enhances broader perceptions of the city as a sports hub capable of delivering memorable, high-energy experiences.
A Historic Backdrop and a Cityâs Renewed Hope
For generations, Cubs fans have tied their civic identity to October baseball. The franchise is woven into Chicagoâs cultural fabric, with decades of longing culminating in the 2016 championship that became a defining modern sports story. But history cautions against complacency. After all, long gaps between postseason appearances and difficult stretches have tested Cubs fans for over a century.
In this latest chapter, however, a sense of renewed hope prevails. Fans entering Wrigley Field on Tuesday will sit beneath the same ivy-lined walls, under the same scoreboard that carried generations before them, yet they will be driven by a belief that this roster can carve its own story. The video, âOctober is Whyâ, captures exactly thatâan acknowledgment that past pain, past glory, and present opportunity collide in one place.
Fansâ Emotional Connection
The overwhelming fan response highlights how deeply Cubs supporters invest in symbolic gestures like playoff promos. For many, hearing Rizzo deliver words of motivation conveyed not just anticipation, but a bridge back to the elation of past victories.
Crowds gathered on Clark Street on Monday night even before Game 1 tickets were sold out, with chants erupting as news of the video circulated on social media. The sense of unity reinforced Wrigleyvilleâs reputation as one of baseballâs most passionate neighborhoods. For longtime followers, the emotional resonance of postseason baseball is not only about winning but about belonging.
What Lies Ahead Against the Padres
The San Diego Padres arrive in Chicago with their own ambitions, anchored by a strong core that includes Manny Machado and Juan Soto. Their high-powered offense presents a stark test for Cubs pitchers who will need to neutralize explosive bats while capitalizing on home-field energy.
Both clubs face pressure to perform. The Padres seek validation after years of heavy investment in top-tier talent, while the Cubs aim to prove that their rebuild can translate quickly into October success.
The best-of-three format ensures that every pitch, every swing, carries magnified importance. At Wrigley Field, one swing of momentum can tilt the series, amplifying both the electrifying highs and the painstaking lows of postseason baseball.
The Story Beneath the Spotlight
The Cubsâ decision to release their hype video on the eve of their Wild Card Series was no coincidence. Beyond marketing, moments like these are designed to articulate identity, to remind players and fans alike why October baseball extends beyond statistics.
As the first pitch draws near, âOctober is Whyâ has already succeeded in unifying a fan base, sparking dialogue, and framing the stakes not only for this season but for the enduring legacy of one of baseballâs most storied franchises.
Whether or not the Cubs advance, the narrative has been set: this is a team intent on reminding Chicago why they play, why they cheer, and why, year after year, October remains the ultimate destination.