Flying the W
Large W flags line the side of Macy’s on State Street on Oct. 24, 2016.
(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Chicago Tribune
Chicago Cubs fans are showing their loyalty these days and not just after a North Side victory.
Merchandise Mart carpenters Adam Pabst, left, and Brian Beason install the seventh W flag on the south side of the Merchandise Mart on Oct. 24, 2016.
(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)The Merchandise Mart hangs W flags in honor of the Cubs going to the World Series Oct. 24, 2016.
(Jose Osorio / Chicago Tribune)The Art Institute lions are adorned with Cubs hats for the first time ever on Oct. 24, 2016.
(Jose Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards carries a giant “W” flag around the outfield as he celebrates the NLCS-clinching victory in Game 6 against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field on Oct. 22, 2016.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The “W” flag flies above the scoreboard at Wrigley Field after a 5-0 win by the Cubs over the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series on Oct. 22, 2016.
(John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)A rooftop building decorates with W flags before Game 6 of the NLDS on Oct. 22, 2016.
(Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)A Cubs fan waves a “W” flag in the stands during the Bears-Packers game at Lambeau Field on Oct. 20, 2016.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)A Cubs fan wears a W flag towel on his head in the Wrigley Field bleachers during Game 2 of the NLCS against the the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 16, 2016.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)A fan exits Wrigley Field with the W flag worn as a cape after the Cubs beat the Brewers in their first home game after they clinched the National League Central Division title on Sept. 16, 2016.
(Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)Doug Sheets and wife Elizabeth Sheets of Noblesville, Ind., take a selfie outside Wrigley Field in Chicago on Oct. 21, 2016. The couple are life long Chicago Cubs fans.
(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Construction continues outside of Wrigley Field Oct. 20, 2016, as a huge “W” is hung from a multi-floor structure on Waveland Avenue near Clark Street.
(Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)Radiah Henderson washes her dishes in a kitchen area adorned with Cubs logos, W flags and streamers at the LaSalle Network’s offices in Chicago on Oct. 19, 2016.
(Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)A W flag hangs on the office wall of Luis Auto Repair, a 50-year-old shop, across the street from Wrigley Field on Sept. 13, 2016.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Inside the vintage center field scoreboard, operator Darryl Wilson shows off Sept. 16, 2016, the W flag he hoists above the scoreboard after a win.
(Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. dances with the W flag while celebrating the National League Central Division title in the team’s locker room at Wrigley Field on Sept. 16, 2016.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Bleacher fans hold up W flags to celebrate a win over the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on Oct. 8, 2016.
(Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Fans hold up their W flags in the Wrigley Field bleachers after a victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 20, 2016.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The W flag flies from the scoreboard at Wrigley Field after a victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 19, 2016.
(Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The W flag flies above Wrigley Field after the Cubs beat the Brewers in their first home game after they clinched the the National League Central Division title on Sept. 16, 2016.
(Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)Clark the Chicago Cubs mascot greets visitors at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park on Oct. 6, 2015, passing out W posters and posing for photos.
(Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)Chicago Cubs fans holding up W flags are shown on the scoreboard in left field following the Chicago Cubs’ victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sept. 21, 2015.
(Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)Jordan Pruitt of Winston Salem, N.C., gets his W flag signed by Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Montero (47) before the first game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sept. 15, 2015.
(Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)Chicago Cubs usher Don Welker hands out W flags to arriving fans before Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 12, 2015, at Wrigley Field.
(Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Wrigley Field is reflected over a W flag hanging in a window at the Cubby Bear near the intersection of North Clark and West Addison streets in the Wrigleyville neighborhood Oct. 15, 2015, in Chicago.
(Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)New York Mets fans invert a W flag to make it into a Mets flag as they celebrate an National League Championship Series victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Oct. 21, 2015.
(Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)