Cubs’ David Ross goes out with a bomb — and a World Series title

CLEVELAND – As perfect endings go, this one was off the charts. What a way for catcher David Ross to end his career.

A home run in his final game. In Game 7 of the World Series.

Won by the Cubs, who hadn’t won one in, oh, 108 years.

After all that, there would absolutely be no way to reconsider a change of heart about retirement.

“Win a World Series in your last year when you know you’re going out and you’re a backup catcher,’’ said Ross, who had announced before spring training this was it, “and these guys treat me the way they do and the city shows me the love it has shown me and you’re a part of one of the greatest games in the history of baseball and breaking the longest curse in all of baseball, what words do you have for that?’’

None.

“It’s so emotional,’’ he said.

In the Cubs’ extraordinary 8-7 victory in 10 innings over the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, Ross entered to catch Jon Lester in the middle of the game and, while he was at it, popped a home run to center field against thought-to-be unhittable postseason behemoth Andrew Miller.

At 39, Ross became the oldest player to homer in a Game 7 of the World Series. He was also the oldest player to hit a World Series homer since the Indians’ Eddie Murray in 1995.

And the oldest to be hoisted on the shoulders of Cubs teammates.

“I hit a home run and got carried off the field,’’ Ross said. “That doesn’t happen. I felt like Rudy going out there. It’s that kind of group we got. I’m so appreciative.’’

Ross felt some vindication for a throwing error to first that figured in the Indians’ two-run fifth. A Lester wild pitch bounced off his mask, momentarily stunning him and causing him to lose his footing.

Two runs scored.

“I had just come in the game and gave up a couple of runs I felt like I was letting the team down,’’ Ross said. “I made an error. That’s not how I scripted it. To get one back on the board was nice to me.’’

Ross wasn’t thinking about a swan song or going out in style or anything like that.

“Everyone wants go talk about was I thinking about the end of my career and all that,’’ he said. “No, I was thinking about winning the game. I’ll have plenty of time to reflect on my career. This is the World Series Game 7. I’m trying to soak it all in and help my teammates.”

Ross has helped throughout the season both on and off the field. After the Cubs fell behind in this series 3-1, he saw teammates get their collective dobber down. It was only a brief state, but Ross stepped in.

“I think there was like one, five second moment when we lost that third game to the Indians and we went back into the clubhouse in Chicago and it was silent,” World Series MVP Ben Zobrist said. “And Rossy, the unbelievable leader that he is, said ‘Don’t do that. Don’t. No. We’re not doing that. We’ve won three games in a row a lot this year. And we can definitely do it. He said ‘Let’s take it one pitch, one inning at a time tomorrow and we’ll get through this.’ ”

Get through it they did. A little leadership from someone who had been there before helped.

“Whether there’s a hero or a goat—excuse the pun—everyone feels the weight of the world when you’re trying to do something special,” Ross said.

Special indeed. As memorable endings go, Ross’ was one for the ages.

In the Cubs’ phenomenal 8-7 win in 10 innings over the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, Ross entered to catch Jon Lester in the middle of the game and, while he was at it, popped a home run to center field against left-hander Andrew Miller.

Yes, that Andrew Miller, the near-unhittable one for almost all of the postseason.

At 39, Ross became the oldest player to homer in a Game 7 of the World Series. He was also the oldest player to hit a World Series homer since the Indians’ Eddie Murray in 1995.

And the oldest to be hoisted on the shoulders of Cubs teammates.

“I hit a home run and got carried off the field,’’ Ross said. “That doesn’t happen. I felt like Rudy going out there. It’s that kind of group we got. I’m so appreciative.’’

Ross felt some vindication for a throwing error to first that figured in the Indians’ two-run fifth

“I had just come in the game and gave up a couple of runs I felt like I was letting the team down,’’ Ross said. “I made an error. That’s not how I scripted it. To get one back on the board was nice to me.

“Everyone wants go talk about was I thinking about the end of my career and all that. No, I was thinking about winning the game. I’ll have plenty of time to reflect on my career. This is the World Series Game 7. I’m trying to soak it all in and help my teammates.”

Ross has helped throughout the season both on and off the field. After the Cubs fell behind in this series 3-1, he saw teammates get their collective dobber down. It was only a brief state, but Ross stepped in.

“I think there was like one, five second moment when we lost that third game to the Indians and we went back into the clubhouse in Chicago and it was silent,” World Series MVP Ben Zobrist said. “And Rossy, the unbelievable leader that he is, said ‘Don’t do that. Don’t. No. we’re not doing that. We’ve won three games in a row a lot this year. And we can definitely do it. He said ‘Let’s take it one pitch, one inning at a time tomorrow and we’ll get through this.’ ”

Get through it they did. A little leadership from someone who had been there before helped.

“Whether there’s a hero or a goat—excuse the pun—everyone feels the weight of the world when you’re trying to do something special,” Ross said.