Fans thrilled as Cubs clinch a playoff berth

The St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants late Thursday handed the Cubs their first National League Central division championship since 2008.

Mario Schumann, of South Elgin, a season ticket holder was monitoring the Cardinals game from Vines on Clark, across the street from Wrigley Field.

Schumann, 34, said that while the Cubs clinching a playoff berth is sweet, he wished it was their victory that sealed the deal.

“I know how bad they wanted to do it tonight, but [The Cardinals losing] is not the sweet way to do it,” Schumann said.

Schumann added that, for him, anything short of a World Series victory would be a failure.

“It’s about time for that,” he said.

Chants of “Let’s go Cubbies” broke out along the bar-laden strip of Clark Street near Wrigley Field after the Cardinals-Giants game wrapped up.

A crowd of several hundred people gathered under the Wrigley Field marquee and sang “Go Cubs Go” as the sign changed to read “2016 NL CENTRAL CHAMPIONS.”

Several Chicago Police officers working security outside the event said the group was overall well-behaved, especially compared to past Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup celebrations.