We didn’t come across this story until today, so while the city of Chicago is already lining up to watch the victory parade today, we want to share this story of how Cubs World Series tickets took center stage of a recent divorce proceeding.
Considering that the Cubs were looking to win their first World Series in 108 years, it’s no surprise that the demand for tickets was incredibly high as the Cubs and the Indians descended on Chicago for Games 3, 4 and 5. One woman wanted to go so bad that she filled an “Emergency Petition for World Series Tickets” in Cook County Court.
Earlier this year, Nancy Riddle’s estranged husband bought a season ticket package with some of his friends. The package meant that he had the opportunity to purchase World Series tickets for a fraction of what they were going for on the secondary market. Although the story doesn’t delve into specifics as to how the tickets were divided among his friends who went in on the tickets, it’s noted that Riddle’s husband was allotted two tickets to Game 4.
Maritial Property
Although Riddle described her relationship with her husband as estranged, they were still married and thus she felt she had a valid claim to reap the benefits of the ticket package. She filed the emergency petition in Cook County court, and after hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Marya Nega ruled that the husband could keep the two tickets for himself and his 12-year-old son. However, the judge ordered that the husband should pay for a ticket for Nancy Riddle in a “comparable” section. Considering the cheapest ticket was going for roughly $3,000, the husband likely had to shell out a pretty penny for that comparable ticket.
The husband’s lawyer – a self-described Chicago White Sox fan – said that he objected to Riddle’s claims in court that since the Cubs hadn’t been to the World Series in 71 years that there stood a good chance that she would not get to see the Cubs in the World Series ever again if she did not attend this year’s World Series. The lawyer reluctantly argued that the rival Cubs “are a great team” who stand a great chance to be back in the World Series again in the near future, suggesting that Riddle did not need to lay claim to her husband’s tickets this year.
“Even if the Cubs lose this time, it is likely — regrettably — that they will be back to the World Series again soon.”
The Cubs lost Game 4, but went on to win the World Series in seven games.