Far-flung Cubs fans

9/30/1988 President Reagan in the press box with Harry Caray during a Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at Wrigley Field in Chicago

Who loves the Cubs as much as Chicagoans? The people of the Caribbean nation of Belize.

It seems that up until the 1980s if Belzeans even had television sets, they were just used for video tapes. But then an enterprising couple began snagging the Chicago television station WGN and retransmitting it to their fellow citizens.

According to Atlas Obscura, the Belizeans, who already had a taste for baseball, became enthusiastic Cubs fans in the 1980s. Belizean fans became part of the accepted fan base and even Harray Caray would give them a shout out. Belizeans living in Chicago went to the game with Hi Belize signs. It was a love affair.

The romance slightly soured during the Cubs’ long dry streak. That, coupled with more televisions stations, gave Belizeans more choices.

Some observers predict that the Cubs in World Series will spark the old flame and Belize will once again be in the Cubs’ corner.