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Levine: Multiple Generations Of Cubs Smiling At These NL Champions

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Cubs are the National League champions.

Think about that a moment. No Cubs team had been able to say that in 71 years.

With Chicago's 5-0 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday night, a lot of tabs were finally covered for the Cubs clubs that were close but never made it to the World Series. Making multiple generations of former Cubs players smile is a sweet side by to the incredible run by the 2016 NL champions. Nobody had a bigger smile than Kerry "Kid K" Wood, now an ambassador for the team who had his whole family at Wrigley Field for the clincher.

"It's amazing, it's epic what this team has done for the city and the organization," Wood said. "It was a mind-blowing experience. Fantastic being out there with the crowd. What a totally cool experience."

Wood was the on the mound the last time the Cubs were in a clinching situation, back in 2003. In Game 7 of the NLCS that year, he hit a three-run home run to briefly give the Cubs the lead, but they weren't able to hold off the Marlins, losing three games in a row and leaving so many heartbroken.

"These guys tonight got to experience something we did not experience," Wood said. "So I am extremely happy for them. We got to play in this game. We just did not get to celebrate like they are. They have set their place in history and will be linked forever as winners here."

On Saturday night, Wood was wearing a Ron Santo jersey in honor of his late friend and Cubs icon.

"Ronnie never got to see this," Wood said. "He never got to witness this night. I will definitely continue to wear the Santo jersey and wear it all the way through. Hopefully he will be honored through this experience."

The crowd was numb according to Wood after the initial shock of winning the pennant settled in.

"When it ended, we were all cheering and then all of a sudden, it was like 40,000 people did not know what to do," Wood said. "They obviously know what to do on Clark Street tonight. They know exactly what to do. Now it's time to celebrate and have some fun. Four more wins baby."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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