Cubs fans celebrate team's 1st World Series berth since 1945

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs fans have waited 71 years to celebrate a return to the World Series.

Overjoyed fans streamed out of Wrigley Field on Saturday night after the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to earn their first trip to the World Series since 1945.

Two people climbed a traffic pole, with one man shimmying all the way to the end. Police said he was later arrested, as were a couple of fans who lit fireworks.

A majority of the crowd, however, celebrated the victory peacefully. Many took selfies in front of the stadium and hugged one another.

Some also broke out in song, while others shook up beer bottles and sprayed the crowd. Police officers, including about a dozen cops on horseback, kept a close eye on the crowd. And some officers were seen giving high-fives to fans as they walked by.

Many people donned Cubbie blue and held "W'' flags.

Cubs fan Brian Dusza, who was at Wrigley for Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, never thought he'd see the team win the National League pennant.

"I never thought I'd see it,'' Dusza, 49, said after attending Saturday's game. "I can't even describe what I'm feeling.''

Ed Koenig of Darien, Illinois, was among the few thousand fans who stayed in their seats an hour after the game ended.

His eyes welled up as he talked about his father, who died in May.

"He never got to see this,'' Koenig said. "I haven't been to a game this season without him, and when my friend won a lottery for these tickets, I thought 'how am I going to go without my dad?'''

But his friend convinced him to go. "I have his watch on,'' Koenig said, showing off the watch on his wrist. "I thought I was going without my dad, but I'm with him.''

Before the game, Steve Zucker said he would go to his father's grave and leave him a Cubs hat and T-shirt -- if the Cubs won.

"My dad died playing cards, listening to the game on a little transistor radio, so I may bring that, too,'' Zucker said.

Pitcher Jon Lester said after the game Saturday that Cubs fans have been "unbelievable'' all season.

"[The fans] have done nothing but support us from Day 1. ... Words can't really describe where I'm at right now,'' Lester said.

Cubs All-Star third baseman Kris Bryant said the chants of "M-V-P'' gave him chills, adding that "you never play for those awards, but for these people to chant that, it's unbelievable.''

After the game, Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks saidthis win and trip to the World Series was for the fans.

"I hope they enjoy this. They have been waiting a long time,'' Hendricks said. "Best fans in the baseball, most dedicated fans, and they deserve a lot more of these.''

Even the fan who watched the game from the infamous "Steve Bartman seat" -- named for the beleaguered fan who deflected a foul ball in the 2003 NLCS, which spurred a Miami Marlins rally in that series -- understood the historic nature of the evening.

"I'm thrilled. I love the Cubs. I love the city,'' the fan said. "So my wife and I got an 8-month-old baby, so this is pretty special, pretty special time for all of us.''

The Cubs will face the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 on Tuesday, with the World Series returning to Wrigley Field for Game 3 on Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.