Chicago Cubs Players To Appear On ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Speculation That Will Ferrell Could Return

Winning their first title since 1908, the Chicago Cubs have transcended sports with their World Series championship over the Cleveland Indians. Just three days after clinching their Game 7 victory, members of the team will appear on “Saturday Night Live.”

Cubs catcher David Ross, who hit a key home run in Game 7, told MLB Network that the players are flying to New York in order to appear on the NBC late-night show. Saturday’s show will be hosted by “Doctor Strange” actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and Solange Knowles is the musical guest.

Players from championship winning teams often appear on late-night shows, but being part of “Saturday Night Live” is a rarity. The Kansas City Royals didn’t get the same invitation after winning the 2015 World Series, further highlighting just how significant the Cubs’ victory is in American pop culture.

An estimated 40 million people watched Chicago defeat Cleveland in Game 7, making it MLB’s most-watched contest in 25 years. More than half of the households in Chicago with TVs were tuned into the game on Wednesday night.

The Cubs celebrated their title with a parade in Chicago on Friday afternoon. Police told WGN that an estimated five million people attended the parade and rally.

“Saturday Night Live” had a connection to the Cubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s because of Will Ferrell and his famous impression of former Chicago broadcaster Harry Caray. Ferrell left the cast in 2002, though there’s been some hopeful speculation that he might return on Saturday to reprise his character for a night.

One of the most memorable “Saturday Night Live” cast members of all time is also one of the most famous Cubs fans. Bill Murray attended several World Series games, and he sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field in Game 3.

The news about the Cubs comes on the same day that NBC announced Dave Chappelle will host “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 12.