MLB
“Going to Disney World!” Baseball World Champions Celebrate Historic Victory with Magical Visit to Walt Disney World Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., (FNN SPORTS) By Walt Disney Parks and Resorts — America’s love affair with its newest baseball heroes made its way to Main Street U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park on Saturday afternoon when baseball’s world champions did what so many sports champions do: They “go to Disney World!”
Championship MVP Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Javier Baez, who all helped lead the Chicago Cubs to the world championship earlier this week, rode along with Mickey Mouse in a celebratory parade at Walt Disney World Resort. A throng of cheering fans, many dressed in the team’s colors, lined the parade route at Magic Kingdom waving “W” flags and holding signs. Mickey Mouse and Goofy both dressed for the occasion, wearing their classic baseball uniforms!
World champions (L-R, top to bottom) MVP Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Javier Baez, of the Chicago Cubs are joined by Mickey Mouse and Goofy in a magical moment as streamers fall from the sky Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The players were honored among thousands of fans at Walt Disney World in a parade celebrating the team’s historic victory. (David Roark, photographer)
MVP Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs poses for a victory photo with Goofy and Mickey Mouse Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The players were later honored among thousands of fans in a parade at Walt Disney World celebrating the team’s historic victory. (Preston Mack, photographer)
World champions (L-R) Javier Baez, MVP Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell, of the Chicago Cubs, pose for a celebratory photo with Goofy and Mickey Mouse Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The players were honored among thousands of fans in a parade at Walt Disney World celebrating the team’s historic victory. (Preston Mack, photographer)
World champions (front to back) MVP Ben Zobrist, Javier Baez and Addison Russell, of the Chicago Cubs, take flight with their families aboard Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The players were later honored among thousands of fans in a parade at Walt Disney World celebrating the team’s historic victory. (Preston Mack, photographer)
The players and their families enjoyed some of the theme park’s signature attractions, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Plus, they spent time hanging out with Mickey Mouse and Goofy and took photos to capture the memory.
“I can’t believe how many (Cubs fans) there were at the parade. It’s just unbelievable,” said Zobrist. “It’s an amazing following of people right here at Disney World.”
The parade was the perfect exclamation point on a championship celebration that was 108 years in the making. The team last won baseball’s Fall Classic in 1908, the longest interval between championships in sports history.
The parade was also one of the most heart-warming salutes in Disney Parks’ long tradition of sports champions celebrating their victories by “Going to Disney World” which dates back to 1987.
The Cubs rallied from the brink of defeat (they were down 3-1 in the best-of-seven-game series) to win a nail-biting Game 7 in 10 innings. Zobrist hit a double in the 10th inning that scored the go-ahead run that led to their momentous victory.
Likewise, Russell and Baez were both huge contributors throughout the Cubs’ playoff run. Baez accounted for the Cubs’ only run – a solo homer – in their 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series. And Russell hit a grand slam home run in Game 6 that helped force the deciding Game 7, keeping the team’s title hopes alive.
Central Florida News
ANNIKA Media Day Brings Melanie Green Back to Tampa Bay Ahead of Tournament Debut
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — ANNIKA Media Day brought golf to Tropicana Field Thursday as former USF standout Melanie Green helped preview The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican ahead of its November return.
Green, the 2025 Epson Tour Player of the Year and Gaëlle Truet Rookie of the Year, spent the day meeting with media, connecting with fans and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Tampa Bay Rays game.
Green Reflects on USF Roots
Florida National News’ Todd Grasley asked Green what it means to now compete in an LPGA event essentially in her own backyard after spending four years at USF and making Florida home.
“Being a Florida resident now, I’m like, okay, this is awesome,” Green said. “So, you know, it’s exciting.”
The setting carries a different meaning for Green now. She has gone from competing collegiately at USF to the Epson Tour, where her breakout 2025 season earned her Player of the Year honors and a tour card.
Photo: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News / FNN Sports
From Epson Tour to the LPGA
Grasley asked Green about that climb — from USF to Epson Tour Player of the Year and now competing against some of the best players in the world while realizing a childhood dream.
Green reflected on the role her faith and support system played in that journey, saying much of what has happened was bigger than anything she could have created on her own.
When asked if there was an “aha” moment when being an LPGA player finally felt real, Green admitted the transition still requires reminders.
“I feel like I have to continually just keep reminding myself,”
She later put the adjustment into perspective.
“Once you get past the ‘whoa’ of the LPGA, then you can kind of feel like … your feet just aren’t getting wet, you’re actually in the water.”
Attendees gather during ANNIKA Media Day at Tropicana Field as preparations continue for The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican this November. Photo: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News / FNN Sports
USF Foundation Still Matters
Green also reflected on how her time at USF helped prepare her for life beyond college golf.
“I would say my coaches were phenomenal for me,” Green said.
Rather than focusing solely on the mechanics of her swing, Green said her coaches helped her navigate the larger demands surrounding competition, including tournament preparation and time management.
Green Looks Ahead to The ANNIKA
The conversation also turned to Annika Sörenstam, whose career Green followed before getting the opportunity to compete professionally in the tournament bearing her name.
Grasley asked what Sörenstam has meant to Green as a player she looked up to and what it means to now participate in her event as a professional.
“She holds just about, seems like, every record.”
Green describes Sörenstam as someone players continue to look up to and aspire toward.
The ANNIKA Returns in November
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican returns to Pelican Golf Club in Belleair Nov. 11-15, with tournament play beginning Nov. 12.
Green is among the early commitments for the 2026 field. For Green, the week will bring another milestone in a season already filled with firsts — this time competing near the place where a major part of her golf journey began.
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Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – After a 99-day lockout the players union and owners have finally struck a deal on America’s National Pastime, and the best news of all, a full 162-game season. It’s a decision that comes as a sigh of relief to baseball fans nationwide who feared the wait could lead to the cancellation of the season, much like it did in 1994-1995.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who took a lot of flac from outsiders throughout the process, was relieved to hear from MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark that the two sides had come to an agreement.
“I have a great job, but one of the negative parts of it is when you have a situation like this, where you’re depriving the fans of the game…I felt a great weight from that,” Manfred said in an interview with ESPN.com. “When we learned that they ratified, that weight came off my shoulders.”
While the new Collective Bargaining Agreement improves conditions for MLB players, it also comes with several rule changes to the game, including the postseason being expanded to 12 teams, a universal DH, doubleheaders now consisting of nine innings, eliminating the rule of having baserunners to start extra innings.
The 2022 season will start on April 7th for most teams, with the initial missed games at the beginning being made up in doubleheaders throughout the year and at the end of the season.
Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays are ready for the 2022 season. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.
As for Spring Training baseball in Florida and Arizona, players can report to voluntary workouts starting March 11th with games starting the week of March 18th.
Check out the complete schedule of Grapefruit League (Florida) and Cactus League (Arizona) games and keep it locked on Florida National News for coverage of Major League Baseball throughout the season.
Let’s play ball!
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Todd Grasley is a sports reporter for Florida National News Tampa. | sports@floridanationalnews.com
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