Zobrist signs autographs for neighbors outside Chicago home

On Wednesday night, as the Chicago Cubs celebrated their first championship in more than a century, team chairman Tom Ricketts lavished praise on World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, calling him "invaluable" and "a very special dude."

Zobrist's neighbors would probably agree.

Less than 24 hours after helping the Cubs exorcise their 108-year-old demons, Zobrist was signing autographs in the front yard of his Chicago home, with the 35-year-old taking time to chat one-on-one with each visitor, too, according to neighbor Lauren Niz.

"It wasn't planned," Zobrist told WGN-TV. "I just came outside, I was actually holding the baby for a while and just started talking to the neighbors. Next thing you know, there are people asking for autographs."

Zobrist, a three-time All-Star, punctuated a remarkable first season with Chicago by driving in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning of the Cubs' drought-snapping, Game 7 victory over the Cleveland Indians. After posting an .831 OPS with 18 homers during the regular season, Zobrist went 10-for-28 (.357) with two doubles, one triple, and five runs scored in the World Series.