The Nostalgic Thrill of Chicago Cubs Pinball

There is some thing oddly satisfying about firing up a chicago cubs pinball machine while the actual sport is playing on a TV within the background. It's a weirdly perfect accident of two traditional American pastimes: the particular unpredictable bounce of the silver ball as well as the equally unpredictable nature of North Side baseball. If you grew up anywhere close to Chicago, or if you just have the soft spot for the ivy-covered wall space of Wrigley Field, you most likely know precisely the vibe I'm talking about. It's loud, it's vibrant, and it catches an extremely specific type of magic that modern video games battle to replicate. ...

March 17, 2026 · 7 min · Nanny Conroy