Ohtani And The Dodgers Keep The Cubs And Their Rich History In The Shadows In Japan

Chicago Cubs fans take pride in being underdogs, a role that ended briefly when they won the World Series in 2016 to end a 107-year drought between championships.

They are right at home in Tokyo facing the Los Angeles Dodgers and megastar Shohei Ohtani in a two-game series to open the Major League Baseball regular season.

Dodgers fans easily outnumber Cubs fans 10 to 1 at the Tokyo Dome. On the sheer interest level, Ohtani is probably 60-70 of the draw in the sellouts, with the Cubs and Dodgers splitting the rest.

"That's what's great about the Cubs, we're always the come-from-behind team," said Zach Valavanis, a Cubs fan entering a theme bar in the Tokyo Dome complex, filled with Cubs logos and memorabilia - and dozens of other Chicago fans.

"I feel like that's been the case forever," Valavanis added, citing the come-from-behind effort to win the 2016 World Series.