Cubs Break 108 Year Old Championship Curse

The Billy Goat Curse vs Rocky Covalito Curse

The 2016 World Series featured MLB’s two lovable losers. The Chicago Cubs haven’t won a title since 1908. The Cleveland Indians haven’t won one since 1948. A combined 174 years of pain & suffering for the fan bases in Ohio and the North Side of Chi-Town. During the 1945 World Series, The Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis and his goat “Murphy” were kicked out of Wringley Field. The fans had complained about the odor of his pet. Mr. Sianis would go on to curse the team by saying “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more”. The Cubs would lose that world series to the Detriot Tigers and go 71 years before appearing in another one. On the 46th anniversary of Sianis’ death, the Cubs defeated the Dodgers to reach the 2016 World Series against the Indians.

On the other hand, an unpopular trade cursed the Indians franchise in 1960. When right fielder Rocky Covalito was traded to the Detriot Tigers for Harvey Kuen, it doomed the franchise. The team has only appeared in the World Series in 1995, 1997, and 2016…losing two of those series in game 7. Rocky originally denied allegations that the curse was placed by him.

Comeback For The Ages & Bill Murray

This world series was starting to seem like a wash once Cleveland went up 3-1. To make matters worse, they had home field advantage. With a potential game 6 & 7 in Cleveland, the Cubs seem destined to once again lose. Then the unthinkable happened against all the odds. The Cubs won the final game at Wrigley to stay alive, a 3-2 victory in Game 5. With the series back in Cleveland, many expected the Indians to close out the Cubs since their offense seemed pretty dead throughout the playoffs. But these Cubs didn’t win 103 games without pressing their hard luck. They would win Game 6 by a score of 9-3, creating an epic atmosphere for one of the most amazing Game 7’s in Sports History.

Bill Murray, a lifetime Chicago fan, sang “Take me out to the ball game” at one of the games at Wrigley. His energy and fighting words were felt through Wrigley Field. One of the most electric crowds in baseball finally being rewarded for being patient.

Game 7 Goes to Extra Innings

The absolute stuff of movies, where heroes and legends are born, bar stories to be told for generations to come. Both teams arrived on this chilly Ohio night two days after Halloween looking for glory. A complete heavyweight boxing match between two titans who refused to let their fans down after all these years. With the Cubs jumping out to an early lead, demons that refused to be exorcised kept coming up for both teams. With the Cubs up 6-3 in the 8th inning, the Indians got hot against one of the best closers in baseball, Aroldis Chapman. After making the game 6-4, Rajai Davis blasted a 2 run homer to tie the game at 6-6. Fans at Progressive field were jumping on their chairs thinking the long wait would be over. Momentum had completely shifted to the Indians favor after squandering a 3-1 series lead.

In the 10th inning of an already epic game 7, Ben Zobrist would have the biggest moment of his career. Zobrist hit a double to left allowing the go ahead run to score, and make it 7-6. This would prove the biggest moment in Cubs history. The Cubs would add an extra run to make it 8-6 as fans in the stands were starting to get that sick feeling in the stomach that heartbreak causes. With the Indians up to bat, they would go to work in hopes of having one of the greatest rallies of all time. Once again, Rajai Davis knocked in a run after a single to center, making the game 8-7. The fans were feeling hopeful again. Cubs fans couldn’t believe their eyes. Was this another meltdown, why is it so difficult to close out this drought of 108 years. With a runner on first, and Michael Martinez up to bat, Mike Montgomery just needed an out to bring glory back to the North Side. With a weak hit to the 3rd baseman, and a nice toss to 1st base, the Cubs did the impossible and won the 2016 World Series. Further adding another year to the suffering of Indians fans in Cleveland.

To put things into perspective, the last time Chicago Cubs won the World Series, the Television nor the Radio had been invented yet. The United States only had 46 states. Either World Wars had occurred yet. But on this night, all those memories were erased. No more saying “Maybe next year”. This was it. The young squad finally got it done, with the potential to build a dynasty next year on the North Side.