If not the most famous sports curse, the Chicago Cubs’ World Series drought – complete with the 70-year Curse of Billy Goat – is definitely among the top. But they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Cubs fans definitely got their heartache’s worth after winning the Series in 2016.
Cubs fans take it all in at Wrigley Field | via Wikimedia
Baseball fans and Cubs fans remember this scene well: November 2, 2016, a chilly night at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cubs were locked in a historic battle with the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series. The stakes were obviously high for both teams, but for the Cubs, it was another story entirely.
This game meant more than just a championship. It was about ending a championship drought that had stretched over a century.
The last time the Chicago Cubs had won the World Series was way back in 1908. To put that into perspective, Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House, and the Model T Ford had just been introduced. The world had changed immeasurably, but one thing remained constant – Cubs fans’ unwavering loyalty and undying hope.
Generations of Cubs faithful had endured heartbreak after heartbreak. Near-misses, curses, and the infamous Steve Bartman incident in 2003 all added to the lore of the Cubs’ championship drought. But in 2016, something just felt different.
Under the guidance of manager Joe Maddon, the Cubs had assembled a squad filled with talent, led by stars like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez.
The 2016 season was nothing short of magical. The Cubs finished the regular season with the best record in baseball, racking up 103 wins. They cruised through the National League playoffs, earning their spot in the World Series against the Indians, setting up their date with destiny.
The symbol of 100 years’ worth of waiting | via Wikimedia
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But it wasn’t over. To break the curse, the Cubs would have to run the full gauntlet: a seven game Series.
Game 7 of the World Series was a rollercoaster of emotions. The Cubs took an early lead, but the Indians fought back – sending the game into extra innings tied at 6-6. What are the chances it would all come down to extra innings in Game 7?
Then, in the 10th inning, it happened. The Cubs scored two runs, and with a 8-6 lead, the moment was finally within reach. With one out to go, Mike Montgomery delivered a pitch, and Kris Bryant fielded the ball and threw it to Anthony Rizzo at first base. That moment, that split second, when Rizzo squeezed the ball and the Chicago Cubs officially became World Series champions, will be etched in the hearts of Cubs fans forever.
Cubs fans celebrate victory | via Wikimedia
The celebrations that followed were 100 years in the making. Cubs fans flooded the streets of Chicago, and the team’s victory parade drew millions of ecstatic supporters. It was a cathartic release of over a century’s worth of pent-up emotion.
And the way it happened couldn’t have been any sweeter for a team and city that earned it.
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