Extra Innings, Extra Tears
November 2, 2016, will forever be etched in the hearts of Chicago Cubs fans as the night when a 108-year-old curse was shattered in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. The Cubs’ World Series victory was not just a game; it was a cathartic release for generations, a healing salve over decades of near-misses and heartbreaks.
Game 7: A Night of High Drama
The stage was set at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, with the series tied at 3-3. The air was thick with anticipation and the weight of history. The Cubs had not won a World Series since 1908, and the Cleveland Indians were also in the throes of a championship drought since 1948.
Could the Cubs finally break the curse?
The game swung like a pendulum, with the Cubs taking an early lead, only for the Indians to tie the game in the eighth inning, sending shockwaves through the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere. The game went into extra innings after a brief rain delay, adding to the already palpable tension.
In the 10th inning, the Cubs scored two runs, setting the stage for a bottom-half where the Indians could only muster one. When Michael Martinez grounded out to third baseman Kris Bryant, the century-long wait was over. The Cubs were World Series champions.
The Curse of the Billy Goat
The lore of the Cubs is intertwined with the infamous Curse of the Billy Goat. In 1945, Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis was ejected from Wrigley Field during the World Series because of his pet goat’s odor. Sianis allegedly declared, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more,” which haunted the team for decades.
Was the curse real, or just a story of fateful coincidences?
Year after year, the curse seemed palpable, with the Cubs finding new and often heartbreaking ways to miss out on baseball’s ultimate prize. From the 1969 collapse to the 2003 Bartman incident, each failure added a layer to the curse’s legend.
Impact on Chicago and Baseball
The victory in 2016 did more than just end a sporting drought; it healed a city. Chicago, divided by so many things, united under the banner of its beloved Cubs. Tears flowed, hugs were shared, and the streets filled with jubilant crowds. It was a moment of pure emotional release, a collective catharsis decades in the making.
The win also changed baseball. It proved that curses and superstitions could be overcome, that history was not an anchor but a narrative waiting to be rewritten. The Cubs’ victory was a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the sheer unpredictability of sports.
More on this historic victory at MLB.com.
The Legacy of the 2016 Cubs
The 2016 Chicago Cubs will forever be remembered as the team that broke the longest championship drought in North American sports history. Their win was not just for them but for every Cubs fan who had hoped, suffered, and endured. It was a reminder that in sports, as in life, nothing is impossible.
This victory was not just about a trophy; it was about restoring faith, mending broken hearts, and bringing a city together. The 2016 Cubs showed us the power of belief and the importance of never giving up, no matter how insurmountable the odds may seem.
