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Cubs Shatter 108 Year Curse With Glorious Word Series Victory

The answer to the question: “When was the last time the Cubs won the world series?” is no longer “1908.” The answer for Cubs fans everywhere is now: “last week.” No more lovable losers.

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The answer to the question: “When was the last time the Cubs won the world series?” is no longer “1908.” The answer for Cubs fans everywhere is now: “last week.” No more lovable losers. No more Curse of the Billy Goat. The longest championship drought in North American professional sports has been broken. The Chicago Cubs have won their first World Series in 108 years, and the city of Chicago is having a party. Mere months after the Cleveland Cavaliers battled back against the Warriors from a 3-1 series deficit to give the city it’s first major league sports trophy in 52 years, Cleveland fans were forced to endure their team blowing a 3-1 lead of their own. With it, they inherit the league’s longest championship drought, previously belonging to the Cubs.

In one of the best World Series in recent history, the Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in the tenth inning of Game 7. After going down 3-1 in the series, the Cubs chances looked bleak, and bookmakers odds reflected that. Only five teams in major league history had overcome a 3-1 deficit. But like the Cavaliers did earlier this year, the Cubs fought back, forcing a memorable game 7. The Cubs sprung to an early lead, with lead off hitter Dexter Fowler hitting a home run in the first at bat of the game. After six innings they were cruising with a 6-3 lead. Joe Maddon, the Cubs manager, had relied heavily on his closer Aroldis Chapman throughout the series. However, in game 7 Maddon’s over reliance on Chapman caught up to him, as his closer blew the lead and the Indians forced extra innings, drastically swinging the momentum.

Entering the top of the tenth inning, an unexpected hero arrived: the rain, which led to a delay. “It [the rain delay] was the best thing for us … we all supported each other,” said Cub’s Infielder and MVP Candidate Kris Bryant.  

Jason Heyward, an expensive summer acquisition, led the team meeting, reminding the team how hard they had worked, and how proud he was of them all. Whatever went down in the meeting did the trick, as the Cubs went out scoring two runs. Holding on to claim an 8-7 victory, they clinched their first title in over a century.

Throughout the playoffs the Cubs team spirit was constantly brought into question. Against the Giants, playoff specialists, they found themselves four runs down heading into the bottom of the ninth. Game 5 seeming inevitable. A combination of the Giant’s weak bullpen and the Cub’s unrelenting spirit made for an epic comeback, preventing a dangerous elimination game. In the next round against the Dodgers, the Cubs started strong, but wound up in a 2-1 series deficit. Once again, the Cubs prevailed, winning the next three games and securing a spot in their first World Series since 1945.

While the Cub’s character was clearly impressive they were also the undisputed best team in the league throughout the regular season. A young spine and an all star pitching staff led to a 103-59 regular season record, a league best. They were World Series favorites from the beginning, but superstitious Cubs fans nation wide were cautious and realistic, unable to face reality until the final out. But when they did record that final out, the city of Chicago was ready to celebrate in style, hosting an estimated five million fans according to city officials, making the parade the seventh most attended event in human history. Considering the population of Chicago is 2.7 million, it is widely accepted that this number was exaggerated. However, the immense turnout shows just how significant the Cubs victory was for their fans and city.

There is good reason to believe that Cubs fans will have a much shorter wait for their next title. Bookmakers already have the Cubs as 2017 World Series favorites. The young core of their team remains, and is only expected to get better. Cubs fans should be optimistic, now that the legendary curse of the Billy Goat has been officially broken.