Chicago Cubs Finally win the World Series

The Cubs had so much bad luck throughout their history like the Babe Ruth’s called shot in game 3 of the 1932 World Series where he pointed to the center-field bleachers and then hit a home run in that direction. In 1969 while Ron Santo was waiting on deck at Shea Stadium a black cat went by and there was key error by Don Young and then the Cubs collapsed. In the 1984 NLCS against the San Diego Padres in the decisive game five Leon Durham committed a very key error which led the Padres not only to tie the game at 3, the Padres went on to win the game 6-3 to advance to the World Series, the Cubs had a 2-0 series lead before collapsing. I remember what happened in 2003 with a fan by the name of Steve Bartman in game six of the NLCS against the Florida Marlins. The Cubs were five outs away from the World Series for the first time since 1945 and then the Bartman play happened. When Marlins infielder Luis Castillo hit a foul ball along the left field line, Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou went up to try to catch the ball and Bartman interfered with Alou to prevent him from catching the ball and we know the rest of that story. But I don’t blame the Cubs for losing this game because of Bartman, I blame Dusty Baker for leaving Cubs pitcher Mark Prior in way too long and shortstop Alex Gonzalez for miss handling that double play ball that could of ended the inning. Man had the Cubs been going through so much bad luck.

In 2011 the Cubs brought aboard a baseball genius by the name of Theo Epstein who helped end the Boston Red Sox World Series Championship curse in 2004 was the right guy for the job as we know this will take time to rebuild. The Cubs also got Jed Hoyer was with Theo Epstein in Boston as the new GM. In 2015 the Cubs found the right guy for the manager job in Joe Maddon who use to be the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. With Theo Epstein as President of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer as the new general manager and Joe Maddon as manager the Cubs took a big step in 2015 led by Jake Arrieta who won the NL Cy Young award while Kris Bryant won NL Rookie of the year plus Joe Maddon won NL Manager of the year. The Cubs won their first playoff game since 2003 with an 4-0 victory at the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Wild Card game and then beating their archival St Louis Cardinals in 4 games in the NLDS before getting swept by the Mets in the NLCS, but the Cubs were clearly heading in the right direction.

After the off season the Cubs had heading into the 2016 season where they added Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey plus the resigning of Dexter Fowler along with all this amazing young talent they have, the Cubs were favored to win the World Series for the first time since 1908. The Cubs had the best record in all of baseball going 103-58 with an explosive offense led by likely NL MVP Kris Bryant along with Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russel, and many others while Kyle Schwarber was lost to an knee injury very early in the season but this Cubs team is so deep. The Cubs had an excellent pitching staff with Jake Arrieta winning the NL Cy Young award last season, Jon Lester who was 2nd in the NL wins while Kyle Hendricks was leading baseball in ERA among starters. The Cubs beat the Giants in four games including the amazing comeback at the top of the ninth inning in the deciding game 4 and then beat the Dodgers in six games to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1945!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Cubs would take on a team in the Cleveland Indians who haven’t won a World Series since 1948 who have the longest Championship drought among all the teams in the AL. The Indians were led by former Red Sox Manager who Theo Epstein knows very well in Terry Francona. The Cubs were attempting to become the first team since the Kansas City Royals in 1985 to comeback from 3-1 deficit in the World Series. Game 7 is the two best words in all of sports. It was Kyle Hendricks against Corey Kluber who so far in this World Series has dominated the Cubs hitters, but the third time was the charm. The Cubs were able to get to Kluber this time, Dexter Fowler led off the game with a solo home run to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. In top of the fourth inning after a couple of Cubs got on base thanks to a Kris Bryant single and then an Anthony Rizzo hit by a pitch which was followed by an Ben Zobrist ground out which advanced the runners, Addison Russell hit an sacrifice fly followed by an Wilson Contreas double to make a 3-1 Cubs lead. The top of the fifth inning the Cubs added to the lead with an Javy Baez solo shot followed by an Anthony Rizzo RBI single where Kris Bryant scored all the way from first base with excellent base running to give the Cubs an 5-1 lead.

Kyle Hendricks pitched pretty well but I felt Joe Maddon took him out of the game too early. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jon Lester who is usually a starter came in to relief, he gave up some runs to make it a 5-3 Cubs lead. In his final game, Grandpa Rossy aka David Ross hit a solo home run to give the Cubs an 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning.I will say this about Aroldis Chapman, who has pitched in three straight games, he should of rested in game 5, when he gave up the game tying two run home run in the bottom of the 8th, me and Cub fans everywhere were saying, you got to be kidding me, not again here comes more bad luck. Before the top of the 10th inning, rain came into the Cleveland area so their was a small rain delay. While the rain delay went on Jason Heyward called for a team meeting and motivated the team.The top of 10th inning the Cubs backed up Jason Heyward starting with a Kyle Schwarber single, then Albert Almora Jr came into to pinch run for Schwarber. After a Kris Bryant fly out moved up Almora, the Indians intentionally walked Rizzo to put runners on first and second base. Then Ben Zobrist put the Cubs ahead with a huge double down the left field line to give the Cubs an 7-6 lead.  Addison Russell was intentionally walked to load the bases, which was followed by an Miguel Montero single to give the Cubs an 8-6 lead.

The Cubs are now three outs away from their first World Series since 1908. Carl Edwards Jr came into the ball game to get the first two outs, after the Indians scored one run to make an 8-7 ball game, everyone in Cubs nation got very nervous. Then Mike Montgomery made Indians right fielder Michael Martinez ground out to Kris Bryant who threw to Anthony Rizzo for the final out as the Cubs are World Series Champions for the first time since 1908!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Curse of the Billy Goat is over. Cub Fans all over Chicago celebrated especially with a huge crowd in Wrigleyville going crazy. For Cubs legends like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Harry Caray who all sadly passed away, this is for you, RIP. So many people who are getting older and older finally got to see this historic moment.

The Cubs are no longer the lovable losers anymore. Both Joe Buck on Fox Sports and Pat Hughes had excellent calls to call the Cubs historic final out as they win the World Series. The Cubs celebrated with a parade that had a record five million people attend. Ben Zobrist was the World Series MVP after hitting .357 with 10 base hits including the game winner in the game 7 classic. The Cubs and all their fans can now FLY THE W all over Chicago. I am just amazed with Cubs President of Baseball operations Theo Epstein where he able to end the curse with the Boston Red Sox and now the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have such a very bright future with so many young stars. #FLYTHEW Chicago, this party may never end. #GoCubsGo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!