Cubs beat curse, win World Series

Post date: Nov 17, 2016 1:59:32 AM

By Michael Sweeney '17

The Chicago Cubs celebrate on the field after winning the 2016 World Series. The Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in seven games. Courtesy Arturo Pardavila III / Wikimedia Commons

A combined 174 years. That is how long it’s been since the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians have last won a title: Chicago in 1908 and Cleveland in 1948. Since 1908, there have been two world wars, 18 U.S. presidents, the creation of the internet and cellphones. The series had an average of 20 million viewers per game; until the epic climax topped 40 million. The series is considered one of the greatest in baseball history and one of the greatest finales of all time.

Before the World Series and before the regular season began, the Chicago Cubs were heavy favorites to win the Championship. They did not disappoint, as they finished the year with the best record in baseball at 103 and 58. They sent an astounding seven players to the MLB All Star Game. They were the second team in history to have their entire infield starting in the midseason classic. Entering the playoffs, they defeated the San Francisco Giants in the divisional round, three games to one. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship series, four games to two; pitcher Jon Lester, and infielder Javier Baez, were named co-MVPS of the series.

The Cleveland Indians entered the year with very little expectation of making the World Series. That could be attributed to the fact that they ended the previous year without even making the playoffs. They ended up shocking the world by ending the year with a record of 94 and 67, winning their division for the first time since 2007, and sending three players to the All Star Game. They swept the Boston Red Sox in the divisional round, and then beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship. Winning the series four games to one, relief pitcher Andrew Miller was named MVP.

Anticipation for the 112th best of seven World Series was enormous, as the average ticket price for game one in Cleveland was $2,500. The series started out with the Indians winning Game One, six to zero, and Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez smashing two home runs to lead the charge. The Cubs bounced back to win Game Two, five to one, behind two hits from Kyle Schwarber, a player who had torn his ACL and LCL in game two of the regular season. He managed to work his way back to good health and average an amazing .429 batting average in the series.

Cleveland then came back to win both Games Three and Four behind the dominant pitching performances of Andrew Miller and Corey Kluber. They now had all the momentum and odds to cap off an improbable series win. Only four teams had come back from a three to one deficit to win it all, and the last time it occurred was in 1985. The Cubs did not give up and won Games Five and Six, behind two home runs from third baseman Kris Bryant, and a grand slam by shortstop Addison Russell. With the series tied three to three, a final winner-take-all game was set in Cleveland.

With 40 million viewers, celebrities like Bill Murray, Lebron James, Charlie Sheen and Amy Schumer in attendance, and Indian legend Jim Thome throwing out the first pitch, a finale for the ages was set to begin. Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler hit a solo home run in the first inning to start things off. The Cubs continued the pressure by pushing the lead five to one in the fifth inning, but they allowed the Indians to come back. An error allowed two Indian runners to score, cutting the Cubs lead five to three. In the next inning, the Cubs catcher David Ross became the oldest player ever, at age 39, to hit a homerun in the World Series. This gave the Cubs a six to three advantage. As things began to look dire for Cleveland, they rallied in the eighth inning with an RBI double from outfielder Brandon Guyer and a game tying two run home by Rajai Davis. This tied the game at six to six and as the ninth went scoreless, the game was headed for extra innings.

Before the tenth inning could even begin, poor weather was headed toward Cleveland and rain poured down on the city. The game was delayed for only 17 minutes. The Cubs were first to bat, and the players took advantage of the break. Coming in clutch, second baseman, Ben Zobrist, hit a double; bringing a runner in. Continuing the momentum, catcher Miguel Montero singled, Zobrist scored and the Cubs extended the lead eight to six. The Indians were only able to drive in one run and the Cubs finally reversed the curse! The Cubs winning the 2016 World Series is one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen.