Chicago Cubs history: The curse of the Billy goat

Dr. Matt Boente, MD, is widely known for his lengthy career in his practice under Obstetrics and Gynecology. When he isn’t focused on work, he goes back to the things he is passionate about. One of them is his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Today, he shares about one of the most interesting stories about the Cubs, which is the curse of the Billy goat.

The year was 1945, when World War II was just about to end. Legend has it that a Chicago tavern owner by the name of Bill "Billy Goat" Sianis placed a curse on the Chicago Cubs baseball franshise on October 6, recalls Dr. Matt Boente, MD.

Billy Sianis went to the Wrigley field to watch and support his beloved Chicago Cubs who had a match against the Detroit Tigers in the Fall Classic. It is said that for Game 4, he purchased a ticket for himself and one for his pet goat named Murphy, hoping that it would bring the Cubs some good luck.

The stadium ushers, seeing that it was a part of their job, stopped Sianis from entering with his pet. Sianis then appealed to club owner P.K. Wrigley, but the appeal was rejected because “the goat stinks,” in Wrigley’s own words, shares Dr. Matt Boente, MD.

A disgruntled Sianis then exclaimed "The Cubs ain't gonna win no more!"

True enough, the Cubs lost the series, and a vindicated Billy Sianis sent a telegram addressed to Wrigley which read, “Who stinks now?”

It is believed that since then, the Cubs were never the same. Many years passed, and the franchise was mostly able to deliver so-so performances. The Cubs even had more than a few bridesmaid finishes, even earning the infamy of being called the “Lovable Losers,” which hurt a lot of fans.

However, it seems their luck has changed for the better, as they did make it to World Series in 2016. If ever, any setbacks forthcoming have nothing to do with a Billy goat anymore. At least we hope so.

For his many years in service, Dr. Matt Boente, MD, was awarded by various organizations for his work. He was part of Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine’s Top Doctors Award from 2002 – 2015, Minnesota Monthly’s Best Doctors for Women Award from 2002 – 2015, Philadelphia Magazine’s Top Doctors Award from 1994 – 2000, and received the National Cancer Institute Gold Certificate of Excellence Award in 2012. He is also a supporter of the Chicago Cubs. For more on Dr. Boente, please visit this page.