Cubs’ 2016 World Series Win: Breaking the 108-Year Curse

[00:00:00] On November 4th, 2016, the city of Chicago celebrated something that hadn't happened in over a hundred years.

[00:00:07] The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series after what was arguably one of the greatest baseball games of all time

[00:00:17] and the greatest Game 7 in the World Series.

[00:00:20] And allowing their fans to celebrate for the first time in a lifetime.

[00:00:24] And they pulled out all the stops, going into extra innings, a rain delay, tension, everyone at the edge of their seat, glued to their TV screens the entire time.

[00:00:34] We're going to dive into this game and how it all broke down on Daily Sports History.

[00:00:39] Welcome to Daily Sports History. I'm Ethan Reese, your guide as you daily learn more about sports history, increasing your sports knowledge.

[00:00:46] And today's trivia question to listen out for is, where does the Cubs World Series Parade rank in size for the largest gathering of human people ever?

[00:00:57] So coming into the season, starting in the beginning of the 2000s, all these curses started to be broken in baseball.

[00:01:04] The White Sox had broken the Black Sox curse. The Red Sox had broken the curse of the Bambino.

[00:01:10] And there was two other teams that still had, quote, curses on them.

[00:01:15] The curse of the Billy Goat was still hanging over the Cubs and they hadn't won in over 108 years.

[00:01:21] And the Cleveland Indians hadn't won in almost 70 years.

[00:01:25] Both these teams had come into the season with hopes, as every team did, that they would break this curse.

[00:01:31] And they each had great seasons.

[00:01:33] The Cubs led the league in wins with 105.

[00:01:37] And their entire starting infield made the All-Star team.

[00:01:41] And the Cleveland Indians had a great season as well, winning their division.

[00:01:45] And each team made their way through the playoffs to battle each other in the World Series.

[00:01:51] Knowing that no matter what, one fan base was getting their first championship in a lifetime.

[00:01:57] And it started out with the Indians dominating in Game 1.

[00:02:00] And then the Cubs came back and dominated Game 2 to tie it up.

[00:02:04] Game 3 of the World Series, the Indians were able to dig out a one-run win.

[00:02:09] And they followed that with a five-run win in Game 4, giving them a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

[00:02:16] Giving them a 91% chance to win the World Series.

[00:02:21] But the Cubs did not give up.

[00:02:24] They eked out Game 5 win.

[00:02:26] And then they dominated Game 6, 9-3.

[00:02:29] Leading to Game 7 in Cleveland in front of 38,000 fans and millions more watching at home.

[00:02:37] As they were either going to see history be made or a great blunder be made.

[00:02:42] Now what's unique about a Game 7 or a final game in any professional sport is you pull out all the stops.

[00:02:48] And especially unique in baseball where you have a starting pitcher and you usually have relievers and closers in the pitching game.

[00:02:56] Well, usually your best pitchers are your starters or your closers.

[00:03:00] And in a final game, you can throw all your starters in to try to see if you can eke out this win.

[00:03:06] And that's exactly what the Cubs were trying to do.

[00:03:09] Put out their best starters for their best chance to win.

[00:03:12] And coming into the game, Kyle Hendricks started for the Cubs.

[00:03:15] But Joe Maddon, the Cubs manager, had already told everyone that they were planning on bringing John Lester in.

[00:03:22] Bringing in their ace, John Lester, midway through the game to try to finish out.

[00:03:27] Pulling out all the stops.

[00:03:29] And the game started off great for the Cubs.

[00:03:32] As Dexter Fowler hit a leadoff home run over the center field wall.

[00:03:36] Giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

[00:03:39] And marking the first time a player hit a leadoff home run in a Game 7 of a World Series.

[00:03:44] But it only took a couple innings for the Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana to hit an RBI single to tie the game up 1-1.

[00:03:52] Then in the fourth inning, the Cubs would go on to score two more runs.

[00:03:56] And in the following inning, Javier Baez homered over the right field wall to increase their lead 4-1.

[00:04:04] But they weren't over after a wild pitch.

[00:04:06] The runners would advance and be driven in by a single by Ben Zuberts.

[00:04:12] Making their lead even larger 5-1.

[00:04:16] But the sixth inning, the Indians were starting to make a comeback.

[00:04:19] John Lester had come in for Hendricks and struggled to settle in.

[00:04:23] And allowed two runs, making the score 5-3.

[00:04:27] But John Lester would settle down and make it all the way to the eighth inning.

[00:04:30] And with the score 6-3 and only four outs remaining.

[00:04:34] Then Aroldis Chapman, their closer, who hadn't given up a home run all year.

[00:04:39] And despite his heavy workload the previous game and the whole postseason, they just needed four more outs.

[00:04:46] But unfortunately, with the runner on, Rajah Davis connected with one of his fastballs.

[00:04:51] With a line drive over the wall.

[00:04:54] Giving them a two-run shot.

[00:04:56] Tying the game 6-6.

[00:04:58] Chapman would settle things down.

[00:05:00] Get out of the inning.

[00:05:01] Take it into the ninth.

[00:05:02] They would shut each other down.

[00:05:03] And being tied 6-6.

[00:05:04] They went into extra innings.

[00:05:06] Now briefly after the ninth inning, there was a rain delay.

[00:05:09] Extending the game even more.

[00:05:11] But it allowed the chance for the teams to prepare to how they were going to attack this time.

[00:05:16] And Jason Hayward of the Cubs actually gave an empowering speech to the Cubs while in the locker room.

[00:05:22] Helping motivate the team.

[00:05:24] As he was one of the highest paid players on the team.

[00:05:26] But had one of the worst seasons of his career.

[00:05:29] And wasn't being much help on the field.

[00:05:31] But if he could motivate the team, maybe that would be all they needed.

[00:05:35] So after about a 20 minute rain delay, they would resume play.

[00:05:38] With everyone on the edge of their seat.

[00:05:41] Kyle Schwerber would lead off with a single.

[00:05:43] And be pinched run by Albert Almora Jr.

[00:05:47] Who would advance to second on a fly out.

[00:05:49] And Ben Zubet would hit a double down the left field line.

[00:05:53] Allowing Almora to score.

[00:05:55] Giving them the lead 7-6.

[00:05:57] And then Miguel Montero would hit a single to score another run.

[00:06:02] Giving them the lead 8-6.

[00:06:04] Putting all the pressure on the Indians.

[00:06:07] If they did not score two runs or more in the bottom of the 10th.

[00:06:10] The Cubs would win the World Series.

[00:06:12] But the Indians didn't give up.

[00:06:14] With the runner on base.

[00:06:15] Davis singled again.

[00:06:17] Allowing them to score again.

[00:06:19] Bringing the score within one.

[00:06:20] And with a tying run on base.

[00:06:22] Cubs pitcher Mike Montgomery came in to try to finish out the game.

[00:06:26] With Michael Martinez at the plate.

[00:06:28] He was able to get him to hit a grounder to third.

[00:06:31] Where Chris Bryant was able to feel the ball.

[00:06:33] And throw a clean throw to first.

[00:06:34] Giving the Cubs their first World Series since 1908.

[00:06:40] And after this.

[00:06:41] The Cubs celebrated like crazy.

[00:06:44] It was the longest streak for a team to win a World Series.

[00:06:48] They pulled out all the stops.

[00:06:49] They spent millions of dollars.

[00:06:52] They brought in people from the Red Sox that broke their curse.

[00:06:54] To beat this Billy Goat curse.

[00:06:56] They did everything they could.

[00:06:58] And the city of Chicago celebrated.

[00:07:00] As when they held their parade.

[00:07:02] Back in Chicago.

[00:07:03] After winning the World Series.

[00:07:05] Over five million people showed up.

[00:07:08] Which was enough to be seventh all time.

[00:07:12] For the largest gathering of humans in history.

[00:07:15] Just showing how much that Chicago and Cubs fans have been waiting.

[00:07:20] And were ready to celebrate with the team.

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[00:08:13] On Daily Sports History.

[00:08:14] And did you catch the answer to today's trivia question?

[00:08:17] Where does the Cubs World Series Parade rank.

[00:08:20] In size of the largest gatherings of human people in history.

[00:08:26] And the answer is.

[00:08:28] It ranks 7th all time.

[00:08:30] Where they had over 5 million people in attendance.