Today marks the third anniversary of the day the Chicago Cubs broke the Curse of the Billy Goat by winning the 2016 World Series. The goat was always meant to be a good luck charm. That’s why Billy “Goat” Sianis took the goat to the game in 1945, so they could finally win the world series after losing 7 series since 1908. The curse gradually became a legend as Chicago watched the Cubs keep losing since the moment the goat was kicked out in 1945. We’ve recently noticed some connections to the past:
The last time the Chicago Cubs won a World Series game prior to 2016 was in 1945 on 10/8 (108) in extra innings…the score was 8 to 7……In 2016 the Cubs won the World Series in extra innings to break the 108 year drought…the score was 8 to 7.
Game 4 1945, after a brief rain delay, the goat was kicked out because the rain caused the goat to smell and fans were complaining. In 2016, after a brief rain delay the Cubs won the World Series.
October 22 is an important day: – 10/22/1970 – Billy “Goat” Sianis passes away – 10/22/2011 – Theo Epstein signs with Cubs – 10/22/2016 – The Chicago Cubs clinch the pennant for the first time since 1945
Olaf Logan, Frain usher, stops William Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern at 1855 W. Madison Street from entering the ball park October 12, 1945. Sianis crashed the gate but could not seat the goat in the box. Sianis is going to sue. Tribune file photo. (baseball World Series, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers)
October 6th, a sad day in Cubs history. The Cubs entered game four of the World Series leading the Detroit Tigers 2 games to 1, and needing to win only two of the next four games played at Wrigley Field. A local Greek, William “Billy Goat” Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and a Cubs fan, bought two tickets to Game four. Hoping to bring his team good luck he took his pet goat, Murphy, with him to the game. At the entrance to the park, the Andy Fran ushers stopped Billy Goat from entering saying that no animals are allowed in the park.
Billy Goat, frustrated, appealed to the owner of the Cubs, P.K. Wrigley. Wrigley replied, “Let Billy in, but not the goat.” Billy Goat asked, “Why not the goat?” Wrigley answered, “Because the goat stinks.” According to legend, the goat and Billy were upset, so then Billy threw up his arms and exclaimed, “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.” The Cubs were officially cursed. Subsequently, the Cubs lost game four, and the remaining series getting swept at home and from the World Series. Billy Goat promptly sent a telegram to P.K. Wrigley, stating, “Who stinks now?” For the next twenty years, throughout the remainder of Billy Goat’s life the Cubs would finish each season at 5th place or lower, establishing a pattern that would reverse the Cubs luck and term the team “The Lovable Losers.” The World Series would become a dream, and “wait ’til next year” would become the team’s motto.
The Cubs entered game four of the 1945World Series leading the Detroit Tigers 2 games to 1, and needing to win only two of the next four games played at Wrigley Field. A local Greek, William “Billy Goat” Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and a Cubs fan, bought two tickets to Game four. Hoping to bring his team good luck he took his pet goat, Murphy, with him to the game. At the entrance to the park, the Andy Fran ushers stopped Billy Goat from entering saying that no animals are allowed in the park.
Billy Goat, frustrated, appealed to the owner of the Cubs, P.K. Wrigley. Wrigley replied, “Let Billy in, but not the goat.” Billy Goat asked, “Why not the goat?” Wrigley answered, “Because the goat stinks.” According to legend, the goat and Billy were upset, so then Billy threw up his arms and exclaimed, “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.” The Cubs were officially cursed.
Subsequently, the Cubs lost game four, and the remaining series getting swept at home and from the World Series. Billy Goat promptly sent a telegram to P.K. Wrigley, stating, “Who stinks now?” For the next twenty years, throughout the remainder of Billy Goat’s life the Cubs would finish each season at 5th place or lower, establishing a pattern that would reverse the Cubs luck and term the team “The Lovable Losers.”
