The 2016 world series ended last night with a dramatic 10th inning win for the Chicago Cubs over the Cleveland Indians, 8-7. It is being called one of the greatest world series games ever played.
The Indians have not won a world series since the 40’s. The Cubs have not won a world series since 1908. Both clubs were regular losers for decades. The Cubs have legends such as the “Curse of the goat” and Steve Bartman interfering with a National League championship foul ball that derailed the Cubbeis from glory.
But last night, it finally happened. Fathers and grandfathers; generations of Cubs fans dreamed of this day. It’s finally here.
That set off “a citywide celebration back home,” notes CBS Chicago.
“It happened. It happened. Chicago, it happened,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “We did it. We’re world champions. I tell ya, we’re world champions. I can’t believe it.”
This game 7 had everything, a wild pitch, stolen bases, game tying, heroic home runs, clutch strike outs, even a rain delay. Cleveland was down 6-3 in the 8th but tied things up with a heroic home run by Rajai Davis.
But the Cubs, after tormenting their fans one more time, came right back after a 17-minute rain delay before the top of the 10th.
Ben Zobrist hit an RBI double and Miguel Montero singled home a run to make it 8-6. Davis delivered an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half, but Mike Montgomery closed it out at 12:47 a.m., and the celebration was on.
Cleveland was trying to win its first crown since 1948, but manager Terry Francona’s team lost the last two games at home.
CBSSports.com’s Matt Snyder notes that, “LeBron James, J.R. Smith and the troops were in the house for Game 7 in a suite. Smith even took his shirt off to get the crowd going.”
But try as they might, the Cavaliers couldn’t get the Indians over the top. The Cavs came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA championship last spring and break Cleveland’s 5-year pro sports title drought. James was a leading cheerleader for the Indians during their post-season run.
World Series favorites since spring training, Chicago led the majors with 103 wins this season.
