2016 Sports Story That Mattered To Me: The Curse is Over!

My name is Kaz Kalita, and the 2016 sports story that mattered to me was the Cubs winning the World Series. My earliest memory of the Chicago Cubs was in the spring of 1993 when I was five years old and my father and my uncle took me to my first game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lost a nail biter to the Padres, 5-4 and it was the first of several losses (1,959 to be exact) between then and when they finally were able to win the World Series.

It is still a little surreal to say that the Cubs are World Series Champions considering us Cubs fans have been through many hard times with this franchise. Let’s just put it this way, when my great-grandfather was alive, he never saw the Cubs win the World Series. My grandfather was six years old when the Cubs last played in the World Series before this season. I was not alive, but my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were alive during the dreadful 1969 season where they watched the Cubs blow a nine-game lead in mid-August to the Mets. They remember the 1984 NLCS series when the Cubs blew 2-0 lead (it was a best of five series back then) to the Padres after Leon Durham missed a ground ball between his legs to allow the tying run to score in Game 5.

Although I was not alive to see those devastating events, I do clearly remember when the Cubs blew a 3-1 NLCS lead to the Marlins in 2003. The Cubs were only five outs away from wrapping up the series in six games when the Steve Bartman saga occurred. At the time I was angry at that guy for what he did, but looking back I truly feel bad for him since the replay showed at least a half a dozen other fans trying to do the same thing. Of course, nobody would even remember Steve Bartman’s name today had Alex Gonzalez fielded a routine double play ball a few moments later. They also had another crack at winning the series in Game Seven with Kerry Wood starting but were unable to win.

Although there were a couple of exciting seasons in my lifetime, an overwhelming majority of them were unbearable to watch. Even in the exciting seasons, each one of them ended in heartbreak, as the Cubs always found a way to lose when it mattered. It was not until 2011 that I really regained optimism that a World Series title could be possible in the future when the Cubs signed Theo Epstein as president of baseball operations. He made it a priority to build up the farm system and put together teams that would have sustained success, unlike the past where the Cubs would be a good for a couple of seasons, followed by years of being terrible.

This brings us to the incredible run that the Cubs had in 2016. Other than a little slump around the all-star break, the Cubs were firing on all cylinders as the best team in all of baseball. Their starting pitching was phenomenal, their hitting was excellent, and their fielding was a thing of beauty. The Cubs finished with the best record in all of baseball and it finally appeared that this would finally be their year.

Of course, that is easier said than done though since anything can happen in the playoffs. The Cubs squared off against a tough Giants team in the NLDS. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend Game One at Wrigley Field and it was an awesome pitching duel between Jon Lester and Johnny Cueto. I have probably been to Wrigley Field nearly 40 times and I have never heard it be as loud as when Javy Baez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth for the only run of the game. The Cubs also went on to win Game Two, but Aroldis Chapman blew a save in Game Three which forced the series to Game Four. Game Four might have been one of the best games ever (other than Game Seven of the World Series). The Cubs were trailing by three runs in the 9th, before scoring four runs and holding on in the bottom of the 9th to clinch the series.

The next series against Dodgers was another rollercoaster ride. The Cubs looked good in Game One, but their bats went silent being shut out in Game Two and Game Three. Things were looking pretty bleak with two more games in Los Angeles and no signs of their bats coming alive. That is until Ben Zobrist laid down a bunt base hit to lead off the fourth inning. From there, things opened up for the Cubs’ offense as they went on to win 10-3 and then were able to win Game Five and Game Six, making it to the World Series for the first time in 71 years.

So here we are, the World Series. A battle between two Midwest franchises who were both searching for their first World Series title in a very long time. In Game One, Corey Kluber absolutely dominated the Cubs and even set a record, striking out eight batters in the first three innings. The Cubs would be shut out and the Indians went on to win 6-0. Game Two was much better for the Cubs, who came out swinging, scoring five runs in the first five innings. Jake Arrieta pitched great too, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning until Jason Kipnis hit a double off him. The Cubs would go on to win easily, 5-1 and tie the series up 1-1.

I remember thinking after Game Two that the Cubs were now in a great spot in the series, stealing home field advantage. Kyle Hendricks would pitch Game Three and he was an almost an automatic win at home with the way he has pitched at Wrigley this season. Also, I knew from my fantasy baseball research that the Indians were not a great team away from Progressive Field and losing the DH would make things even worse. However, apparently losing the DH would be more detrimental to the Cubs since they were once again shut out in Game Three, losing 1-0. The Cubs were able to score first in with a run in the first inning of Game Four, but that was all they able to do against Kluber, who once again pitched great allowing only one run in six innings. The Indians went on to win Game Four and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

The Cubs faced a huge uphill battle, but I never gave up hope knowing that Jon Lester would pitch in Game Five and could at least push the series back to Cleveland. I was not disappointed as the Cubs were able to win 3-2 and force a Game Six back in Cleveland. At this point, I just wanted them to force a Game Seven where anything could happen. The Cubs did just that scoring seven runs in the first three innings and winning the game 9-3 and forcing a Game Seven.

In Game Seven, the Cubs would once again have to face Corey Kluber, but they were up for the challenge scoring four runs off of him before he was lifted in the 5th inning. They added another run off of Andrew Miller in the 5th inning to make it 5-1. Things started to get interesting though, when Joe Maddon decided to go to the bullpen in the bottom of the 5th after Kyle Hendricks issued a two-out walk. Jon Lester came in and the Indians were able to score two runs after a throwing error by David Ross and a passed ball. Ross was able to make up for one of the runs, though, with a solo home run in the top of the 6th. Then in the 8th inning, Maddon brought in Chapman for a four-out save, after pitching nearly three innings the night before. Chapman did not look great allowing a run-scoring double to Brandon Guyer and then a game-tying, two-run home run to Rajai Davis. At this moment, my heart sunk and to be honest I was really pessimistic. With how well the Indians’ bullpen was pitching in the series I did not think that Cubs would be able to rebound from that devastating home run.

Both teams were unable to score in the 9th inning, and then a 20-minute rain delay occurred. I remember thinking that this is exactly what they needed to negate the momentum that the Indians were able to build up. Then in the top of the 10th inning, the Cubs were able to score two runs to take an 8-6 lead. The drama would not end here though as the Indians were able to score one run in the bottom of the inning. After that, Mike Montgomery was able to come in for a one-out save to give the Cubs’ their first World Series title in 108 and ending the longest title drought in American sports history.

I was able to attend the championship parade and rally in Chicago two days later and it was still hard to believe what had actually happened. I know this article was geared towards the most important sports story to me in 2016. However, this particular story was the most important sports story to date in my lifetime, and I don’t think anything will be able to top it for the rest of my lifetime either.

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