Chicago Cubs Curses

The curse has now been broken! But for 108 years, many people were probably wondering why the Cubs hadn’t won a World Series for over a century? It’s because of the curses…

The Goat of 1945

Back in 1945, a man by the name of William “Billy Goat” Sianis attempted to bring a goat named, Murphy, to Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series. Sianis was the owner of the “Billy Goat Tavern” and was a diehard Cubs fan.

Since there was no signs or warnings that barred animals from the park, Sianis figured he would have no problem bringing Murphy to the park. Ready with one ticket for himself and one ticket for Murphy, Sianis and his pet watched the game until late in the game when they were asked to leave. Orders came directly from Cubs owner, P.K. Wrigley, asking that both Sianis and his pet goat be ushered out of the park. The reason given was “because the goat stinks”. As a disgusted Sianis left, he was heard saying “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.”

After the Cubs lost the Series to the Tigers in seven games, Sianis sent a telegram to Wrigley that said “Who Stinks Now?”. Diehard Cubs fans believe the curse still exists today.

The Case Of The Android Apps And The Win That Wasn’t

After the Cubs finally broke their previous curses by winning the series in 2016, fans have begun to discuss their theories of what the next curse will be. The team certainly haven’t been able to repeat the feat over the next three seasons, so what reasons will the fans give for the next barren run – and how long might it last?

One interesting theory that’s been shared on social media is the case of the Cubs Android app. Apparently a version of the AtBat app on Android phones was mistakenly showing the Cubs as winners of the 2017 series, which prompted some fans to actually start downloading Android betting apps and putting money on the win line. Obviously they didn’t think to check the fact that the games hadn’t actually taken place yet! Perhaps they thought it was some sort of fix, or maybe they just didn’t understand baseball.

Either way the glitch on the app was soon corrected and Android users were able to see the real data. But the win that wasn’t a win is still talked about and some people are speculating that’s the closest the Cubs will get for the next few seasons at least!

The Collapse of 1969

The 1969 Cubs was a team consisting of Cubs legends like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, and Billy Williams. It was considered to be the greatest Cubs team ever assembled.

With a late season lead of 9 1/2 game lead over the Mets, nothing looked like it could stop the Cubs from returning to the World Series.

The curse is said to have reared its ugly head again on September 9th, 1969 when a black cat ran onto the field as the Cubs played a crucial series against the Mets at Shea Stadium. After running circles around Ron Santo in the on-deck circle, the black cat quickly disappeared underneath the stands.

The 1984 Cubs

Finishing the 84 season with a 95-64 record, the Cubs were primed and ready to finally return to the World Series. Led by MVP, Ryne Sandberg and Cy Young Winner, Rick Sutcliffe, the Cubs jumped to an early 2-0 series lead over the San Diego Padres. The Padres won game three and then won game four after Steve Garvey broke a 9th inning tie with a home run. Leading game 5 late in the game, it looked like the Cubs would finally break the curse.

Instead, the Padres scored two runs to trim the lead to 3-2. In the 7th inning with a runner on second, a ground ball was hit to First Baseman, Leon Durham. Instead of making an easy second out and retaining a one run lead, the ball rolled between Durham’s legs and the Padres scored on the error. Two batters later, the Padres would take the lead, which eventually led to a Padres win.

Buckner’s Batting Glove in the 1986 World Series

Most baseball fans are aware of the infamous ball between the legs of Bill Buckner during the 86 World Series. The error caused Boston to lose game 6, forcing a game 7. Eventually the Mets won the series and many fans blamed Buckner, thus extending the Red Sox curse.

What hasn’t been noticed until recently was what Bill Buckner was wearing under his first basemen’s glove during that play.

A picture taken over 20 years ago showing Buckner walking off the field after committing the error revealed something that has been undiscovered until recently. As Buckner walked off the field, he removed his glove, exposing a worn Chicago Cubs batting glove with the Cubs logo on the back. Buckner had previously played for the Cubs before joining the Red Sox and was apparently wearing the batting glove for luck. Instead it acts as one more piece of evidence as to why the Cubs Curse exists.

Steve Bartman and the 2003 Cubs

On Tuesday, October 14, 2003 during a playoff game against the Florida Marlins, Steve Bartman, a local 26-year old global human resources worker from the Northern suburbs of Chicago, became the latest “goat” when he attempted to catch a foul ball near the left field wall. As Cubs left fielder, Moises Alou, attempted to catch the same ball, Bartman, and others could be seen deflecting the ball. What could have been a momentum killer for the Marlins eventually was a major blame to the collapse of the Cubs after being one game away from the World Series. After the game, Bartman apoligized to fans:

“There are few words to describe how awful I feel and what I have experienced within these last twenty-four hours. I am so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs fan’s broken heart.

I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that has been vented towards my family, my friends and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team on their way to being National League champs.” – Steve Bartman

Though Wrigley Field ushers will not tell you where Bartman sat during that game, a Cubs sticker can be seen on the back of the famous seat where Bartman interfered with the ball. Each game, you can see fans taking pictures at that same spot in the same pose as Bartman.

Since the Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, the Cubs are the last team to be suffering from their famous curse. Whether its the curse of the goat or the curse of the 2003 playoffs, fans hope that each year they do not have to “wait until next year”.

4 thoughts on “Chicago Cubs Curses

  1. Wrigley field is so short pitchers could hit homers easily there they give up too many runs at home then they lose and you don’t get in the post season with a losing record. so quit being superstitious its not a curse its just bad baseball

  2. THE CUBS SUCK THE ONLY TWO TEAMS THAT ARE AS BAD AS THEM ARE THE ASTROS AND THE MARLINS AND THEY COULDN’T EVEN BEAT THEM IT’S NOT BECAUSE OF SOME STUPID GOAT THEY JUST HAVE BAD PLAYERS.

  3. First I would like to state that i’m not a Cub fan, but a baseball fan from Las Vegas, Nv. I think everyone has it wrong about the ‘Cub Curse’. This year makes the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field or should I say Weeghman Park home of the Chicago Whales of the Federal League. The league only lastest 2 seasons 1914-1915, but in 1915 Whales won the Federal League title…but never got to defend its title since the AL & NL bought half the league. So maybe it’s not the Billy Goat, Black Cat, 1969, Leon Durham, Bill Buckner or Steve Bartman, but the ghosts of the Whales that haunt Wrigley.

  4. The Cubs are probably too embarrassed to bring back the goat, but the post submitted by anonymous has a good point: why not bring back the goat and make the goat a Mascot, or allow a goat to come to the game once? I suppose another drawback to being embarrassed about bringing back the goat, is the Cubs still not winning a world series after bringing the goat back. It would be interesting to see what happens, and this would be a good year to bring the goat back because the new Cubs owners (the Ricketts) seem to be bent on supplying the kind of quality team the Cubs need to win a world series…just give a goat a bath and bring the darn thing to a game.

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