Billy goat. Or home run hitter. Whatever curse you choose, the 2016 World Series portends to be an interesting matchup between two of the most majorly beleaguered teams in baseball history.
Chicago’s curse of the billy goat is well known. When the Cubs were engaged in a World Series duel with the Detroit Tigers in 1945, Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern was asked to leave Wrigley Field and take his goat with him. Other fans requested the ouster because either the goat, Murphy, or Billy smelled bad. He was escorted out of the stadium, and as legend has it, he passed a note to Cubs’ owner Phillip Wrigley pledging, “You are going to lose this World Series and you are never going to win another World Series again. You are never going to win a World Series again because you insulted my goat.”
Longtime Cleveland beat writer Terry Pluto advanced a claim of “The Rocky Colavito Curse.” The Indians were not far removed from their World Series victory in 1948 and a loss in the ’54 Series when Colavito made his debut in 1955. The mild-mannered slugger became a huge fan favorite and perennial All-Star in the years to follow. He won the 1959 Home Run title with 42 dingers, but to the dismay of Tribe fans, was traded in 1960 to ’59 batting champ Harvey Kuenn of those third-party interlopers, the Detroit Tigers. On the day he was traded by GM Frank “Trader” Lane, The Indians played the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game at Russwood Park in Memphis. Colavito hit a home run before being notified of the trade. Just hours after the game ended, the wooden Russwood Park stadium was destroyed in a five-alarm fire. Colavito obviously did not set the fire, nor did he issue any curse, but in the long years following, the Indians chances to win a championship similarly went up in flames. The team went from 25 games over /500 in ’59 to 2 games under. Attendance plummeted from 1,497,976 to 950,985 in 1960.They brought Colavito back in 1965, trading away Tommy Agee (a World Series hero with the ’69 Mets) and Tommy John (four World Series with the Yankees and Dodgers).
The last time the Cubs won the Fall Classic was 1908. They won the National League pennant by one game over John McGraw’s N.Y. Giants, but only after a baserunning blunder by Fred Merkle that would live in infamy as “Merkle’s Boner.” Then, playing at West Side Park, they disposed of the Detroit Tigers 3 games to 2 in a five-game series.
In the 1945 Series, the Cubs once again played the Tigers and brought a 2-1 Series lead back to Wrigley Field. It was before Game 4 that the goat was ejected, and the Cubs lost three out of four. They have not appeared in another World Series since.
They came close in 2003, but a Cubs fan named Steve Bartman reached out for a foul pop, robbing left-fielder Moises Alou of a catch. The Florida Marlins then rallied to send the Cubs packing. Steve Bartman grew up down the same Chicago street from current Indians’ second baseman, and was in the same class as Kipnis’ sister.
So, the Cubs have not earned a World Series championship in 108 years, when they were led by player-manager Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker and pitcher Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown, who won 29 games that year.
The number 108 bears much significance. If you believe the Cubs’ destiny is written in the stars, get this bit of astrology. The distance from the earth to the sun is 108 times the diameter of the sun. Further, the distance to the moon is 108 times the diameter of the moon.
A Buddhist New Year is traditionally marked by ringing a bell 108 times.
In several Eastern religions, people pray on rosaries that feature 108 beads.
Most significant is the Bible story of Lazarus, who was raised from his grave after 4-1/2 days, and brought to life. That equals 108 hours.
The Indians’ 68-year famine is not without its numerical nuances.
The great pyramids are 68 cubits high.
The words “royalty” and “battle” are each used 68 times in the Bible.
For Cleveland, this series is an emotional “Field of Dreams.” Manager Terry Francona’s father, Tito, played for Cleveland in the mid-1960s. His love for Cleveland and its fans induced Terry to answer the Indians’ call when they searched for a manager. As a skipper, Terry is 8-0 in World Series games.
Pitcher Josh Tomlin’s father, Jerry, suffered a sudden illness, arteriovenous deterioration, which left him partially paralyzed. Jerry watched much of the playoffs from a hospital bed, but for game 3, he will see his son start a World Series game.
One of the teams will end it’s curse. One team will move on, and the other might continue to have doubts. All I can say is that it’s one of the most fascinating World Series ever.
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