The Chicago Cubs have been tormented by the curse of Billy Sianis’ goat since 1908, keeping them from glory at the World Series.

Oct. 6, 1945 was game four of the World Series. Billy Sianis attempted to enter Wrigley Stadium in Chicago with his pet billy goat, Murphy. After a squabble with security, the pair was denied access to the stadium.“The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more!” exclaimed Sianis. The curse was set.

Nov. 2, 2016 was a cool, cloudy night. Progressive Field was packed with 38,104 people. Two teams, the National League’s Chicago Cubs and the American League’s Cleveland Indians, were locked in a struggle for victory.  Down three games to one, Chicago made a crowd-shocking comeback to tie up the series, something that would later become a showdown for the ages. 

Chicago took the early lead on the fourth pitch with a solo home run by center fielder Dexter Fowler. Fast forward to the bottom of the eighth inning. The score was 6-4, and Rajai Davis stepped up to bat. The count was two balls and two strikes. Davis hit a ball to the left field wall, scoring a home run. The score was even, 6-6. 

Neither team scored in the ninth inning signaling the need for extra innings. Emotions were building, stress was increasing and tensions were rising. It was almost as if a new game had begun, one with even higher stakes. Everything was amplified as the game transformed into a sort of sudden death match.  

At the top of the tenth Ben Zobrist came up to bat and hit a double giving the Cubs a 7-6 lead. Miguel Montero took to the plate and hit a single giving the Cubs an 8-6 lead.

The bottom of the tenth was Cleveland’s last chance. Brandon Guyer came up to the plate with two outs and took a walk to first base.  From there, the formidable Rajai Davis was brought up to bat. Guyer managed to steal second, and just like that, Davis did it again. A clutch single brought the score to 8-7, a sign of hope. Michael Martínez was handed the bat with one job: get Davis home. The count was zero balls and one strike. WHACK! A short ground ball to third base was barehanded by Kris Bryant,  and the ball was thrown to first base. The runner was out at first and the game was over.

The Cubs won 8-7 in one of the most exciting World Series Games ever played. “The Cubs have finally won it all!” exclaimed broadcaster Joe Buck. The 108-year curse had been broken.