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“The Billy Goat Curse” and 1945 World Series Photo Gallery
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From the Lighter Side of Baseball!
The Infamous “Billy Goat Curse” Is Put On the Cubs, 73 Years Ago Today!
“Them Cubs…they ain’t gonna win no more!” –Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, while being escorted out of Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series
And so the Cubs were cursed…
As a highly superstitious Cub fan, I’m only now allowing myself to write about the “Billy Goat Curse” because it officially and forevermore ended in 2016 when the Cubs won the pennant and World Series after a 108 year drought – 71 years after the curse was declared. So I think it’s safe now.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the legend, Cub fan and Greek immigrant, Billy Sianis, brought his pet goat, Murphy, to Game Four of the 1945 World Series on October 6, 1945. He was hoping the goat would bring the Cubs some good luck. He was also hoping to use the publicity stunt to promote his new gin mill, the Billy Goat Tavern, located on Chicago’s north side.
Unfortunately, Wrigley Field’s Andy Frain ushers asked Sianis to leave because some fans were complaining about the goat’s foul odor (actually, there are different versions of this. Some say he was allowed in, but P.K. Wrigley ordered him to leave the goat outside the park).
Who knows what actually transpired on that fateful day when the Cubs’ fortunes changed so abruptly? We do know that Sianis was highly offended to have his beloved billy goat treated in such a disrespectful and humiliating manner; and so he did what any self-respecting pet owner would do: As he and Murphy were being rudely escorted out of the premises, he bestowed the famous curse upon the team. The Cubs were up two games to one in the 1945 World Series at the time the curse was enacted, but ended up losing the Series in seven games.
But that’s not all…not by a long shot! As we all know, the Cubs wouldn’t win another pennant for another 71 years. The curse was finally broken on October 22, 2016, ironically, on the 46th anniversary of the very day Billy Sianis passed away. On that memorable day, they defeated the Dodgers 5-0 in Game Six of the 2016 National League Championship Series. They then advanced to the World Series and defeated the Indians four games to three, including a dramatic 10-inning 8-7 win in Game Seven. The curse was finally over. Long-time Cub fans like me who had lived with this stupid curse all our lives were relieved and elated!
Was the curse for real? Think about this: From 1876 to 1945, the Cubs were one of the most successful franchises in the country. They posted a 5475-4324 (.559) record, with 51 winning seasons, 16 first place finishes, and 16 pennants. They won two World Series and six other pre-1900 championships in that span.
All this came to a screeching halt in Game Four of the 1945 World Series. From 1946 until 2003, they had a complete reversal of fortunes, going 4200-4874 (.466), with only 15 winning seasons, no pennants, and no World Series appearances.
Over the years, Sianis’ family – Cub fans all – had attempted to lift the curse. Nephew Sam Sianis (seen here in the featured photo) had gone to Wrigley Field with a goat multiple times in hopes of breaking the curse, including Opening Day in 1984 and again in 1989, both years in which the Cubs won their division. Sam went again with a goat in 1998 for the Wild Card tie-breaker game, which the Cubs won. In 2008, a Greek Orthodox priest sought to end the curse during the 2008 playoffs, spraying holy water around the Cubs dugout to no avail.
Given that the goat was named Murphy, it’s extremely ironic that in the 2015 National League Championship Series – a year before the curse was lifted – heroics by the Mets’ Daniel Murphy (the series MVP), almost single-highhandedly kept the Cubs out of the World Series. And maybe it’s fitting that Murphy is now a Cub!
Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All from Google search
Information: Excerpts edited from the Billy Goat Curse Wikipedia page.
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LENNY Merullo, not Murello plse.?
Thanks for the correction…hope you enjoyed the piece anyway…