Curse of the Billy Goat: Is there any truth to this Chicago Cubs curse and what’s the story behind it?

The Curse of the Billy Goat is a famous curse that was believed to have been placed on the Chicago Cubs, a Major League Baseball team, in 1945 by a tavern owner named Billy Sianis.

The curse supposedly prevented the Cubs from winning a World Series for over 100 years, until they finally broke it in 2016.

The Curse of the Billy Goat

The story of the curse dates back to game 4 of the 1945 World Series, which was played between the Cubs and the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field.

Sianis, a Greek immigrant and owner of the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago, had bought two tickets to the game, one for himself and one for his pet goat named Murphy.

However, when they arrived at the stadium, the ushers refused to let Murphy into the game, citing a city ordinance that prohibited animals from being brought into ballparks.

Sianis was outraged and allegedly declared, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.” The Cubs went on to lose the game and the series, and have not won a World Series since.

Many Cubs fans believe that the curse is the reason for the team’s continued struggles, including their 108-year championship drought.

The Curse’s Effect on the Cubs

Curse of the Billy Goat. Credit: sportsnewstk.com
Curse of the Billy Goat. Credit: sportsnewstk.com

The Cubs’ history of futility is well-documented. Between 1908 and 2015, the team had only reached the World Series seven times, and had lost all seven.

The team’s misfortunes led many fans to attribute their failures to the Curse of the Billy Goat.

The curse became a part of Cubs lore, and fans often brought goats to the ballpark to try to lift the curse.

In 1969, the Cubs were in first place in the National League East with just over a month left in the season, but lost 17 out of their last 25 games to miss the playoffs.

The team’s collapse was widely attributed to the curse, and many fans blamed Sianis for the team’s continued misfortunes.

The Curse’s End

The Cubs’ long championship drought finally came to an end in 2016, when they defeated the Cleveland Indians in a dramatic seven-game World Series.

Chicago Cubs. Credit: bleacherreport.com
Chicago Cubs. Credit: bleacherreport.com

The team’s victory was celebrated by Cubs fans all over the world, and many attributed the win to the team finally breaking the Curse of the Billy Goat.

While the curse has been broken, the story of the curse and its impact on the Cubs continue to be a part of the team’s history.

The Billy Goat Tavern, which has since become a Chicago institution, is still in operation, and Cubs fans still visit the tavern to celebrate the team’s victory and to pay homage to the curse.

Conclusion

The Curse of the Billy Goat is one of the most famous curses in sports history.

While there is no scientific evidence to support the idea of curses, the story of the curse and its impact on the Cubs are an important part of baseball lore.

The team’s championship victory in 2016 may have finally broken the curse, but the story of the curse and its effect on the Cubs will continue to be a part of baseball history for years to come.

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