News Baseball: The most unlikely World Series ever?

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The Chicago Cubs have won the National League championship, marking their first World Series appearance since 1945 and their first championship win since 1908. They face the Cleveland Indians, who have not won the Series since 1948, creating a matchup between two teams with the longest championship droughts in Major League Baseball—118 years for the Cubs and 68 years for the Indians. Notable fans include 102-year-old Loretta Dolan, who has been a lifelong supporter of the Cubs. The series has drawn attention not only for the teams' histories but also for the involvement of key figures like Theo Epstein and Terry Francona, who previously ended the Boston Red Sox's championship drought. The excitement surrounding the games is palpable, with discussions about the potential for heartbreak and the significance of the matchup for both franchises. Ultimately, the Cubs won the series in a thrilling Game 7, ending their long wait for a championship.
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The Chicago Cubs have just won the National League championship, and will play in the World Series for the first time since 1945. They last won the Series in 1908.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/22/us/chicago-cubs-world-series-bid/index.html

Normally, I would be delighted to cheer them on, but their opponents will be my "hometown" team, the Cleveland Indians, who have not won the Series since 1948, although they have played in it (and lost) three times since then: 1954, 1995 and 1997.

The Cubs and the Indians have the two longest World Series victory "droughts": 118 and 68 years respectively.
 
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Cubs fan Loretta Dolan has been waiting a while for the Cubs to get to the World Series.

http://abc7chicago.com/sports/102-year-old-cubs-fan-still-keeps-score-of-every-game/1542887/
CHICAGO (WLS) -- http://abc7chicago.com/sports/102-year-old-cubs-fan-still-keeps-score-of-every-game/1542887/
One of the Cubs' biggest fans - and one of their oldest - is Loretta Dolan. At 102 years old, her knowledge of the game is remarkable and her loyalty to the Cubs is unmatched.

Last year (CBS, 2015) — When Loretta Dolan attended her first Cubs game at Wrigley Field, a trip on the bus from her home was 7 cents.
Behind The Plate: 101-Year-Old Cubs Fan Hopes This Is ‘The Year’
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/10/19/behind-the-plate-101-year-old-fan-hopes-this-is-the-year/Another long time fan, Virginia Wood, who will celebrate hare 102nd birthday next month.
http://www.npr.org/2016/10/21/49885...n-hopes-beloved-team-grants-her-birthday-wish
 
Any team can have a bad century.
 
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My dad's a 73 year old Cubs fan, so he's been waiting a while for this...
 
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The outcome will be exciting no matter who wins. Good to see some other teams winning the series than have the same team dominate. I've seen enough giants victories for quite a while.
 
I hope the cubs lose in the most heart breaking way. Sorry I'm a brewers fan :)
 
Greg Bernhardt said:
Sorry I'm a brewers fan

Don't worry. If they work really hard, next year they might finish above .500! At least they found a league that will keep them.
 
jtbell said:
The Cubs and the Indians have the two longest World Series victory "droughts": 118 and 68 years respectively.
What about franchises that have never won? Don't they have an effective infinite drought?

I'm rooting for the Cubs in this one, since Cleveland eliminated my beloved Jays. And Save Ferris! :wink:
 
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  • #10
DrClaude said:
What about franchises that have never won? Don't they have an effective infinite drought?
I'd start the clock when they were founded. Hmmm, let's see...

Seattle Mariners, 1977 (39 years)
Washington Nationals (former Montreal Expos), 1969 (47 years)
 
  • #11
Interestingly, the GM (Theo Epstein) and manager (Terry Francona) of the last team to end an infamous championship drought (the 2004 Boston Red Sox) are on opposite sides of this matchup; Epstein is President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs and Francona is manager for Cleveland.
 
  • #12
jtbell said:
I'd start the clock when they were founded. Hmmm, let's see...

Seattle Mariners, 1977 (39 years)
Washington Nationals (former Montreal Expos), 1969 (47 years)
On that measure, ok. The longest drought is then the Texas Rangers/Washington Senators (1961), see http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/8-mlb-teams-that-have-never-won-the-world-series.html/?a=viewall, so much shorter than the current contestants.
 
  • #13
Ah, OK, I was looking at the teams that have never been in the Series at all.
 
  • #14
Oh wow. Game 7. Indians score 3 runs in the 8th inning to tie it. No score in the 9th so we go to extra innings.

But now it's raining so the game has been suspended before starting the 10th inning...
 
  • #15
Well. That didn't last long. The Cubs are batting first in the 10th...
 
  • #16
Augh! A single, an intentional walk, a single (scoring a run),another intentional walk (huh?),another single (scoring another run).

Bases loaded, one out, Cubs ahead by two.

Barring a miracle when the Indians come to bat, the game is effectively over.
 
  • #17
jtbell said:
Augh! A single, an intentional walk, a single (scoring a run),another intentional walk (huh?),another single (scoring another run).

Bases loaded, one out, Cubs ahead by two.

Barring a miracle when the Indians come to bat, the game is effectively over.

Cleveland needs a miracle.
 
  • #18
Edit: Davis, well played clutch.
 
  • #19
Two outs, a walk, a single (scoring a run)! Can they get one more run to keep it alive?
 
  • #20
Nope. :(
 
  • #21
Nope. Ground ball out, Cubs win 8-7.

So I have to wait some more. Congrats to the Cubs anyway, they've been waiting longer.

Maybe the Indians will finally do it in my lifetime...
 
  • #22
jtbell said:
Nope. Ground ball out, Cubs win 8-7.

So I have to wait some more. Congrats to the Cubs anyway, they've been waiting longer.

Maybe the Indians will finally do it in my lifetime...

Was a good game at any rate, even if the Cubs did win. :p
 
  • #23
Agreed. That was a game (and series) for the ages.

Barbecued goat, anyone? :cool:
 
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  • #24
Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! :partytime:
 
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  • #25
Greg Bernhardt said:
I hope the cubs lose in the most heart breaking way.

Well, you didn't get your wish. Despite 3 errors and a questionable bunt decision.
 
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  • #26
Vanadium 50 said:
Well, you didn't get your wish. Despite 3 errors and a questionable bunt decision.
And a near disastrous pitching decision in game 6. I expected that to come back to bite them.
 
  • #27
Joe Maddon gets a lot of grief for some decisions that are a bit risky. And some of them do turn out badly - or at least look like they are about to. But often they do work (and then there is silence). The Cubs' record indicates that on the whole, the risks are working out.
 
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