By Alex Kurtz Sports editor
The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings on Nov. 2 to complete the comeback after being down 3-1 to win the 2016 World Series.
This was not just any World Series win; this was possibly the greatest baseball game ever played for multiple reasons.
The Cubs had not won a World Series title in 108 years, which was the longest active championship drought in the four major American sports. But that was just the beginning.
The Cubs had a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning until Cleveland outfielder Rajai Davis, who had not hit a home run since August 30, smashed a two-run shot into left field to tie the game 6-6. At that point a pin-drop probably could have been heard all throughout Chicago’s North side.
The game remained tied after the ninth inning, so it went into extra innings.
However, after the ninth inning, the grounds crew rushed onto the field and rolled out a tarp signalling a rain delay, which furthered the madness of what was shaping up to be one of the greatest baseball games of all time.
Seventeen minutes later, the rain delay was lifted, and the teams resumed play. In the top of the 10th inning, Ben Zobrist hit the go-ahead RBI-double down the third-base line, and the Cubs bench—as well as the rest of the world—erupted in joy.
The half-inning ended with a two-run Cubs lead after a Miguel Montero RBI-single. The Cubs were now three outs away from breaking the longest championship drought ever in major sports history.
The Cubs however were stretched thin in their bullpen and now had to rely on the arm of Carl Edwards Jr., a former 48th round draft pick by the Texas Ranger in 2011, whom the Cubs had acquired in a trade in 2013.
Edwards was able to strike out long-time MLB slugger Mike Napoli for the first out. He then got Jose Ramirez to ground out for the second out, putting the Cubs one out away from history.
The Indians did not go down easily however. Brandon Guyer reached first on a walk, and proceeded to steal second base.
The next batter was Davis, who had already played hero once this game. He did his part to extend the game, smashing a single into center field to score Guyer to make the game 8-7. Edwards came out of the game and Mike Montgomery came in to try to get the final out.
Nerves started to set in a bit as the winning run for the Indians came to the plate in former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder and long-time minor leaguer Michael Martinez.
If there was any series to have a long-time minor leaguer win a historic game seven for a team who was also on a long championship drought, it was this one. The last time a World Series was won on a walk-off home run was in 1960, when the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees on a shot from Bill Mazeroski.
History could only be made from one side however, and that would be the Cubs. Martinez ground out to Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who threw the ball to first for the last out with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
“That’s one of the best games anyone will ever see,” Bryant said.
Not only it was one of the best games people will ever see, but it was probably the most historic game since the Boston Red Sox ended their long championship drought in 2004.
“You believe in something that is true and beautiful, and the whole city, all its fans, they’re sort of validated,” longtime Cubs fan Bill Murray said. “Their dream came true; it’s okay, dreams come true. People believed in it, and the great thing about it was we became such great losers. Good sports, good losers. I just hope we’re good winners. I hope we’re good winners.”
Cubs fans rejoiced all around the world. Clips began to pop up all over the internet of older fans crying in happiness about what they had just witnessed.
One of the most emotional of them all was one older man, who promised his dad that they would watch the Cubs win the World Series together, sitting by his father’s gravestone streaming the game and staying there until the last out was made to fulfill his promise.
To some this was just a baseball game, but to Cubs fans, this was one of the most emotional games ever played.
For 108 years, fans on Chicago’s North side suffered as their team slumped to mediocrity for years.
Finally they were able to watch as their team celebrated a championship that will never be forgotten.
