Chicago Cubs:

Looking to put the billy goat to pasture

It was October 6, 1945, the Chicago Cubs were in the midst of a 37 year world championship draught and they just won two of three in Detroit heading back to Chicago with a 2-1 lead. William “Billy Goat” Sianis walked up to the Wrigley Field with his billy goat Murphy, like he usually did because he bought a ticket for the goat too, to go and watch the Cubbies play. When he got there he was greeted by a number of ushers that informed him that his goat wouldn’t be able to enter the stadium. Sianis appealed the decision and he got word from owner P.K. Wrigley himself that Murphy wouldn’t be able to come in because “He smells.” At that point Sianis raised his arms in the air and told the ushers that “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more,” and “Never again will the World Series be played in Wrigley Field.” The Cubs went on to lose the next three games, and the series, at Wrigley. Which brings us the 2003 NLCS, the Cubs have a 3-2 series lead, and Mark Prior had a three run lead with two outs in the top of the eighth inning. A ball was hit into foul territory and as left fielder Moises Alou went to catch it, a fan interfered and kept Alou from making the final out of the inning. After that the Marlins went on an 8 run two out rally and won the game 8-3. The Cubs then lost the next game, extending the streak without a pennant to 59 years and 96 years without a World Series victory.
Cubs’ management was determined to fill the gaps they had in their team last year. They signed free agents Greg Maddux, Todd Hollandsworth, LaTroy Hawkins and traded for Marlin first baseman Derek Lee. With these acquisitions they helped out their staff and added some much needed depth in the field.

The Cubs are lead by right fielder Sammy Sosa in the field and with his bat. Other sluggers joining Sosa are left fielder Moises Alou, center fielder Corey Patterson, third baseman Aramis Ramirez and first baseman Derek Lee who add pop to a lineup that is looking toward the World Series.

The reason that Cubs fan has such high hopes of breaking the curse is the pitching staff. The Cubs are lead by a pair of flame-throwing right handers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, even though Prior started off the season on the DL. They are joined by future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano.
Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, is widely known for its brick walls around the field and the ivy growing on the outfield wall. The field is also known for the bleachers in the outfield. People love to enjoy the game in the friendly confines of the outfield bleachers that overlook Sheffield and Waveland Ave. It was also the setting for Babe Ruth’s famous “called shot,” when Ruth pointed to the bleachers in game 3 of the 1932 World Series and then proceeded to hit it there.

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