The Hizoban Higasa no onnaChicago Cubs are World Series champions for the first time since 1908.
On Wednesday night, they ended the longest championship drought in North American professional sports. The Cubs were once the "lovable losers," a franchise cursed with a miserable history. And the team's cinematic Game 7 victory on Wednesday night cleansed all of that.
If it sounds like a true underdog story, look a little closer.
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Chicago entered spring training with by far the best odds of winning the World Series, not to mention the sixth-highest payroll in baseball. The Cubs sent seven players to the 2016 MLB All-Star Game -- the most of any team. It led baseball with 103 wins and a collective 3.15 ERA from its pitchers.
Chicago is a powerhouse franchise, not an underdog.
Let's be very clear: The Cubs' story is incredible, nonetheless. President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein rescued the franchise from mediocrity five years ago and turned the Cubs into perennial contenders. This World Series meant so much to so many Chicagoans, so many generations of Cubs fans who have been waiting for this moment, and so many who didn't live long enough to see it.
But before we let Cubs hysteria get too far, we need to talk about the Cleveland Indians.
That's right. There were two teams in the World Series this year.
Michael Martinez recorded the last out of the World Series. Credit: Jason Miller/Getty Images Chasing an end to a wrenching championship drought of its own (68 years), Cleveland cruised to a division title after a 94-win season. Its offense led the American League in steals, while its pitching staff recorded a league-best 1,398 strikeouts during the regular season.
But 2016 had its fare share of adversity.
Cleveland accomplished all that without Michael Brantley, Cleveland's All-Star outfielder who missed most of the year with a shoulder injury. Starting catcher Yan Gomes also went down in July, leaving backup Roberto Pérez -- a career .220 hitter -- in his stead. In June, outfielder Marlon Byrd got busted for his second performance-enhancing drug violation, and the league suspended him for the rest of the year.
Still, Cleveland rallied.
Let us introduce you to the #Indians new post-victory GIF. #Celebration #Cleveland #RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/DJoJBu32oZ
— Cleveland New Day (@ClevelandNewDay) October 24, 2016
That dominant starting rotation, coupled with Cleveland's sturdy foundation of homegrown talent and a handful of solid free agent signings, gave the Indians all the makings of a good postseason team. The Indians made the biggest swing of any team at the trade deadline, acquiring dominant reliever Andrew Miller to steady its bullpen.
But then the injury bug struck again, claiming starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and All-Star Danny Salazar in September.
Without their star outfielder and two of their top three starting pitchers, the Indians still barreled their way through the early rounds of the postseason. Quietly, they eliminated the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, two of the best teams in the league, losing only one game in the process.
(10/19/16) #Indians win the ALCS beating the #BlueJays in 5 games. pic.twitter.com/rTe6f8WORe
— Best MLB Moments (@30SecMLB) October 25, 2016
But of course, they arrived at the World Series with the odds, the fans, the broadcasters and what felt like the entire world stacked against them. Everyone was looking in the other dugout.
The buzz surrounding Chicago's 108-year championship dry spell -- and the powerhouse 2016 Cubs squad that looked fit to end it -- never seemed to stop. The Indians became the underdogs. Their 68 years without a World Series win became an afterthought.
They faded into the ether when Chicago recorded the final out of Game 7 on Wednesday.
Jason Kipnis hit two home runs in the World Series. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images On paper, the Cubs were hands down the better team in this World Series, but even the bruised and battered Indians gave Chicago a run for its money. Up 3-1 after Game 4, Cleveland had three chances to seal the deal and write its own storybook season ending. But this World Series, this season -- this universe -- belonged to the Cubs.
Cleveland was just living in it.
You'll hear talk of the 2016 Series for a long, long time, because its circumstances were so incredible. Celebrate it. Enjoy it. We were all a part of history. We watched the Cubs win.
Just take a second to remember the team they beat.
