The Curse of the Billy Goat is an urban legend concerning various regular-season and postseason woes of the Chicago Cubs, a Major League Baseball team. An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. It explains the Cubs not even reaching the World Series since 1945. The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs.
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The Curse of "Billy The Goat" Sianis
The Curse of the Billy Goat is a curse on the Chicago Cubs that was started in 1945. The Chicago Cubs have the longest dry spell between championships in all of the four major U As the story goes, Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant (from Paleopyrgos, Greece[1]), who owned a nearby tavern (the now-famous Billy Goat Tavern), had two $7. William Sianis (c 1900 - October 22, 1970) better known as Billy Sianis ( Greek:Σιανις was a Chicago Illinois The Billy Goat Tavern is a chain of Taverns located in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1937 by Billy Sianis, a Greek Immigrant 20 box seat tickets to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers, and decided to bring along his pet goat, Murphy (or Sinovia according to some references), which Sianis had restored to health when the goat had fallen off a truck and subsequently limped into his tavern. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA The goat wore a blanket with a sign pinned to it which read "We got Detroit's goat". [2] Sianis and the goat were allowed into Wrigley Field and even paraded about on the playing field before the game before ushers intervened and led them off the field. Wrigley Field is a Baseball Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago After a heated argument, both Sianis and the goat were permitted to stay in the stadium occupying the box seat for which he had tickets. At this point, Andy Frain (head of Wrigley Field's hired security company at the time), waved the goat's box-seat ticket in the air and proclaimed, "If he eats the ticket that would solve everything. "[2] However, the goat did not. Before the game was over, it started to rain and Sianis and the goat were ejected from the stadium at the command of Cubs owner Philip Knight Wrigley due to the animal's objectionable odor of wet goat. Philip Knight Wrigley ( December 5 1894 - April 12 1977) sometimes also called P Sianis was outraged at the ejection and allegedly placed a curse upon the Cubs that they would never win another pennant or play in a World Series at Wrigley Field again because the Cubs organization had insulted his goat, and subsequently left the U. S. to vacation in his home in Greece.
The Cubs lost Game 4 and eventually the 1945 World Series, prompting Sianis to write to Wrigley from Greece, saying, "Who stinks now?" Following a third-place finish in the National League in 1946, the Cubs would finish in the league's second division for the next 20 consecutive years. The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball Champions Major League Baseball World Series: St Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox (4-3 All-Star Game First division is a term that has had various meanings at various times in the sport of Baseball: Prior to 1961 the two major baseball leagues &mdash the National League This streak finally ended in 1967, the year after Leo Durocher became the Cub's manager. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: St Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox (4-3 Bob Gibson, MVP Leo Ernest Durocher ( July 27, 1905 – October 7, 1991) nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American Infielder and Since that time, the supposedly cursed Cubs have not won a National League pennant or played in a World Series – the longest pennant drought in Major League history. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball Sianis died in 1970. Champions Major Leagues World Series MVP Brooks Robinson All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium
Attempts to break the curse
Sam Sianis, nephew of Billy Sianis, has been brought out on the field with a goat multiple times in attempts to break the curse: on Opening Day in 1984 and 1989 (the Cubs won the division both years), in 1994 to stop a home losing streak, and in 1998 for the wild card play-in game (which the Cubs won). [3]
A group of Cubs fans headed to Houston in 2003 with a Billy Goat named "Virgil Homer" and attempted to gain entrance to Minute Maid Park. After they were denied entrance, they unfurled a scroll and read a verse proclaiming they were "reversing the curse". Houston faded down the stretch allowing the Cubs to win the division that year. The Cubs came within 5 outs of the World Series in 2003, until a fan, Steve Bartman attempted to catch a foul ball, interfering with Moises Alou, who appeared in position to make the play. However, a crucial error by Alex Gonzales later in the inning prevented an inning-ending double play. The Marlins went on to score 8 runs in the inning, to lead 8-3. The Cubs lost that game and the next game to the Florida Marlins, who went on to win the World Series. The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens Florida. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation.
Before the 2004 season the Steve Bartman ball was ceremonially destroyed at Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago. Harry Caray (b Harry Christopher Carabina, March 1, 1914, St Louis, Mo
In another bizarre twist, it was reported that a butchered goat was hanged from the Harry Caray statue on October 3, 2007, but the Sun-Times noted: "If the prankster intended to reverse the supposed billy goat curse with the stunt, it doesn't appear to have worked. Harry Caray (b Harry Christopher Carabina, March 1, 1914, St Louis, Mo "[4] However, the Cubs did win the NL central title in 2007.
The cure
According to three interviews with Sam Sianis, William Sianis' nephew-in-law, the Curse of the famed Billy Goat can only be dispelled by the Chicago Cubs organization by showing a true sincere fondness for goats, allowing them into Wrigley Field because they like them, and not simply for publicity reasons. [5]
Former Cubs who won a World Series title elsewhere
Another factor that may play a role in the curse is the number of players who won World Series titles after leaving the Cubs. These players include Andy Pafko (who, coincidentally, played in the 1945 World Series as a Cub), Gene Baker, Smoky Burgess, Don Hoak, Dale Long, Lou Brock (whose first title was in 1964 after a mid-season trade to the St. Louis Cardinals), Lou Johnson, Jim Brewer, Moe Drabowsky, Don Cardwell, Ken Holtzman, Billy North, Bill Madlock, Manny Trillo, Rick Monday, Burt Hooton, Bruce Sutter, Willie Hernández, Joe Niekro, Dennis Eckersley, Joe Carter, Greg Maddux, Joe Girardi, Glenallen Hill (after his second stint with the Cubs; his title came in 2000 after he'd been traded in mid-season), Luis Gonzalez, Mike Morgan, Mark Grace, Mark Bellhorn and Bill Mueller. Andrew (Andy Pafko (born February 25, 1921 in Boyceville Wisconsin) is a former Center fielder in Major League Baseball. Eugene Walter Baker (June 15 1925 in Davenport Iowa – December 1 1999 in Davenport Iowa was a Major League Baseball player Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess ( February 6, 1927 - September 15, 1991) was an American Catcher in Major Donald Albert (Don Hoak ( February 5, 1928 in Roulette Pennsylvania – October 9, 1969 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) was Richard Dale Long ( February 6, 1926 - January 27, 1991) was a First baseman in Professional baseball. Louis Clark "Lou" Brock (born June 18, 1939, El Dorado Arkansas) is an American former player in Major League Baseball The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with The phrase Brock for Broglio is sometimes used in the sport of baseball to signify a trade that in hindsight turns out to be a ridicuously lopsided transaction The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St Louis Brown (Lou Johnson (born September 22, 1934 in Lexington Kentucky) nicknamed " Sweet Lou " and " Slick " This article is about the baseball player For the basketball player see Jim Brewer (basketball, for the the blues musician see Jim Brewer (blues musician Myron Walter Drabowsky ( July 21 1935 – June 10 2006) was a Polish - American right-handed Relief pitcher in Donald Eugene Cardwell ( December 7 1935 – January 14 2008) was an American right-handed Pitcher in Major League Kenneth Dale Holtzman (born November 3, 1945, in St Louis Missouri) is a Left-handed former Starting pitcher in Major League William Alex North (born May 15 1948 in Seattle Washington) is a former Center fielder in Major League Baseball. Bill Madlock Jr (born January 12, 1951 in Memphis Tennessee) is a former Major League Baseball player Jesús Manuel Marcano (Manny Trillo (born December 25, 1950 in Caripito, Venezuela) also nicknamed "Indio", is a former Rick Monday (born Robert James Monday Jr on November 20, 1945 in Batesville Arkansas) is a former Center fielder in Major Burt Carlton Hooton (born February 7 1950 in Greenville Texas) nicknamed "Happy" (by former manager Tommy Lasorda, because he rarely Howard Bruce Sutter (ˈsuːtɚ born January 8 1953 in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is a former right-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was Guillermo Hernandez Villanueva ( "Willie Hernández") (born November 14 1954 in Aguada Puerto Rico) is a former Relief pitcher Joseph Franklin Niekro ( November 7 1944 &ndash October 27 2006) was an American Starting pitcher in Major League Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3 1954 nicknamed "Eck" is a former American Major League Baseball player Joseph Christopher Carter (born March 7 1960 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma) is a former Right fielder in Major League Baseball who played Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966 in San Angelo Texas) is a Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joseph Elliot Girardi (born October 14, 1964 in Peoria Illinois) is the manager of the New York Yankees, and a former Major Glenallen Hill (born March 22 1965 in) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 13 seasons The 2000 World Series featured a crosstown matchup between the two-time defending champion New York Yankees and the New York Mets, with the Yankees winning 4 Luis Emilio Gonzalez (born September 3, 1967 in Tampa Florida) nicknamed " Gonzo ", is a Major League Baseball Outfielder Michael Thomas Morgan (born October 8 1959 in Tulare California) is a former right-handed Pitcher in Major League Baseball who competed Mark Eugene Grace (born June 28, 1964 in Winston-Salem North Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Mark Christian Bellhorn (born August 23, 1974 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a Major League Baseball Third baseman. William Richard Mueller (ˈmɪlɚ born March 17, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball Third baseman. Dontrelle Willis and Jon Garland were traded as minor leaguers. Dontrelle Wayne Willis (born January 12, 1982 in Oakland California) nicknamed "D-Train" is a Starting pitcher in the Jon Steven Garland (born September 27 1979 in Valencia California) is a right-handed Starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles
Former Cubs cursing other teams
Conversely, the "Ex-Cubs Factor" seemed to plague many a post-season qualifier that had too many former Cubs. The Ex-Cub Factor is a seemingly Spurious correlation that is essentially a corollary to the Curse of the Billy Goat. This theory reached its zenith in 1990, when the factor "predicted" that the Oakland Athletics were "doomed" in that year's World Series, and the A's were swept by the Cincinnati Reds in a stunning upset (coincidentally, then Reds manager, Lou Pinella, is now the Chicago Cubs manager) . Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Oakland Athletics (4-0 José Rijo, MVP The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The 1990 World Series matched the defending champions and heavily-favored Oakland Athletics against the Cincinnati Reds, with the Reds sweeping the Series in four The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA Louis Victor Piniella (pɨˈnɛlə born August 28, 1943, in Tampa Florida, United States) is the current manager of the Chicago The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. In the 2001 World Series, however, the Arizona Diamondbacks faced the Yankees with three ex-Cubs on their roster, and not only won the Series in dramatic fashion, but won it on a rally started by Mark Grace, an ex-Cub, effectively discrediting the "Ex-Cubs" theory. The 2001 World Series (the "November Series") took place between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona.
Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, who was blamed for Boston's 1986 World Series loss after a routine ground ball rolled through his legs, was also a former Cub. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. William Joseph "Bill" Buckner (born December 14, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It has been recently uncovered that at the time of the play (and in many other instances), Buckner was wearing an old and tattered Chicago Cubs batting glove under his fielding glove.
Former Cub pitcher Mike Krukow (who went on to play for the San Francisco Giants and is currently a broadcaster for them) is alleged to be the source of the legendary "Krukow Kurse". Michael Edward (Mike Krukow (born January 21, 1952 in Long Beach California) is a former Starting pitcher in Major League Baseball The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. The "Krukow Kurse" is used to explain the Giants' fifty-plus year failure to win the World Series while in San Francisco. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Before the start of each season, Krukow states his usual optimistic prediction- during his radio show-that the Giants have a chance to ultimately win the World Series. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation. Once Krukow stops making such preseason predictions- says the legend- the Giants will, in fact, win the World Series. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation.
Another former Cub, Mitch Williams, also suffered from the World Series heartbreak in 1993, when he gave up a legendary walk-off home run to Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning of Game 6, handing the World Championship to Toronto. Mitch Williams redirects here For the fictional character please see Mitch Williams (General Hospital. The 1993 World Series was the second Series in a row played outside the United States of America and the second to be won outside the USA In Baseball, a walk-off home run is a Home run that ends the game Joseph Christopher Carter (born March 7 1960 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma) is a former Right fielder in Major League Baseball who played The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Williams would then play for the Houston Astros, who missed a possible chance to win the NL pennant due to the 1994 strike. Coincidentally, Carter was also a former Cub, but he and Williams had not been teammates in Chicago.
Other sports curses
- See also: Sports-related curses
- The other "cursed" team in Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox, also came within five outs of reaching the 2003 World Series. A sports-related curse is the effective action of some power or evil that is used to explain the failures or misfortunes of specific sports teams players or even cities The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event The following season, however, the Red Sox were able to first defeat the Yankees after falling three games behind, and then sweep the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series as well as the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St The 2004 World Series was the championship series of the 2004 Major League Baseball (MLB season The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. The 2007 World Series, the 103rd edition of Major League Baseball 's championship series, began on Wednesday October 24 and ended on Sunday October For more details, see Curse of the Bambino. The Curse of the Bambino was a Superstition cited often jokingly as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox Baseball team to win the World
- The Cubs' crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox were under the "Curse of the Black Sox" before breaking it by beating the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series, one year after the Red Sox's victory. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The "Curse of the Black Sox" (also known as the " Curse of Shoeless Joe " (1919–2005 was a Superstition or "scapegoat" cited as one The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League
- In addition, all of the sports teams of Philadelphia have been characterized as being under a curse since the mid 1980s; for more details on this subject, see Curse of Billy Penn. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The Curse of William Penn is an alleged Curse, sometimes used to explain the failure of professional sports teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Similar to Philadelphia's dilemma, all sports teams based in Houston have been characterized as being under a curse or experiencing bad luck when being close to a championship since the 1960s. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This bad luck ended in the mid-90s with two consecutive NBA championship wins by the Houston Rockets. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. Although due to recent failures of Houston teams some say their misfortunes may have returned.
- Japanese baseball team Hanshin Tigers is said to suffer from the Curse of the Colonel. Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of Baseball in Japan. The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. refers to an Urban legend regarding a reputed Curse placed on the Japanese Kansai-based Hanshin Tigers Baseball team by deceased KFC
- San Diego is among the most cursed cities in sports in that not one professional or collegiate team from the city or county has won a championship since the San Diego Chargers winning the AFL Championship in 1963. The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego California. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Additionally, other teams that have played in San Diego, such as the San Diego Rockets and San Diego Clippers have not won any championships (at least while located there). The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. Both NBA teams have lasted a short time and have since moved to other cities respectively.
- In 1958 Bobby Layne was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it is rumored that he cursed the Lions by saying, "They won't win again for 50 years" The Lions have had only 1 playoff win since 1958. Robert Lawrence Layne ( December 19 1926 &ndash December 1 1986) was born in Santa Anna Texas, USA
- The Brooklyn Dodgers have won one world series in all their time in New York, while the New York Baseball Giants have won five world series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. Since both teams moved to California, the Dodgers have won five, while the Giants have not won a title despite three world series attempts in 1962, 1989, and 2002. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Dodgers, however, have not won a NLCS since 1988, the last time they won a World Series. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation.
Other cultural references
- Sufjan Stevens recorded an album about Illinois and included a goat on its cover in reference to this legend. Sufjan Stevens (ˈsuːfjɑːn born July 1, 1975) is an American Singer-songwriter and Musician from Petoskey Michigan The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union.
- Philadelphia based musician Chuck Brodsky has written and recorded a song, The Curse of the Billy Goat on his 2006 album Tulips For Lunch. Chuck Brodsky (born on May 20, 1960 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American musician currently living in North Carolina.
- Chicago faux-wrestler Colt Cabana named one of his finishers, an inverted Boston crab, the "Billy Goat's Curse". Scott Colton (born May 6 1980) better known by his Ring name Colt Cabana, is a Professional wrestler currently wrestling The Boston crab is a professional wrestling hold that typically starts with the opponent laying supine on the mat with the wrestler standing and facing them
- In the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II a news announcement is made in 2015 that the Cubs have won the World Series. Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 film and a Sequel to the 1985 film Back to the Future.
Notes
- ^ *"The Curse of The Billy Goat". February 27, 2004. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
- ^ a b *"Da Curse of the Billy Goat...The Chicago Cubs, Pennant Races and Curses" - Chapter 1 - Enter the Goat. Retrieved October 18, 2006
- ^ World Famous Billy Goat Tavern & Grill - Our History
- ^ Toomey, Shamus. "Dead goat hung from Harry statue", Chicago Sun-Times, October 6, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus
- ^ *Article "The Curse of The Billy Goat". February 27, 2004. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
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