Cubs win the World Series: The Story of the Curse of the Billy Goat


Olaf Logan, an Andy Frain usher, stops William Sianis, owner of Billy Goat Tavern, from entering Wrigley Field in October 1945. The Cubs lost to Detroit and the North Side team hasn't played in the World Series in 70 years. (Chicago Tribune historical photo / Chicago Tribune)
Wrigley Field usher Olaf Logan stops Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, from entering the stadium in October 1945. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

70 years ago today, a man and his goat were kicked out of a World Series baseball game, which some believe led to one of the great curses in sports history.

Here are a few facts you may not have known about the Curse of the Billy Goat.

Chicago bar owner Billy Sianis , who immigrated to the United States from Greece, operated the Billy Goat Tavern. The tavern was named after Murphy, a goat which fell off the back of a truck in front of the bar and was nursed back to health by Sianis. Sianis was known for taking Murphy to events around town as a publicity stunt for his bar.

On October 6, 1945, Sianis attended Game 4 of the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Before the game, Sianis was allowed to take Murphy on the field with a sign saying, “We Got Detroit’s Goat.”

Sianis and Murphy sat in their seats to watch the game until the fourth inning when team officials told them to leave because of the goat’s foul smell.

Sianis, outraged at the offense, cursed the Cubs. Some allege the curse prevented World Series games from being played at Wrigley Field, while others say it has prevented the Cubs from reaching another World Series.

The Cubs went on to lose the 1945 World Series in seven games.

Sianis lifted the curse in 1969, but the Cubs still haven’t played in another World Series.

Billy Sianis died in Chicago in 1970. The Cubs still have a chance to reach the World Series this season. They open postseason play on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card Game.

Our question, in what movie does one of the main characters give the address for Wrigley Field as his false address?

Today is Armed Forces Day in Montenegro and Day of Commemoration and National Mourning in Turkmenistan. In the United States it is unofficially National German-American Day and National Noodle Day. It’s the birthday of singer Jenny Lind, actress Carole Lombard and architect Le Corbusier.

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