The 2016 World Series was one word: legendary. The Fall Classic featured the Cleveland Indians of the American League and the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Everyone in the sports world knows the Chicago Cubs championship drought. Before this year, the Cubs went 108 years without a World Series. Some Cubs fans went their entire lives without seeing their team hoist the World Series trophy. Cleveland also has a drought of their own. It was 68 years since the last Indians World Series victory; now it is 69 years. Entering the World Series, neither team had won it all for a combined 176 years. Whatever the outcome, a long drought was going to end.

The American League won the All-Star game so the series began in Cleveland. The pitching matchup in game one featured Indians Ace Corey Kluber and Cubs veteran Jon Lester. This game was all about Corey Kluber as he completely shutout the Cubs striking nine out and allowed nothing to cross home plate. The Tribe’s bats were fueled by Puerto Rican catcher Roberto Perez’ two home runs and four RBIs. The Indians took game one 6-0.

Game two was played at the Indian’s Progressive Field the night after their game one domination of the Cubs. The Cubs had a different kind of story to write this night as they forgot about the 6-0 loss previously and came out with a different attitude. Jake Arrieta had a huge part to do with that as he carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed just 1 run through 5 and 2/3 innings. The Cubs rallied in the 5^th to post 3 runs up on the board which proved to be the deciding factor as the Cubs won game two 5-1.

With the series tied at 1-1, the venue changed to iconic Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field is where the Cubs have been playing baseball since 1914. The legendary marquee outside Wrigley has also never read “World Series Champions.” This years club certainly was looking to re-write history. Standing in their way of a home victory was Andrew Miller and the marvelous Cleveland bullpen. The Indians bullpen tossed 4 and 1/3 shutout ball and along with starter Josh Tomlin the Tribe blanked the Cubs again defeating them 1-0. Coco Crisp recorded the games only run on a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning off Carl Edwards to account for the games only run. The series now stood at 2-1.

The Tribe was now looking to capitalize in game four and gain ground toward the title. The Indians did just that as they blew the Cubs out 7-2. The Indians, again, were sparked by the pitching of their stud Corey Kluber and his 6 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. The Indians bats were hot all night by the highlight of the evening was produced by Cleveland’s second basemen Jason Kipnis when he delivered a three-run homer to right field giving his team a 7-1 lead in the seventh inning. The young, powerful bats of Chicago were quieted down once again by the crafty pitching of Corey Kluber and the Indians bullpen.

Now the Tribe was leading 3-1 and the hopes of the Cubs winning the World Series were not looking to good. The odds were not in their favor and it looked as though the curse would hold true. Jon Lester and Aroldis Chapman had other ideas. Lester threw 6 brilliant innings allowing just two runs and striking out 5. This paved the way for Aroldis Chapman’s longest out of his career. Chapman pitched 2 and 2/3 innings and recorded the save in this game. Chapman is one of the fastest throwing pitchers in the game with a fastball upwards of 100 miles per hour and he showed his power by striking out 4 and securing the Cubs victory. Chicago took game five 3-2 matching the standings of the series at 3-2.

Cleveland had just lost game 5 but gained some momentum by returning home for game 6 and playing in front of their home crowd. Chicago was not fazed at all. The Cubs bats came out swinging as they posted 3 first inning runs off of a Kris Bryant solo homerun and a two-run double from Addison Russell. Russell’s offensive night was not finished in the first inning. In the third inning, Russell delivered in the clutch again with a grand slam putting Chicago’s lead at 7-0. This one was basically over at this point with former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta pitching. Anthony Rizzo also added a late game two-run homer to extend the Cubs lead to 9-2. The final score in game six was 9-3 Cubs. The most anticipated World Series ever would have to be settled in a game seven grudge match.

Game seven of the World Series was upon us. The entire nation tuned in to watch as the Indians and Cubs dueled it out for the bragging rights and the trophy. Most importantly, the teams were playing for their respective cities. The starting pitchers in this one were Corey Kluber for the Tribe and Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs. Kluber looked to build off of his previous success against the Cubs in this one and Hendricks hoped to continue his intensity and incredible year against the Tribe. Dexter Fowler of Chicago quickly opened the scoring on the fourth pitch of the game, sending Kluber’s offering deep over the centerfield wall. Cleveland responded in the third with a run of their own making the game 1-1. The Cubs then put their foot on the gas pedal and kept rolling as they put 4 runs up in the 4^th and 5^th inning combined giving them a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, while Francisco Lindor was up at-bat, Jon Lester was pitching and he threw one that bounced off of catcher David Ross and all the way to the backstop up the first base line. The ball went so far and Ross had a late reaction to the wild pitch that two runs came to score thinning the Chicago lead to 5-3. David Ross perhaps felt responsible for the runs scoring in the previous inning and in the top of the sixth he crushed an Andrew Miller fastball into the bleachers putting the score at 6-3. The score remained at 6-3 until the Tribe came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. Brandon Guyer b shortened the Cubs’ lead to 6-4 on an RBI double by driving in Jose Ramirez. The next batter was Rajai Davis. Davis answered the city of Cleveland’s prayers by smacking a two-run homer to tie the game at 6-6 in the eighth inning. This one would have to go to extra innings. This is what game seven of the World Series is all about. Extra innings in November. In the top of the tenth, Ben Zobrist doubled home Albert Almora to five the Cubs a 7-6 lead. Miguel Montero, a veteran catcher who saw little playing time in the Fall Classic, then showed he could still be clutch in a young man’s game as he drove in Anthony Rizzo to extend the Cubs lead to 8-6. The Tribe would not go down without a fight as they added a run in the bottom of the tenth off of a Rajai Davis RBI single that proved not to be enough as the Cubs edged out the Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series 7-6. The Chicago Cubs ended the 108 year long championship drought and allowed Steve Bartman to breathe a sigh of relief. They put to shame all of the dreaded curses and stories. The Chicago Cubs were world champions once again. The Cubs overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the series 4-3 to be crowned champs. Chicago is a very talented, young baseball club with hopes of returning to the Fall Classic next year. Despite that, they will soak this one up as long as they can as Chicago celebrates the victory of a World Series.