You remember where you were. Honestly, if you're a baseball fan, that night in November 2016 is probably seared into your brain like a bad sunburn or a first date. It was a collision of two franchises that had spent a combined 176 years basically perfecting the art of the "almost."
The Chicago Cubs hadn’t won a World Series since 1908. Teddy Roosevelt was president then. The Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians, obviously) hadn't touched the trophy since 1948. When these two teams met in the Fall Classic, it wasn't just a series; it was an exorcism.
People talk about the "curse" of the Billy Goat or the "curse" of Rocky Colavito, but by Game 7, those superstitions felt heavy. Real heavy. You’ve got a 3-1 series lead for Cleveland that evaporated. You’ve got a 103-win Cubs team that looked invincible until they didn't. Then, you get to Progressive Field for the finale, and things just got weird.
The Night the Curse Broke (Sorta)
Dexter Fowler leads off the game with a home run. Just like that. It was the first time anyone had ever hit a leadoff homer in a World Series Game 7.
The Cubs were rolling. They built a 5-1 lead. Then it was 6-3. It felt like the 108-year drought was finally, mercifully, drying up. David Ross—literally playing the final game of his career—hit a solo shot to make him the oldest player to homer in a Game 7. At 39, he was basically a grandfather in baseball years.
But Cleveland wouldn’t go away. They’re scrappy. They’re annoying.
Joe Maddon, the Cubs manager, makes a move that people still argue about at bars in Wrigleyville. He brings in Aroldis Chapman. Now, Chapman was the best closer in the world, but his arm was essentially cooked. He had been used and overused throughout the postseason.
He didn't have it.
Rajai Davis comes up in the bottom of the 8th. Two outs. Two strikes. He’s not a power hitter. He’s a speed guy. But he catches a 97-mph fastball and yanks it over the left-field wall.
Tie game.
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The stadium in Cleveland absolutely exploded. I’ve never heard a sound quite like that through a television. It was the sound of a century of frustration being screamed out at once.
That 17-Minute Rain Delay Nobody Talks About Enough
The 9th inning ends. The score is 6-6. And then, because the universe has a twisted sense of humor, the sky opens up.
A rain delay. In the 10th inning of Game 7. You couldn't write a script this dramatic because an editor would tell you it's too "on the nose."
While the grounds crew was hauling that heavy tarp across the infield, the Cubs were reeling. Chapman was in the clubhouse literally crying because he thought he’d blown the World Series for Chicago. The momentum was entirely on Cleveland’s side.
Then came the meeting.
Jason Heyward, who had a miserable year at the plate, dragged the team into a small weight room. No coaches. No front office. Just the players. He basically told them, "I don't care about the last eight innings. We’re the best team in baseball. Let's go win one inning."
It worked.
The rain stopped after only 17 minutes. Shortest, most impactful weather event in the history of Illinois and Ohio.
Kyle Schwarber—who shouldn't have even been playing after tearing his ACL in April—leads off the 10th with a single. Ben Zobrist, who would end up being the MVP, rips a double down the line. Miguel Montero adds another.
The Cubs go up 8-6.
The Final Out and Why It Still Matters
Cleveland scored one back in the bottom of the 10th. Of course they did. They weren't going to let it be easy. Mike Montgomery comes in to face Michael Martinez.
It’s a slow roller to third. Kris Bryant is smiling before he even throws the ball.
Cubs 8, Indians 7.
The aftermath of the Cubs vs Indians matchup changed the sport. It proved that "cursed" franchises could actually win, though it took a literal act of God (the rain) to reset the vibes.
Since that night, the landscape has shifted. Cleveland transitioned to the Guardians in 2022, partly to move away from the "Indians" moniker that had been under fire for decades, and partly to embrace the "Guardians of Traffic" statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge.
But for fans of both teams, the 2016 Series remains the peak. It was the last time the All-Star Game determined home-field advantage (thankfully, that rule is dead). It was the night that proved baseball, for all its spreadsheets and "launch angle" talk, is still a game of nerves and weather patterns.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to really understand the nuance of this rivalry, don't just look at the box scores.
- Watch the "Rain Delay" interviews: Check out the 2016 World Series documentary. Hearing Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant talk about their internal panic during the 10th inning is a masterclass in sports psychology.
- Study the Bullpen Usage: Look at how Terry Francona managed Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. It changed how modern managers use "closers" in the 6th or 7th inning today.
- Visit the Landmarks: If you're in Cleveland, walk across the Hope Memorial Bridge to see the Guardians statues. If you're in Chicago, the "W" flags are still everywhere, but the energy has shifted to building a new era of Cubs baseball.
The 2016 World Series wasn't just a win for Chicago; it was the end of an era for the entire sport. We don't really have "lovable losers" anymore. Everyone is just a few good draft picks and a timely rainstorm away from a ring.