The 2016 Cubs World Series roster wasn't just a list of names. For anyone living in Chicago that November, those twenty-five guys were basically deities in cleats. It’s been about a decade since the rain delay in Cleveland, but if you walk into a bar on Clark Street today, people still talk about Mike Montgomery’s curveball or Kyle Schwarber’s miracle return like it happened yesterday afternoon.
History is heavy. For the Cubs, it was a century-old anchor. But the roster Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer built wasn't designed to respect history; it was designed to destroy it. It was a weird, beautiful mix of homegrown superstars, veteran "dads," and a pitching staff that felt like it was playing a different game entirely.
The Schwarber Factor: A Roster Move for the Ages
Most teams don't put a guy who hasn't seen a major league pitch in six months on their World Series roster. It's risky. Actually, it's usually stupid. But Kyle Schwarber isn't most guys. After shredding his ACL and LCL in the first week of the season, Schwarber was supposed to be done. Buried.
Then came Game 1.
When the Cubs World Series roster was officially announced, Schwarber’s name was the lightning bolt. He didn't just show up; he hit. He slashed .412/.500/.471 in the Fall Classic. He was the designated hitter in Cleveland and a pinch-hitter in Chicago because the doctors wouldn't let him play the field. Think about that. The man could barely run, yet he was the heartbeat of the lineup. Without that specific roster addition, the Cubs don't win. Period.
The Pitching Staff: Precision Over Power?
The rotation was the North Star. Jon Lester brought the "been there, done that" energy from Boston. Kyle Hendricks, the "Professor," looked like he was doing taxes while carving up the best hitters in the American League. Then you had Jake Arrieta, who was still in his "Greek God of Pitching" phase, and John Lackey, who famously said he didn't come to Chicago to eat cereal.
The bullpen was... interesting. Aroldis Chapman was the crown jewel, but Joe Maddon used him until the wheels almost fell off. By Game 7, Chapman had nothing left. His fastball, usually 101 mph, was sitting at 97 and flat. When Rajai Davis hit that soul-crushing home run, it felt like the roster's biggest strength had finally cracked.
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But then came the depth.
Carl Edwards Jr. and Mike Montgomery. These weren't the "stars" of the Cubs World Series roster, but they were the ones who had to get the final outs. Montgomery, a mid-season trade acquisition from Seattle, threw a curveball that induced a weak grounder to third. Kris Bryant slipped. He smiled. He threw to Rizzo. The drought was over.
The Infield That Redefined Cubs Baseball
Look at the diamond. Kris Bryant at third. Addison Russell at short. Javier Baez at second. Anthony Rizzo at first.
That infield was young. It was aggressive. It was flashy.
Javy Baez was a human highlight reel, tagging runners before they even knew they were out. Anthony Rizzo was the emotional glue. People forget that Rizzo struggled early in that postseason, but by the time they hit the World Series, he was an on-base machine. He ended the series with a .360 average and five RBI.
The Veterans Who Actually Mattered
You can't have a roster of kids without some adults in the room.
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- David Ross: "Grandpa Rossy." He was retiring. This was it. He hit a home run in Game 7 of the World Series at age 39. Legend status.
- Ben Zobrist: The MVP. He was the "super-utility" guy before it was cool. His double in the 10th inning of Game 7 is the single most important hit in the history of the franchise.
- Jason Heyward: He didn't hit much. Honestly, his contract was already looking rough. But the rain delay speech? That happened in the weight room. That was the Cubs World Series roster coming together when they were at their lowest point.
Strategy and Success: Why This Specific Group Worked
Theo Epstein built this team on "The Way." It was about high OBP and high character. But it was also about versatility. Ben Zobrist could play anywhere. Kris Bryant could play outfield. Willson Contreras was a rookie catcher with an absolute cannon for an arm who could also hit sixth in a Game 7.
The Cubs World Series roster was deep enough to survive a 3-1 deficit. Most teams fold there. This group didn't because they had different ways to win. If the power wasn't there, they drew walks. If the starter struggled, the middle relief (mostly) held the line.
The Full 25-Man Breakdown
It's worth looking at the full list because every one of these guys saw action or provided the depth needed to survive a seven-game grind.
The Rotation
Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey. This was the most consistent four-man group in baseball that year. Lester was the workhorse, Hendricks was the finesse king.
The Bullpen
Aroldis Chapman (the closer), Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Carl Edwards Jr., Mike Montgomery, Justin Grimm, Travis Wood. Wood was the Swiss Army knife—he could pitch an inning or play left field if things got weird.
The Catchers
Willson Contreras, David Ross, Miguel Montero. Montero hit the grand slam in the NLCS, but his RBI single in the 10th inning of Game 7 is the "other" big hit everyone forgets.
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The Infielders
Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist (also OF), Tommy La Stella. La Stella was the pinch-hitting specialist, the guy you wanted at the plate when you needed a professional at-bat in the 7th.
The Outfielders
Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, Albert Almora Jr., Chris Coghlan, Kyle Schwarber. Dexter Fowler led off Game 7 with a home run. You can't start a game better than that. Almora Jr. was the baserunner who tagged up on Zobrist’s fly ball—a high-IQ play that set up the winning run.
Misconceptions About the 2016 Squad
People think this team was a juggernaut that coasted. They won 103 games in the regular season, sure. But the Cubs World Series roster was actually under massive pressure. They were trailing in the NLDS against the Giants. They were down 2-1 against the Dodgers. They were down 3-1 against Cleveland.
The narrative that they were "too talented to lose" ignores how close they actually came to disaster. If the rain doesn't fall in Cleveland, maybe Jason Heyward doesn't give that speech. Maybe Bryan Shaw stays in the game and shuts them down. Baseball is a game of inches, and this roster utilized every inch.
Actionable Takeaways for Cubs Fans and Historians
If you’re looking to relive the magic or study how that roster was built, don't just watch the highlights of the final out. Look at the small stuff.
- Study the 10th Inning: Watch Albert Almora Jr.'s baserunning. It's a masterclass in "small ball" winning championships.
- Analyze the Trades: The Cubs World Series roster was built through savvy trades (Arrieta, Strop, Rizzo, Chapman, Montgomery). It’s a blueprint for any rebuilding franchise.
- Appreciate the Depth: Notice how Joe Maddon used his bench. He wasn't afraid to swap players in the middle of an inning to get a slightly better defensive matchup.
The 2016 Chicago Cubs weren't just a team; they were a collection of specific skill sets that clicked at the exact right second. From the veteran leadership of David Ross to the raw power of a hobbled Kyle Schwarber, every name on that roster played a part in ending the longest drought in sports history.
To truly understand that championship, you have to look past the trophy. You have to look at the 25 men who refused to let the "Curse of the Goat" define them. They changed the culture of a city forever. Every time you see a "W" flag flying today, you're seeing the legacy of that specific 2016 group.