The 2016 World Series was won by the Chicago Cubs in a dramatic Game 7 rain-delayed 10th inning 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
It was the first World Series championship for the "cursed" Cubs since 1908. They rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win three straight games, the final two at Cleveland's home field. The Indians were attempting to win their first Major League title since 1948.
The game stretched into Thursday morning. The Cubs needed two runs in extra innings and had to endure a 17-minute rain delay as the Indians mounted a comeback.
"Nothing's been easy, nothing's been given to us," Chicago pitcher Jon Lester told MLB.com. "Every series has been a battle and been a grind for us. We played three really good opponents to get here, and here we stand. It's an unbelievable feeling to be a part of this. You wouldn't expect it any other way."
The Cubs appeared ready to celebrate earlier, taking a 6-3 lead into the eighth inning. But with one run already in, Cleveland's Rajai Davis slammed a two-out, two-run homer off Chicago closer Aroldis Chapman to tie the game, said The Associated Press.
After the rain delay, Ben Zobrist hit a run-scoring double and Miguel Montero added an RBI single in the 10th inning. Davis got the Indians close again with an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half of the inning but it wasn't enough.
"It's fitting it's got to be done with one of the best games of all time," said Cubs president Theo Epstein, per CNN. Epstein was credited with building the Boston Red Sox roster as general manager in 2004, helping them to their first World Series title since 1918 and breaking the "Curse of the Bambino." "It's unbelievable. What a testament to our players, their grit."
The Cubs' so-called "Billy Goat Curse" happened in 1945 when Chicago tavern owner William "Billy" Sianis was denied entry into Wrigley Field for Game 4 of the World Series because he was accompanied by his pet goat, noted CNN.
According to the Billy Goat Tavern website, the frustrated bar owner reportedly said, "The Cubs ain't gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field."
That lasted until Thursday morning.