Ask Mike: The curse of the Billy Goat
Hey Guys,
The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of a chase for the National League wild card slot. But something tells me the ol’ Cubbies are gonna come up short of a World Series title. What makes me so pessimistic? Well, decades of futility for one, but there’s also something else going against the North Siders–the curse of the Billy Goat.
A lot of sports fans are aware of the curse, but I’m not so sure that most people know the story. There are quite a few sites dedicated to the infamous curse. I made my first stop at the one site that should have the whole story–the Billy Goat Tavern, where it all started.
The Tavern hosts an excellent history of the curse and how it came to be. Here’s an abbreviated version: The year is 1945. The Cubs are in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers and up two games to one. Game four is at Wrigley Field and the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, William Sianis, has two tickets.
Sianis could have taken anybody with him–I’m sure game four was a hot ticket and most of his friends would have loved to have come along. But Sianis didn’t want to take just anybody. Sianis wanted to take his pet goat, Murphy. Now, the security was a bit more lax back then than it is now (try carrying a backpack into a Yankees game these days and you’ll see what I mean), but there was no way a goat was getting into Wrigley.
Believe it or not, this outraged Mr. Sianis, who appealed to the Cubs’ owner, P.K. Wrigley. According to legend, Wrigley said to let in Sianis but not the goat because, Wrigley felt, it stunk too badly. Sianis didn’t like hearing his goat insulted. And some sources claim he then 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.”
And guess what? The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since. Sianis even sent a telegram to Wrigley after the Cubs lost in 1945 that said “Who stinks now?”. Ouch–nothing like rubbing it in. Whether or not this is all true is impossible to say. History tends to cloud the facts, but whether true, false, or somewhere in between, the stinky goat still makes for a great story.
Of course, there are plenty of other curses in sports. The Curse of the Bambino that kept the Red Sox from winning was lifted back in 2004. But there’s still the Madden Curse, which says that whoever graces the cover of the video game will have a horrible year. And, as a Bengals fan, I have to believe there’s some kind of curse on my poor team. Just a theory…
Thanks for reading,
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as a young child my father played for the phillies, oh the stories he could tell! heard several “cub curse” stories but not this one. thanks, i really enjoyed it.
Wow, I never heard that.
well, i dont believe in curses of course, but you r sure right about one thing, the cubs will definitely come up short again this year. just a little over a month ago the cubs were in first place in their division, now they have no shot for the division and the wild card is now out of reach as well, so once again cubs fans will b heartbroken.
Mike:
Loved the story. I have never heard it before.
As far as The Billy Goat Tavern. I went there, in the underground city, back in the late ’70s. The thing that sticks in my mind was it was a real drinkers bar. The major patrons were the people from the two major newspapers, The Chicago Tribune and The Sun Times. There were signs on the wall that said “If you have ink on your clothes, don’t sit down”.
I remember going in there with about a half dozen of my class mates from the IBM building for a drink. It was everyone saying “I’ll have a beer”. Well except this one girl and she said “I’ll have a Gin Rickey”. I was the one to go to the bar and order so I said “Six beers and a Gin Rickey”. The response from the bartender was “What the hell is a Gin Rickey”, she changed her order to a beer.
The fame of the place came up a few years later on Saturday Night Live with the Cheese Burger, Cheese Burger bit. I remember the cook in The Billy Goat. You would order a double cheese burger and he would say as he was slapping the burgers on the grill, “Cheese burger, cheese burger”.
Spent a few fun nights there.
The bible speaks about curses a few times. It says something to the effect of not to worry, he has our back. Also that there are things that should not be done, such as talking to the dead…so because it says , yea you shouldn’t do it, its pretty much against me… That basically means they exist as far as the bible goes…which i believe….. But it also says only god can past judgement..so believers of god are protected against them..and if you Believe..then you have faith…and if you have faith you are protected….well then they dont work.. So …thats probably why my aunt says to me…
Curses only work on you if you believe in them. Kind of like an EXTREME form of influence to get you to do something, yet its till your decision to do. So.. yea..whats my point? Curse of the Billy Goat…?….Only if they believe in it! Its my impression they thought they were cursed soon after it happened, not a While after they had not gotten to the world series. The same way it was brought in to belief, it can be taken out… That is why talking about it doesn’t help in a way, because it keeps it going..unless we all come to the conclusion, mainly the fans and ballclub….that it Does NOT exist…and it no longer will. We know how superstitious baseball players can be though!.
The Billy Goat incident occurred in 1945, but the last time the Cubs won the World Series was in 1908. Obviously, the Billy Goat had nothing to do with the period from 1908 to 1945.
The Cubs won the National League pennant in 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, and 1945, but in each of those years, lost the World Series to the American League team.
I do not know about the other years, but in 1935 and 1945, I think the loss was due to the fact that they were playing the obviously-superior Detroit Tigers.
It is interesting that they have not won the pennant since the Billy Goat incident, but I think this is just another example of the post hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy.
One reason that the Cubs lost the 1945 World Series is that Hank Greenberg, of the Detroit Tigers, had just returned from the war, and he was able to help propel the Tigers to victory.
I am a HUGE Cubs fan but I’m not sure about them even making the playoffs this year. I ‘m hoping they do.
whatever mike,,,
if you wanna believe it’s a curse then fine…
i suppose you read your horoscope everyday too…
I love how teams that are bad make up excuses like a “curse”. Gives them a way out, just blame it on the curse. As someone else pointed out look at all those chances they MISSED. Just like the Red Sox “curse” that didn’t start until YEARS later and conveniently allowed them to GO to the World Series, they just couldn’t win.
hey Mike and u probably chase down a rainbow looking for gold too dont u? there is no curse from someone in Chicago. me
9 games outa first on Sep 12 is hardly in “a chase” for a play-off spot.
Why are you so pessimistic? Instead of writing this entire article, you could’ve just realized the Cubs aren’t really in the running for the wildcard. Granted they’re 9 games back, but that’s a lot to gain on the Rockies or Giants the way they’ve been playing.
The Cubs should be arrested for impersonating a major league team. But they can’t get arrested. 101 years without winning a World Series and 63 years without even a WS appearance has exceeded the statute of limitations and the Cubs should be forced to fold.
the cubs have only one curse in the midwest. It’s called the St Louis Cardinals
You state, “The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of a chase for the National League wild card slot.” You’re dreaming.
The Cubs have been out of it to a team that can’t lose. Whether they still have a chance at anything besides big pay checks is at best, a possibility.
This years team was to be better than last. Didn’t happen. It seems that injuries were key to the 500 team that developed. Recently, errors have not helped either. An error is as good as a hit to a base runner and runners produce runs. Giving opposing teams extra runners has hurt.
Inconsistent play from the starters has not produced the hits needed to overcome the poor showing on defense. Last year there were “standouts” at many positions and strong play from the others. This year there are no “standouts” except by substitute utility players in various positions on the field.
Curse? It seems the curse can’t be broken even though many attempts and voodoo counter curses have been tried. I think the wrong curse has been accused of the problems.
The real curse happened in 1909 when they failed to get to the World Series. They had been there 3 consecutive years and won it in 1907 and 1908. They did return again in 1910 but lost.
6 more World Series losses and 3 playoff losses over the last 100 years. The so called “Bill Goat Curse” happened in 1945. The losing seasons started 36 years before that. Since then it’s, “Wait ’til next year.”
Frank Chance was the player/manager back then. He was the 3rd part of the famous “Tinkers to Evers to Chance” double play combination that was memorialized in poetry. The team had an incredible 104-49 record but couldn’t qualify because the Pirates finished at 110-42. It was the incredible misfortune of the 1909 Cubs to be overshadowed by one of the greatest teams in the history of the game. Read more below:
http://seamheads.com/blog/2008/04/11/baseballs-best-runners-up-1909-cubs/
Back the Charles A Murphy was the owner. He bought the team in 1905 for $125,000. With Murphy lies the possible blame. He has a different name in some records…Charles W. Murphy. He was also financed by Charles Taft, brother of Pres William Taft. There lies the curse. An overheard conversation turned into his purchase of the team with the help of a “deal” with politicians in 1905. A few years later he had become baseball’s most hated. This opinion was held by players, owners, the press, and fans. Read about it:
http://www.thecubdom.com/opeds/ownerreviews/Cubs_review.html
here we are…2009. It’s 100 years and 9 owners later. The “curse” remains. Hopefully new ownership will change that. We’ve been told that he is not only a business tycoon but a baseball fan…a real Cubs fan! We’ll see…next year.
Let’s face it. The Chicago Cubs are the lovable losers of Chicago. Whatever they do, they have the most loyal fans on the planet. Ain’t love strange.
You forgot to mention Steve Bartman.
<-< What a stupid face.
Go Cubs Go! <3
C:
9 games out with four teams ahead of them? Cubs are done.
I liked that they blew up the Bartman ball though. That play reminded me of when the O’s got robbed in the ‘96 ALCS by that kid Maier.
I’m a lifelong Cubs fan, so I’m quite familiar with the billy goat curse. However, I’m starting to think the curse is on the fans, not the team.
there is also 2 other curses in sports ,specifcly hockey . The curse of Muldoon against the Chicago Blackhawks , and The curse of Red Dutton against the NY Rangers
they should just let a goat in….”lift” the “curse” and stop sucking so much. GO SOX!
Chicago is the laughing stock of the NHL, NBA, MBL and NFL. Their fans are so blind that they will accept anything just to have sports in their town.
The Chickenhawks have not won since the early sixties (I wonder why that is…CHEAP).
Da Bears have been a joke since SuperBowl 20 (that’s 24 years of hilarity and following the Cubbie tradition…CHEAP again)
The Black Sox won only twice in 90 years (they shamed the city of Chicago in 1919…do you smell the feet of Chicago here…Cheap and confused).
The Little Bears is truly the laughing stock of American Sports, having not won a National League title since 1945 and no World Series ring since the Titanic was being built in 1908. Wasn’t Teddy Roosevelt the president at that time? When you look in the dictionary and look up the words Cheap and Loser, why is it their picture always pop up first? Because it is sooo true.
The Bullies were the only respectable team the city of Chicago can look up to but what did they do? They ran basketball’s greatest player out of town. Because of what? They did not want to pay Michael Jordan premium money. Smells like cheap to me. How about you?
Let’s just face it, the fans of Chicago settle for anything and fool themselves every year that they will finally become winners. They go to their arena to get boozed up and look at women. Always has been…always will be.
Cubbie fans…Arizona is laughing at you, the Angels are laughing at you, Boston is laughing at you and they knew how it felt until they “Cowboyed Up”. The lowly Mess are laughing at you.
Ever since the Atomic Age was born, EVERY team in your division has either gone to the world series or won a world series. The “We Are Family” Pirates won, The Big Red Machine won, The Redbirds won, The Brew Crew at least went to a world series and the youngest of your division The Astros at least got to the world series.
Even the Rockies went to the world series.
How much bashing can a Chicago fan take? Look at yourself and finally do something right. If you stay with your team, it will be like H1N1 invading your body and there is no vaccine available for you. Sudden death.
I did not forget about you Bear fans. What is up with your ownership? Your history since Iron Mike left has been less than stellar. Wasn’t it Iron Mike who publicly disgraced one of the greatest running backs to ever walk on Soldier Field by letting the kitchen appliance score a touchdown in their only super bowl? And Bear fans also accept this as the Bear way. What a joke!
Hey Chickenhawk fans, lets not forget about you. How can you fire a coach that gave you your last Stanley Cup on Christmas Eve? Ownership was not even man enough to fire him face to face. They slipped a pink slip under the door and said “Your fired…Merry Christmas! I guess that was the Chicago way also. And the fans went along with that one too. Am I seeing a pattern here?
Stop using the Billy Goat as an excuse for all your woes. Grow up. Man up and learn what a true champion looks like. When it’s “Winning Time” execute the plays properly. Pay your players what they are due and maybe, just maybe New York and Los Angeles may give you some respect. Oh, wait a minute, your the Second City? Please! And the jokes keep piling up. And America does not want to have the summer Olympics in a town known for losing franchises and losing fans. How many mirrors have you guys broken? It must be more than one because the losing doesn’t seem to stop.
Maybe if you get a new mayor instead of the dictator you currently have, build a new stadium and demolish the wreck you call Wrigley Field, and spend some cash on REAL talent, your dream might come true.
The Bullies won in a new arena.
The Black Sox moved from Comisky Park to the New Comisky Field and they finally won.
New ownership with the Chickenhawks is looking promising in a newer arena.
The Bears tried to do the same thing, but got CHEAP and GREEDY so they lose super bowl 41 to a bunch of ponies.
So Cubbie fans…wake up! Dump the Dump and maybe your wait will be over. You have not seen a championship. Dad has not seen a championship. Granddad has not seen a championship. Granddad’s dad has not seen a championship. Even Granddad’s Granddad has not seen a championship. How much more evidence do you need? Oh, I forgot…your a Cubbie fan.
Let’s not forget…The Padres are laughing at you, Twice. The Phillies only won 2 world series are laughing at you, The Dodgers were ROTFL last year when they swept the mighty baby bears. The Tampa Bay Rays are laughing at you. The Twinkies, the Tiggers, the Orioles, the Blue Birds, the Royals, the Fish (twice) and the Tomahawk chops all can have a great big smile on their faces when they look at the rings on their fingers and wonder how the simpleton cubbies, around for more than a century, find a way to do the impossible…lose on a consistent basis.
Even with a former Yankee as your skipper, the Cubbies and their fans are still not paying attention to what he is saying or doing.
Just remember these important facts…He won in Cincinnati.
He has baseball best record in 2001 with 116 wins and still did not get to the world series.
If Cubs fans want to rack up team wins, try to win when it counts the most. Do it in the second season, where championships are won.
One more thing…Yankees rule since 1925. That’s winning on a consistent basis. 26 and counting. Yankee fans don’t put up the the crap cubbie fans do.
plz visit this site
Wonderful story! As a 5th generation Chicagoan and die hard Cubs fan, if you believe in curses (billy goats or otherwise) you are not a true cubs fan. Nor do I blame Bartman for blowing it for us. They should have pulled the pitcher right after that happened. Once your pitcher is upset, it permeates throughout the team. Thus, mistakes were made and we blew it.
I heard that Sianis said that the Cubs would never even reach another World Series after 1945, and so far he has been right.
Just because the Cubs are mathematically alive does not mean they are ” in te midst of the NL Wildcard race”
yeah, mike…I hate to agree with you, except for the fact that I don’t believe in curses. the difference, here, is that there are so many people that put so much creedence to the curse that it may as well be real. the more one believes in something, the more it stands to be tangible…solid. I really hate that the fact that the goat didn’t get to go to the game just for the ‘fun’ aspect of it–that would be kind of cool to look over at the seat next to you and see a goat sitting next to you. too bad that murphy didn’t get his seat–what would ever have been cubs history if he had? well, we’ll never know. as for me, being a cubs fan since the ripe old age of 8 and 32 years later being an even bigger fan of my team, I’ll always wonder.
thanks for the topic!
with a fist in the air from oregon,
rachelle
The cubs are 7.5 games out of the wild card behind 4 other teams there is no chance they even make the playoffs. How can you say its news to anyone that they arent winning the world series?
I’ll explain why you’re pessimistic: I’m not a Cubs hater or anything most of the time I root for them but 101 years and counting since the Cubs winning the World Series is why you’re pessimistic.
hay if the red sox can do it so can the cubs!!!(in your dreams)
Cause the cubs SUCK.
I never heard of this story before. I live in Wisconsin, but I am a Cubs fan and Bears fan. You would not believe the ribbing I get! It’s really sad that the Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908. Sad for me, that is. Anyway…liked your story.
Guess it will be another year for the most loved baseball team in Chicago But it will be another 95 for the sox’s. No one knows who the sox s where till they won a championship Now everyone for got about them.
I think the Cubs should rename to Billy Goats to break the curse
Maybe all the Cubs need to win the pennant is to have someone related to Andy Frain apologize to Murphy the Goat…like what happened in a book I just read “Billy Goat’s Curse”.