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The Curse of the Billy Goat

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Oddity

The Resume

    (October 6, 1945-November 2, 2016)
    Started when William 'Billy Goat' Sianis, alongside his goat Murphy, put a curse on the Chicago Cubs (October 6, 1945)
    Most notable occurrences of the Billy Goat Curse:
    1945: The Cubs lose to the Detroit Tigers after being up 2 games to 1 in the World Series
    1969: Late in September, the Cubs blew a 9-game lead against the New York Mets, who wound up beating the Baltimore Orioles that year for their first World Series
    1984: The Cubs lose to the San Diego Padres in the NLDS after being up 2 games to 0
    2003: The Cubs lose to the Florida Marlins after being up 3 games to 1 in the National League Championship Series

Why The Curse of the Billy Goat might be annoying:

    It's completely fictional!
    It lives in the shadow of The Curse of the Bambino.
    It started on October 6, 1945, when William Sianis (aka 'Billy Goat') wasn't allowed to bring his goat, Murphy, with him to game 4 of the World Series. When asked why, P.K. Wrigley, owner of the Cubs and Wrigley Field, told him: 'Because the goat smells.'
    It pissed off William so much that he said: 'Cubs, they not gonna win anymore! They never gonna be another World Series played at Wrigley Field!'
    The World Series, which at the time had the Cubs leading the Detroit Tigers two games to one, ended with the Tigers winning the next three games.
    After the Cubs lost, William sent P.K. Wrigley a telegram that read: 'Who smells now?'
    The Cubs didn't play in a World Series for over 70 years.
    It was blamed for the Cubs' failure during the 1969 season, when the Cubs completely bombed after having a 9 game lead for the NL Central Division title late in the season.
    Billy Sianis' grandson, Sam, tried to lift the curse twice. Once in 1972 and once in 1983. He pulled up to Wrigley Field in a limousine and had a red carpet rolled out for his goat on both occasions.
    In 1983, Sam Sianis made the statement 'All is forgiven. Let me lead the Cubs to the pennant' and then attempted to enter Wrigley Field with his goat, Billy Goat XII. He was not allowed to enter the stadium, as was the same case in 1972.
    The Cubs management finally allowed Sam to bring a goat to the game in 1984. Sam brought Socrates the Goat to opening day that season. The Cubs won their division but wound up losing to Jack McKeon and the Padres after being up 2 games to 0 in the NLDS.
    Before there was Bill Buckner, there was Leon Durham. Leon allowed a routine ground ball to go through his legs during that same series against the Padres, which was considered the turning point in the series.
    The Cubs were 1 game away from clinching a spot in the 2003 World Series, as they were leading the Florida Marlins 3 games to 1. After they lost game 5 in Florida, they went back to Chicago to play game 6. After being up 3-0 in the 8th inning, Luis Castillo hit a playable foul ball into the left field stands. As Moises Alou was attempting to catch the ball, Steve Bartman, along with other Cubs fans, made a play for the ball, thus knocking it out of Moises' glove. Luis would eventually get a base hit and would help lead the Marlins to an 8-run 8th inning. The Marlins wound up winning game six against Mark Prior 8 to 3 and game seven against Kerry Wood 9-6.
    Back to back wins from the same team against Mark Prior and Kerry Wood had only happened once in their 2 seasons together prior to the 2003 NLCS.
    While the Cubs have a goat to blame, the Red Sox have trading Babe Ruth to blame!
    Even though it was credited and mentioned during the 2003 National League Championship, it was over shadowed by Steve Bartman.

Why The Curse of the Billy Goat might not be annoying:

    In 1934, Billy Sianis bought a sports bar named the Lincoln Tavern, which was located across from the Chicago Stadium.
    After adopting an abandoned goat which had fallen off a truck, Billy grew a goatee and was dubbed 'Billy Goat.'
    In honor of his new nickname, he renamed the bar the Billy Goat Tavern.
    Billy Sianis was considered a 'publicity stunt master.'
    In 1944, when the Republican Convention was held in Chicago, he posted a sign that read 'No Republicans Allowed' outside of his tavern. This, in turn, caused it to be filled with angry Republicans demanding to be served.
    The Billy Goat Tavern is still open to this day.
    It turned the Cubs into the 'lovable losers.'
    Despite their lack of success, Chicago Cubs fans tend to be some of the most loyal fans in all of sports.
    It helped make a Cinderella story out of the Marlins.

Credit: His Name is Robert


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 31 Votes: 6.45% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 83 Votes: 65.06% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 274 Votes: 88.32% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 29 Votes: 44.83% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 25 Votes: 44.00% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 26 Votes: 65.38% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 51 Votes: 49.02% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 87 Votes: 71.26% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 115 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 400 Votes: 69.50% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 230 Votes: 64.78% Annoying