Billy Goat Curse

Lore & Background

During Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field, Sianis's pet goat, named Murphy, was bothering other fans, and the pair were asked to leave the stadium. Outraged, Sianis allegedly declared, 'Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more,' which had been interpreted to mean the Cubs would never win another National League pennant, at least for the remainder of Sianis's life. The Cubs lost the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers and did not win a pennant or World Series championship again until 2016. The exact nature of the curse differs in various accounts; some state Sianis declared no World Series games would ever again be played at Wrigley Field, while others believe his ban was on the Cubs appearing in the World Series. Sianis's family claims he sent a telegram to owner Philip K. Wrigley reading, 'You are going to lose this World Series and you are never going to win another World Series again. You are never going to win a World Series again because you insulted my goat.'

In Their Own Story

The wind off Lake Michigan didn't just howl; it screamed through the bleachers, carrying a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. Inside the dugout, the air grew thick, heavy with a phantom odor of cheap tobacco and barnyard musk that no amount of pine tar could scrub away. A veteran hitter paused mid-batting practice, staring into the outfield as if watching for a shadow in a tuxedo near third base. 'They say he's still out there,' a rookie whispered, gripping his bat until his knuckles turned white. The old timer just shook his head, eyes fixed on the flickering scoreboard. 'Maybe,' he muttered, the ghost of Murphy lingering between them, 'or maybe we're just waiting for the smell to finally fade.'

Reader's Guide

The curse was broken on the 46th anniversary of William Sianis's death when the Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5–0 in Game 6 of the 2016 National League Championship Series to win the NL pennant. The Cubs then defeated the AL champion Cleveland Indians 8–7 in 10 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series, 108 years after their last win.

Did You Know?

• The goat's name was Murphy, not Sonny.
• The incident occurred during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series, not a pennant playoff.
• The Detroit Tigers are an American League team, not a National League team.
• William Sianis is identified as the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, not as a goat farmer.