2016 World Series Game 7 vs Indians

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Lore & Background

The Cubs, playing in their 11th World Series overall and their first since 1945, won their third championship and first since 1908, ending the longest championship drought in North American professional sports history. The Cubs became the sixth team to come back from a 3–1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series. The deciding seventh game, won by Chicago 8–7 in ten innings, was the fifth World Series Game 7 to go into extra innings, and the first since 1997 (which, coincidentally, the Indians also lost). It was also the first Game 7 to have a rain delay, which occurred as the 10th inning was about to start. The 2016 World Series was highly anticipated; the two teams entered their matchup as the two franchises with the longest World Series title droughts, a combined 176 seasons without a championship. At the series' conclusion, numerous outlets listed Game 7 as an instant classic, and the entire Series as one of the greatest of all time.

In Their Own Story

The deciding seventh game, won by Chicago 8–7 in ten innings, was the fifth World Series Game 7 to go into extra innings, and the first since 1997 (which, coincidentally, the Indians also lost). It was also the first Game 7 to have a rain delay, which occurred as the 10th inning was about to start. The Cubs became the sixth team to come back from a 3–1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series. The Cubs, playing in their 11th World Series overall and their first since 1945, won their third championship and first since 1908, ending the longest championship drought in North American professional sports history. It was the Indians' sixth appearance in the World Series and their first since 1997, with their last Series win having come in 1948. Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who had previously won World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, fell short in his bid to become the third manager to win his first three trips to the Fall Classic, after Casey Stengel and Joe Torre.

Did You Know?

• Game 7 was the fifth World Series Game 7 to go into extra innings, and the first since 1997.
• Game 7 was the first World Series Game 7 to have a rain delay, which occurred as the 10th inning was about to start.
• The Cubs became the sixth team to come back from a 3–1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series.
• The Cubs ended the longest championship drought in North American professional sports history, winning their first World Series since 1908.
• The two teams entered the series with a combined 176 seasons without a championship.