Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
September 29, 2007
Forty Year Difference

In 2003, baseball came pretty close to a Cubs-Red Sox World Series. Bad managerial decisions doomed both those teams as Dusty Baker didn't have anyone warming up things went south for Prior, and Grady Little decided Pedro could get another batter. At that time, the team hadn't won a World Series since 1908 and 1918 respectively.

Now we get a chance for the teams with the longest streaks of seasons without a championship to face off. The Cubs still haven't won since 1908, while the Indians last claimed a title in 1948. The Cubs actually had plenty of chances to pick up another series title as they won the National League pennant seven times between 1910 and 1945, a good rate for an eight team league. From 1929 to 1938, they were a dominant NL team, never finishing lower than third, and going to the big dance four times. In two of the series, the hitting collapsed, and the pitching faltered in the other two. And with the Cubs not returning to the Series since 1945, the base of fans remembering their pennants is dwindling rapidly.

The Indians do have a recent history of World Series visits, losing in both 1995 and 1997. I know of no curses on the Tribe, just bad management that took one of the few teams that challenged the Yankees in the 1950s to over thirty years of also ran status. That's changed over the last fifteen years, and it would be good to see it rewarded with a World Championship.

Both these teams have an urgency to win due to their historic droughts. I'd love to see them face off in the finale this season.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:05 AM | Post Season | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Bad management isn't a curse? Seems like the worst kind to me.

Check this out:

The Curse of Rocky Colavito

Posted by: Franklin Scott at September 29, 2007 03:31 PM
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