Cubs cursed?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I have heard that the reason the Chicago Cubs haven’t won the pennant for decades, if ever, is that someone put a curse on them. Or, rather, I’ve heard that, for what it’s worth, someone put a curse on the Cubs, whether or not that’s the reason for their inability to win.

The way I heard it, this immigrant Greek guy liked to go to Cubs games…with his goat. (This would have been in the '30s.) The Cubs had a great season, and the man and the goat went to every game. But when the Series started, extra stadium staff was brought in, and a ticket-taker, who’d never worked there before, said, “No animals.” He absolutely refused to let them both in, and the man threw a curse on the team. Anyone else hear that?

I’m taking into account the climate of the times. In those days, there wasn’t the media saturation there is now. Allegedly, the man and his goat were were well recieved by the staff and the team as mascots. If that happened today, the goat would probably get a “John 3:16” moment at every game, and even Joe Random Ticket-taker would recognize them and let them in. But back then, you just had to keep your ear to the ground to know what was going on. Also, today, some stringer would eventually hear about the guy cursing the team and do a feature on him, prompting the team owners to apologize profusely and get him to take the curse off, thus getting enormous free publicity. In fact, that’s why I disbelive the story; it sounds like something someone made up in a bar. How would anyone know about it after the fact if it didn’t get publicity at the time?

2

Well, this seems the appropriate time to post this list:

In 1908, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Since then:

1.Radio was invented.
2.Four states were admitted to the Union.
3.The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
4.Television was invented.
5.The U.S. went through the Great Depression.
6.The U.S. participated in two world wars and two major armed conflicts, Korea and Vietnam.
7.The NFL was founded.
8.Man landed on the moon.
9.Thirteen presidents were elected and one was appointed.

10.Harry Carey was born and died.
11.Wrigley Field was built and became the oldest baseball park in the National League.
12.Five flag poles, erected at Wrigley Field for the purpose of holding a World Series flag, have worn out and been replaced without ever holding a pennant.
13.Lights were installed at twenty-five major league baseball stadiums–except Wrigley Field.
14.Ten teams were added to the major leagues.
15.Halley’s Comet passed the earth twice.
16.Hundreds of boys were born, raised, played inept baseball for the Cubs, retired and died of old age.

Item 13 kinda dates the list, but still…

Yeah, I’ve heard the goat story. Way I understand it, the goat’s owner was one Bill Sianis, founder of the Billy Goat’s Tavern. When he tried to bring his goat into Wrigley during a 1945 WS game, he was turned away. Ever since, the Cubs have sucked like a Hoover upright. Later owners of the Billy Goat’s Tavern have tried to lift the curse, but to no avail.

3

I see. Didn’t realize I had the time frame so wrong!