T he 2003 Chicago Cubs were not expected to be a serious contender for a World Series title Under new manager Dusty Baker they hung around 500 until early September Then they caught fire A pitching staff led by Mark Prior and Kerry Wood sud denly became one of the best in Major League Baseball MLB After some inconsistency the Cubs lineup became more pro ductive too The Cubs started September by going 8 1 As the month and season came to a close they were right in the mix for the National League NL Central Division title f K g f f ld Extra Support Extra Support Extra Support Extra Support On July 23 2003 the Cubs landed On July 23 2003 the Cubs lande On July 23 2003 the Cubs landed On July 23 2003 the Cubs landed third baseman Aramis Ramirez and third baseman Aramis Ramirez and third baseman Aramis Ramirez and center fielder Kenny Lofton from center fielder Kenny Lofton from center fielder Kenny Lofton from the Pittsburgh Pirates for third the Pittsburgh Pirates for third the Pittsburgh Pirates for third baseman Jose Hernandez and t o baseman Jose Hernandez and two baseman Jose Hernandez and two minor leaguers Ramirez and Lofton minor leaguers Ramirez and Lofton sparked the Cubs to within five outs sparked the Cubs to within five outs sparked the Cubs to within five outs sparked the Cubs to within five outs of the World Series Lofton hit 327 of the World Series Lofton hit 327 of the World Series Lofton hit 327 wwith a 381 on-base percentage in 56 with a 381 on-base percentage in 56 games Ramirez had 15 home runs games Ramirez had 15 home runs games Ramirez had 15 home runs games Ramirez had 15 home runs and drove in 39 runs in 63 games and drove in 39 runs in 63 games and drove in 39 runs in 63 games Lofton left the team after the 2003 Lofton left the team after the 2003 Lofton left the team after the 2003 season Ramirez went on to star in season Ramirez went on to star in season Ramirez went on to star in Chicago for several years Chicago for several years p Mark Prior reacts after getting an out in Game 2 of the 2003 NL Mark Prior reacts after getting an out in Game 2 of the 2003 NL Championship Series against the Florida Marlins Championship Series against the Florida Marlins BREAKING THE CURSE 5
The Cubs had a chance to win that title on the second to-last day of the season They were hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates in a doubleheader at Wrigley Field When the Cubs won both games they were division champions They were heading to the playoffs for the first time since 1998 The playoffs however were not known to be good to the Cubs The team from Chicago’s The Curse The Curse On October 6 1945 the Cubs hosted On October 6 1945 the Cubs hosted the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field in the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field in Game 4 of the World Series Cubs fan Game 4 of the World Series Cubs fan Game 4 of the World Series Cubs fan William Billy Goat Sianis bought William Billy Goat Sianis bought two tickets for the game one for two tickets for the game one for him and one for his goat Murphy him and one for his goat Murphy However Sianis and Murphy were However Sianis and Murphy were ordered to leave because the goat ordered to leave because the goat smelled bad When Sianis was leav smelled bad When Sianis was leav vvvv ing he reportedly said The Cubs ing he reportedly said The Cubs ing he reportedly said The Cubs ain't gonna win no more The Cubs ain't gonna win no more The Cubs ain't gonna win no more The Cubs will never win a World Series so long will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field The Cubs have not been back Field The Cubs have not been back Field The Cubs have not been back to a World Series since to a World Series since to a World Series since North Side had not won a play off series since winning the 1908 World Series Some fans believed the Cubs could never win another World Series That is according to a curse suppos edly put on the team during the 1945 World Series When a fan and his goat were kicked out of a game because the goat smelled he supposedly said the Cubs would never win another World Series Curse or no curse the Cubs got off to a good start They edged the Atlanta Braves three games to two in the NL Division Series NLDS Then they met the Florida Marlins in the NL Championship Series NLCS Cubs fans were starting to feel good about the team’s chances They had a 22 10 record since September 1 Then they took a three-games-to-one lead over the Marlins in the NLCS Many fans and media 6 CHICAGO CUBS
Cubs outfielder Moises Alou is unable to catch a foul ball when a fan in headphones deflects it during Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS members felt the Cubs were on the verge of returning to their first World Series since 1945 The Marlins beat the Cubs 4 0 in Game 5 Then the Cubs hosted the Marlins in Game 6 on the evening of October 14 Prior held a 3 0 lead with one out in the eighth Then Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo hit what looked like a routine foul ball down toward the left field box seats Cubs left fielder Moises Alou leaped against the wall to try to catch the foul pop Several Cubs fans tried to grab it too The ball deflected off one fan’s hands Alou was unable to catch it and record the sec ond out The outfielder threw a fit Cubs fans were not happy BREAKING THE CURSE 7
