by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
file photo ici.radio-Canada.com: Chicago Cubs pitching ace Jake Arieta
So we all know that Las Vegas odds masters made the Chicago Cubs a 4 to 1 favorite to win the 2016 World Series. This was, of course, prior to the beginning of the season.
Many baseball fans feel frustrated for generations when their teams never wins a World Series. Let’s take for example the franchises that have been in operation for very long time.In 2013, the Red Sox won the best-of-seven series against the St. Louis Cardinals with four wins in six games. During the 2007 World Series, Boston won with four wins in four games against the Colorado Rockies. In 2004, Boston was also pitted against St. Louis and won with four wins in four games, capturing its first World Series title since 1918. The Red Sox went 86 years between World Series wins, that a few generations of Cubs fans, which are as loyal as any fan base, and they have endured seriius punishment.
Cubs and Red Sox have “by far”had the most suffering fans in memory, and these are two franchises who had played in the same city since the beginning.
Cleveland is another long suffering fan base. Last time the Indians went to a World Series was 1997(not that long ago)however, last time they won a World Series was 68 years ago in 1948. So right after the Cubs, they have been the longest suffering franchise without an October Classic championship. Some other franchises that moved, when the expansion took place from the east to the west, waited a long time. The Giants, who moved from New York in 1958 to San Francisco, did not win a World Series until 2010, that is 52 years of waiting for Giants fans in San Francisco, to win a World Series, also a few generations went by. The Pittsburgh Pirates(another old team) won the 1979 World Series, and have not won one since, that is 37 years.
The Atlanta Braves are the oldest continually operating team in Major League Baseball; enfranchised in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings (or Red Caps) in National Association, and with connections to the original independent professional Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869–70; joined National League as charter member (1876). The Braves of 2016 are one of the worst teams in baseball, and the last time they won a World Series, was in 1995, that’s only 21 years ago. Athletics won their last one in 1989. 27 years ago, the Dodgers in 1988, that’s 28 years. While the Cincinnati Reds won their last championship in 1990, some 26 years ago. Some franchises have never won an October Classic, Astros,Mariners,Padres,Rockies,Rangers, and the relatively new Washington Nationals, successors to the old Washington Nationals, which for years where “first in war, first in peace and last in the American League”.
The Cubs are after a closer, that could be Yankees Aroldis Chapman, or Andrew Miller, also on the Yankee bullpen, which makes the three head monster of Millder-Betances-Chapman. The 2016 Cubs are the real thing. A World Series win will be historic for all in baseball, and specially for the city of Chicago, since there is almost nobody left in the country that witnessed their 1908 World Series title. They play in what I always called “a holy place for baseball” Wrigley Field, last park to install lights(1988). These have been fans for generations who stuck to their team like families pass religion from one generation to another. Across Wrigley Field there is a souvenir shop that has a sign which reads “Being a Cubs fans is a lifetime commitment” and that is correct. You cannot call these Cubs fans of today front runners, because they have suffered decade after decade, they understand the game and the make their team and city proud.
I -for one-would have no problem if they fulfill their destiny this year, that of winning their first World Series in 108 years. And yes folks, that is real torture.
Note: Did you know? In 1941 when The Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio established the current record of getting on base via hit in 56 consecutive games, he faced a total of only 54 pitches. I have done games this season, where the winning team gives only a couple of runs to their adversary and uses five pitchers to secure the win. If anybody asks you how much have pitching change, just tell them about the 56 Game DiMaggio record. That should be sufficient.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels, the radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
