Best Memories From The 2016 World Series Cubs

It’s the one-year anniversary of the Chicago Cubs winning the 2016 World Series and you’re damn right Cubs fans are still thinking about it. We can get into what this team is going to do in the offseason at a later time, but right now it’s time to reminisce.

All of these are from Game 7 against the Cleveland Indians and the celebration after.

Right off the bat, Dexter Fowler with the leadoff home run. Amazing start and still the only time there’s been a leadoff homer in a Game 7 of a World Series.

That was huge on two levels. Remember, Corey Kluber was starting for Cleveland and he had already shut down the Cubs in two previous starts, so getting a quick 1-0 lead was big, but just getting anything off of him early certainly gave the Cubs more confidence.

The Cubs knocked Kluber out of the game after Javier Baez hit a home run to start the fifth inning. After winning co-MVP in the NLCS, Baez only had one RBI in the World Series, but it was the last shot to get Kluber out.

Kris Bryant isn’t the fastest player in MLB, but damnit he’s one of the best base runners in the game. He showed that twice in Game 7, scoring on an Addison Russell sac-fly hit to shallow left-center field and then scoring from first base on an Anthony Rizzo single to right field.

That last play was off Andrew Miller, who like Corey Kluber was a machine in the postseason for Cleveland. However, the Cubs got to him as well and it was David Ross who delivered the biggest blow against Miller.

Now we go to the dark times of Game 7.

After Aroldis Chapman gave up the game-tying home run, you thought the Cubs were going to lose. You probably thought it was a guarantee after Joe Maddon brought Chapman back out for the ninth inning. I sure did. I was just waiting for the end that was sure to come because Chapman had nothing left. Go back and check out the ninth inning, all he was throwing were 86 mph sliders over the plate and the Indians somehow didn’t hit one out for a walk-off homer.

Although there was that one foul ball that we thought was going to be a home run and yes I still get a sick feeling in my stomach when I watch.

Damn you Fox cameras!

Anyway, Chapman somehow pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and then the rain delay. The Jason Heyward speech followed and the rest is history.

Anthony Rizzo standing at third base, with his hands on his head in total shock was every Cubs fan watching. At that time you just knew the Cubs were about to win the World Series and it didn’t seem real.

And no, we won’t forget Miguel Montero.

By the way, I know Rajai Davis is the one who had the home run and then the RBI-single in the 10th to make it 8-7, but Brandon Guyer was so damn annoying too. He pinch-hit in the fifth inning, got two hits, drove in a run in the eighth and then he walked and scored with two outs in the 10th inning too.

But at the end all that mattered was the Cubs finally won the World Series.

One of the best postgame moments was definitely Willson Contreras discussing what the win meant to him. He was 24-years-old when the Cubs won last year and has been with the organization since 2009, when he signed as an international free agent. The Cubs is all he’s known for most of his adult life and this moment was a real tear-jerker.

Love you Willie. pic.twitter.com/QUeB0rzBgp

— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) November 3, 2016

Also, you might be tired of David Ross popping up everywhere on your TV, but there’s no question that him going out on top was a great moment.

This is how @D_Ross3 is getting home this morning. #CubsTalk #CubsWin #WorldSeriesChamps pic.twitter.com/NcnWiQlWAt

— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) November 3, 2016

Last but not least, Theo Epstein and other Cubs players singing from the rooftop of Murphy’s.

Theo Epstein And The Cubs Serenaded Fans From The Rooftop Of Murphy’s