For the preseason through the entire regular season and into the postseason, the Chicago Cubs were favored to win the 2016 World Series. The only time they were not favored is when they trailed in the series 3-1.
However, they rallied to win the final three games of the Fall Classic against the Cleveland Indians including Game 7 in 10 innings by the score of 8-7.
The championship ended the longest drought in sports history of 108 years.
By rallying from a deficit of 3-1, the Cubs became the first team in baseball to rally from that deficit and win both Game 6 and 7 on the road since the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979.
The Indians did not give up easy. After the Cubs raced out to a 5-1 lead, the Indians rallied to tie the score at 6 and send it to extra innings.
However, a rain delay of 17 minutes likely saved the game and the World Series for the Cubs. Jason Heyward gathered his teammates in the weight room of the clubhouse to lift their spirits and the deal came out of the delay to score two runs in the top of the tenth and held on in the bottom to win the game.
Chicago has waited 108 years for what took place on Wednesday night and its fans will line the streets of the city on Friday for the World Series parade. Players, coaches and executives will parade around the streets of the city to celebrate something that has been over a century in the making.
Cleveland players and fans were saddened when the team lost Game 7. The Indians have not won a World Series in 68 years and now became the longest winless drought in baseball after the Cubs ended theirs on Wednesday.
The Indians under manager Terry Francona will regroup during the winter and will be one of the favorites to win the American League pennant.
Chicago was named the odds on favorite to repeat by bookmakers in Las Vegas shortly after they had won the World Series Wednesday night.
