2016 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season Chicago Cubs (4) Joe Maddon 103–58, .640, GA:17+1⁄2 Cleveland Indians (3) Terry Francona 94–67, .584, GA: 8
Dates	October 25 – November 2
Venue(s)	Progressive Field (Cleveland) Wrigley Field (Chicago)
MVP	Ben Zobrist (Chicago)
Umpires	Chris Guccione,John Hirschbeck (crew chief),Sam Holbrook (Games 3–7),Marvin Hudson,Tony Randazzo,Larry Vanover (Games 1–2) andJoe West.[1]
Broadcast
Television	Fox (English) Fox Deportes (Spanish) MLB International (English)
TV announcers	Joe Buck,John Smoltz,Ken Rosenthal andTom Verducci (English) Carlos Álvarez,Duaner Sánchez,Karim García and Jaime Motta (Spanish) Matt Vasgersian andBuck Martinez (English)
Radio	ESPN (English) ESPN Deportes (Spanish) WTAM (CLE) WSCR (CHC)
Radio announcers	Dan Shulman andAaron Boone (ESPN) Eduardo Ortega, José Francisco Rivera, Renato Bermúdez andOrlando Hernández (ESPN Deportes) Tom Hamilton andJim Rosenhaus (WTAM) Pat Hughes,Len Kasper,Ron Coomer, andJim Deshaies (WSCR)
ALCS	Cleveland Indians overToronto Blue Jays (4–1)
NLCS	Chicago Cubs overLos Angeles Dodgers (4–2)
World Series program
← 2015 World Series 2017 →

The2016 World Series was thechampionship series ofMajor League Baseball's (MLB)2016 season. The 112th edition of the World Series, it was abest-of-seven playoff between theNational League (NL) championChicago Cubs and theAmerican League (AL) championCleveland Indians, the first meeting of those franchises in postseason history. The series was played between October 25 and November 2 (although Game 7 ended slightly after 12:00 am local time on November 3). The Indians hadhome-field advantage because the AL had won the2016 All-Star Game.^[2][3][4] This was the final World Series to have home-field advantage determined by the All-Star Game results; since2017, home-field advantage has been awarded to the team with the better record.

The Cubs defeated the Indians 4–3 to capture their first World Series championship since1908, and their first while playing atWrigley Field. The deciding seventh game, won by Chicago 8–7 inten innings, was the fifth World SeriesGame 7 to go into extra innings, and the first since1997 (which, coincidentally, the Indians also lost). It was also the first Game 7 to have arain delay, which occurred as the 10th inning was about to start. The Cubs became the sixth team to come back from a3–1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series.

The Cubs, playing in their 11th World Series overall and their first since1945, won their third championship and first since1908, ending the longest championship drought in North American professional sports history. It was the Indians' sixth appearance in the World Series and their first since1997, with their last Series win having come in1948. Cleveland managerTerry Francona, who had previously won World Series titles with theBoston Red Sox in2004 and2007, fell short in his bid to become the third manager to win his first three trips to the Fall Classic, afterCasey Stengel andJoe Torre.

The 2016 World Series was highly anticipated; the two teams entered their matchup as the two franchises with thelongest World Series title droughts, a combined 176 seasons without a championship.^[5] At the series' conclusion, numerous outlets listed Game 7 as an instant classic, and the entire Series as one of the greatest of all time.^[6][7][8][9]

One ofthe two lion sculptures outside of theArt Institute of Chicago decorated in support of the Cubs

LargeCubs Win Flag in the Great Hall of theChicago Union Station during the World Series

The clock outside of theTiffany & Co. store on Chicago’sMagnificent Mile decorated to celebrate the Cubs

The foyer of500 West Madison (home to theOgilvie Transportation Center) decorated to celebrate the Cubs during the World Series

A celebratory message (referencing the songGo Cubs Go on the marquee of Chicago'sCivic Opera House during the World Series

World Series merchandise being sold at a stand in Chicago Union Station (with a backdrop mimicking the Wrigley Field marquee)

Cubs Victory Flags on theState Street frontage of theMarshall Field and Company Building during the World Series

The Cubs made their 11th appearance in the World Series; their only previous two championships were in1907 and1908. They lost their eight other appearances, in1906,1910,1918,1929,1932,1935,1938, and1945.^[10] The Cubs' 107 seasonWorld Series victory drought was the longest league title drought in the history of themajor American professional sports leagues.^[11] It was also regarded to be the most famous championship drought in American sports history.^[12] Sportsfolklore attributed this due to the "Curse of the Billy Goat", which was one of the most famous purportedcurses in baseball.^[13]

The Cubs qualified for the postseason by winning theNational League Central, ending the regular season with the best record in all of MLB (103–58) for the first time since 1945; they also posted their highest winning percentage since 1935, and won their most games since 1910. The division title was their sixth since division play began in 1969, and their first since2008.^[14] The Cubs entered the postseason as the #1 seed in the National League, and they defeated the 5th-seededSan Francisco Giants 3–1 of theNL Division Series before clinching their first NL pennant since 1945 with a 4–2 series win over the 3rd-seededLos Angeles Dodgers in theNL Championship Series.^[15][16][17]

For Cubs managerJoe Maddon, it was his second appearance in the World Series as manager – in2008, he managed theTampa Bay Rays, who lost 4–1 to thePhiladelphia Phillies. This made him the eighth person to manage pennant winning teams in both leagues.^[18]

It was also Maddon's third World Series appearance overall – in2002, he was bench coach for theAnaheim Angels.

The Indians made their sixth appearance in the World Series. They won two championships in1920 and1948. They lost their three most recent appearances in the Fall Classic in1954,1995, and1997.^[19] Their 67-season (at the time) World Series victory drought was the second-longest ongoing drought at the time, behind only the Cubs.^[20]

The Indians qualified for the postseason by winning theAmerican League Central, their eighth division title and their first since 2007.^[21] The Indians were the #2 seed in theAmerican League, and they defeated the 3rd-seededBoston Red Sox 3–0 in theAL Division Series before clinching the pennant with a 4–1 victory over the 4th-seededToronto Blue Jays in theAL Championship Series.^[15]

For Indians managerTerry Francona, it was his third appearance in the World Series. He won his previous two appearances –2004 and2007 – as manager of theBoston Red Sox, in sweeps of theSt. Louis Cardinals and theColorado Rockies.^[22]

This was the third postseason meeting between Francona and Maddon. Maddon's Rays defeated Francona's Red Sox in the2008 American League Championship Series, while Maddon's Rays defeated Francona's Indians in the2013 American League Wild Card Game.

Chicago (NL) won the series, 4–3.

Former Indians and Cubs playerKenny Lofton threw theceremonial first pitch before Game 1 whileRachel Platten sang the national anthem.^[31]Corey Kluber started for the Indians, andJon Lester started for the Cubs.^[32]Kyle Schwarber, who had missed nearly all of the 2016 season after tearingligaments in his left leg in the season's third game, was added to the Cubs' World Series roster and started as theirdesignated hitter.^[33][34] Schwarber struck out twice, but also doubled and drew a walk.^[35] The double made Schwarber the first non-pitcher to get his first hit of the season in the World Series.^[36]

Kluber made World Series history by striking out eight hitters in the first three innings.^[37]Roberto Pérez became the first ever ninth-place hitter with two homers in a World Series game, the first Indians player to hit two homers in a Series game, and the first Puerto Rican-born player to hit two homers in a World Series game.^[38] In the first, the Indians loaded the bases off Lester on a single and two walks beforeJosé Ramirez's single drove in a run, then Lester hitBrandon Guyer with a pitch to force in another. Perez's home run in the fourth made it 3–0 Indians. In the eighth,Justin Grimm walked Guyer with two outs and allowed a single toLonnie Chisenhall, thenHector Rondon allowed Perez's second home run of the night.Andrew Miller andCody Allen finished the victory for the Indians despite Miller having to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, and the Indians took Game 1 of the series 6–0.^[39] Francona's World Series winning streak reached nine with this victory.

Leading off the first inning,Dexter Fowler became the first African-American to play for the Cubs in a World Series.^[40][41]

Former Indians playerCarlos Baerga threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 whileLoCash performed the national anthem.^[31] The start time for the game was moved up an hour, because of the possibility of heavy rain in the forecast.^[42] Looking to tie the series at one game apiece, the Cubs sentJake Arrieta to the mound against the Indians'Trevor Bauer who was still healing a lacerated pinkie resulting from an accident with a drone.^[43] The Cubs also featured six players under age 25 in the starting lineup, a postseason record.^[44] The Cubs started things off early asKris Bryant singled in the first inning andAnthony Rizzo doubled to score Bryant and give the Cubs an early 1–0 lead.^[45] Arrieta started well too, retiring the first two batters before walking back-to-back batters in the bottom of the first. However, Arrieta got a flyout to end the inning. The Cubs struck again in the third following a two-out walk by Rizzo and a single byBen Zobrist. A single byKyle Schwarber scored Rizzo from second and pushed the Cubs' lead to 2–0. Bauer was forced from the game in the fourth, and the Cubs struck again in the fifth. Rizzo walked again offZach McAllister, and Zobrist tripled to plate Rizzo.^[46] Another run-scoring single by Schwarber offBryan Shaw and a bases-loaded walk byAddison Russell pushed the lead to 5–0.^[47]

Arrieta continued to pitch well, walking three batters but holding the Indians without a hit into the sixth inning.^[48] In the sixth, a double byJason Kipnis ended the no-hitter, moved to third on a groundout and scored the lone Indians run of the game on a wild pitch by Arrieta.^[49] Arrieta allowed another single and was lifted for relieverMike Montgomery. Both teams threatened in the seventh but could not score and, following a single byMike Napoli in the bottom of the eighth,Aroldis Chapman entered to finish the game for the Cubs. The win marked the Cubs' first World Series game victory since1945 and tied up the series at one game all.^[50] The game marked Indians managerTerry Francona's first loss in ten World Series games.

For Game 3, former Cubs playerBilly Williams threw the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the game,Fall Out Boy lead singerPatrick Stump sang the national anthem, andBill Murray sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during theseventh-inning stretch, to mark the Cubs' first World Series night game at home.^[51] Chicago pitcherKyle Hendricks started against Cleveland pitcherJosh Tomlin.

The game's only run came off aCoco Crisp single that scoredMichael Martínez from third in the seventh inning.Josh Tomlin,Andrew Miller,Bryan Shaw, andCody Allen combined toshut out the Cubs.^[52][53] Allen earned his sixth postseason save asJavier Báez struck out swinging to end the game, leaving the tying and winning runs in scoring position. It was the fourth time in which the Cubs had lost in a shutout during the 2016 postseason.^[53]

For Game 4, former Cubs pitchersGreg Maddux andFerguson Jenkins threw the ceremonial first pitches before the start of the game while Cubs anthem singer John Vincent sang the national anthem,^[54] and actorVince Vaughn sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.^[55]

The Cubs struck first whenDexter Fowler doubled to lead off the first and scored onAnthony Rizzo's one-out single, but Kluber held them to that one run through six innings before Francona turned it over to the bullpen. In the second,Carlos Santana's leadoff home run off Lackey tied the game; then, with two on, Kluber's RBI single put the Indians up 2–1.Kris Bryant committed two errors in that inning. Next inning,Jason Kipnis hit a leadoff double and scored onFrancisco Lindor's single. In the sixth,Lonnie Chisenhall's sacrifice fly with two on offMike Montgomery made it 4–1 Indians. Next inning,Justin Grimm allowed a leadoff double and one-out hit-by-pitch before being relieved byTravis Wood, who gave up a three-run home run to Kipnis put to the Indians ahead 7–1. The Cubs got one run back in the eighth, on aDexter Fowler home run offAndrew Miller, which was the first run he gave up in the post-season.^[56][57] With the victory, the Indians were just one win away from their 1st World Series championship since 1948.

For Game 5, former Cubs star andHall of Fame memberRyne Sandberg threw the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the game, former Cubs public address announcer and formerChicago Blackhawks anthem singerWayne Messmer performed the national anthem, andPearl Jam lead singerEddie Vedder (a Chicago native and die hard Cubs fan) sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.^[58]José Ramírez hit a home run for Cleveland in the second inning offJon Lester,^[59] but the Cubs, facing elimination, scored three runs in the fourth inning offTrevor Bauer.Kris Bryant led off the inning with a home run. After Bryant's home run,Anthony Rizzo doubled andBen Zobrist singled.Addison Russell's RBI single put the Cubs up 2–1. AfterJason Heyward struck out,Javier Baez's bunt single moved Zobrist to third beforeDavid Ross's sacrifice fly made it 3–1 Cubs.^[60] The Indians cut their deficit to 3–2 off Lester in the sixth onFrancisco Lindor's RBI single that scoredRajai Davis from second base. With the tying run on second base in the seventh inning, Maddon brought inAroldis Chapman, who threw2+2⁄3 scoreless innings, earning his first save of the series and fourth overall in the postseason.^[61] The win was the first World Series game victory for the Cubs at Wrigley Field since 1945.

The last living member of Cleveland's1948 World Series championship team,Eddie Robinson, attended Game 6 at Progressive Field.^[64][65] Former Indians pitcherDennis Martínez threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game while country singerHunter Hayes sang the national anthem.^[66]

The Cubs scored three runs in the first inning, all with two outs, on aKris Bryant home run and a two-run double byAddison Russell after two singles offJosh Tomlin.^[67] In the third inning, the Cubs loaded the bases on a walk and two singles off Tomlin, who was relieved byDan Otero. Following the pitching change, Russell hit the 19thgrand slam in World Series history to extend the Cubs lead to 7–0.^[62] Russell's grand slam was the first in a World Series game sincePaul Konerko of the crosstownChicago White Sox in2005, as well as the first by a visiting player sinceLonnie Smith in1992. In the bottom of the fourth,Mike Napoli drove inJason Kipnis, who doubled to lead off, with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7–1. In the bottom of the fifth, Kipnis drove a ball over the left field wall for a home run to make it a 7–2 game. In the top of the ninth with a runner on and two outs,Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run home run to right to make it 9–2.^[68] In the bottom of the inning,Aroldis Chapman allowed a leadoff walk toBrandon Guyer and was relieved byPedro Strop, who threw a wild pitch to move Guyer to second andRoberto Perez's RBI single made it 9–3 Cubs with Perez thrown out at second for the second out. After Carlos Santana walked,Travis Wood relieved Strop and gotJason Kipnis to pop out to short to end the game and force a Game 7.

Russell's six RBIs tied a World Series single-game record.^[62][63] Arrieta became the first NL starting pitcher to notch two road wins in a single World Series sinceBob Gibson in1967.^[69]

External videos
Game 7 Full replay on the MLB's official YouTube channel

Game 7 of the series would go down as a classic, with some calling it the greatest Game 7 in World Series history, comparing it to1924,1960,1991,1997, and2001 for its drama and tension.^[70][71] Former Indians playerJim Thome threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game while members of theCleveland Orchestra string section performed the national anthem.^[72] The pitching matchup was between MLBearned run average (ERA) championKyle Hendricks, who had started Game 3 for the Cubs, andCorey Kluber, who had won games 1 and 4 and was pitching on three days' rest. Kluber came into the game 4–1 in the postseason with a 0.89 ERA.^[73]

Dexter Fowler led off the game with a home run for Chicago off Kluber, becoming the first player ever to hit a lead-off home run in a World Series Game 7.^[74] The Indians tied the game in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single byCarlos Santana afterCoco Crisp doubled and advanced to third on aRoberto Pérez sacrifice bunt. The Cubs scored two runs in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly byAddison Russell (Kris Bryant running aggressively to tag up from third on the short fly ball and slide under the tag at home) and a double byWillson Contreras. To start the fifth inning,Javier Báez hit a home run to center making it 4–1 on the first pitch he saw to knock Kluber out of the game.^[75]ALCS MVPAndrew Miller came on in relief and gave up a walk to Bryant and RBI single toAnthony Rizzo to push the lead to 5–1 (Bryant's aggressiveness again instrumental as he was attempting to steal second on the hit, allowing him to score all the way from first). In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hendricks retired the first two batters. A two-out walk to Santana, which included a pitch that was called a ball and appeared to be a strike, persuadedJoe Maddon to relieve both his starter and the catcher. This move, along with others throughout the series, would be highly criticized afterward, as it appeared to some that Hendricks was pulled out too soon.^[76]

Jon Lester, who had started Games 1 and 5, came on in relief for the first time since the2007 ALCS, coincidentally also against the Indians.^[77]David Ross (who usually caught for Lester and was playing in his final game) committed a throwing error that allowedJason Kipnis to reach base and put runners on second and third. A wild pitch that ricocheted off Ross's helmet allowed Santana and Kipnis to score, narrowing the Cubs' lead to 5–3.^[78] To atone for his blunders, the 39-year-old Ross hit a home run to center, in his last official at-bat of his career, in the top of the sixth to make it a 6–3 game, becoming the oldest player to hit a home run in a World Series Game 7.^[79]

Lester retired the first two batters in the eighth inning, but was pulled after aJosé Ramírez single thatRussell did not field cleanly at short. Maddon opted to useAroldis Chapman, who had thrown 42 pitches in Game 5 and had also pitched in Game 6, despite the fact that the Cubs had already built a large lead.Brandon Guyer promptly hit a run-scoring double off Chapman, making the score 6–4. The next batter was Indians center fielderRajai Davis, who had hit 55 career home runs in 11 seasons entering this game, and who was hitting .132 in the postseason up to that point. Davis hit a dramatic 2-run home run off Chapman, just barely clearing the left field wall and the left field foul pole, scoring Guyer and tying the game, making the score 6–6. Davis's home run was the latest-occurring game-tying home run in World Series Game 7 history.^[80] Many fans and Chapman himself believe he blew the lead due to his unnecessary use in Game 6.^[81]

The Cubs squandered a scoring chance in the top of the 9th.Ross led off with a walk andJason Heyward grounded into a fielder's choice to take pinch runnerChris Coghlan off the bases. Heyward stole second and advanced to third on a throw to second byYan Gomes that got away from Kipnis. At this point Cleveland'sTerry Francona made a defensive change in left, replacingCoco Crisp by insertingMichael Martinez in right and moving Guyer to left; this was eventually to backfire for the Indians.^[82] Javier Baez attempted a squeeze bunt with two strikes—another decision by Maddon which drew criticism—and fouled it off for the second out. Dexter Fowler would eventually ground out on a spectacular game-saving play by shortstopFrancisco Lindor to end the top of the ninth. To the shock of many observers, Aroldis Chapman was asked by Maddon to return to the mound for the bottom of the ninth, but he promptly retired the Indians in order, facing Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, and Francisco Lindor.

With the game tied 6–6 after nine innings, a suddencloudburst resulted in a 17-minuterain delay.^[83] During the delay, Cubs right fielderHeyward called his teammates into a weight room behind Chicago's dugout and told them, "We're the best team in baseball ... for a reason... Stick together and we're going to win this game."^[84] After the game, many of Heyward's teammates credited him with renewing their spirits.

When play resumed in the top of the tenth,Kyle Schwarber promptly led off with a single off of Indians pitcherBryan Shaw. Maddon replaced Schwarber with pinch-runnerAlbert Almora. Kris Bryant then hit a deep fly ball to center, and Almora tagged up and advanced to second base in what was called the "savviest baserunning play of the season."^[85] After an intentional walk to Anthony Rizzo,Ben Zobrist stepped up to the plate. Zobrist had been 0-for-4 in the game, but he delivered a clutch RBI double into the left field corner, scoring Almora and breaking the tie, making the score 7–6. Zobrist later said, "I was just battling, grinding up there. Fortunately, that last one he left over the plate and up to where I could just slap it down the line, and that was all I was trying to do."^[86][87]

After another intentional walk to Addison Russell,Miguel Montero, who had replaced Ross at catcher and was hitting just .091 in the postseason, delivered another clutch single into left, scoring Rizzo and making the score 8–6.Trevor Bauer, the losing pitcher of Games 2 and 5, relieved Shaw and got out of the bases-loaded jam by striking out Heyward and retiring Baez on a flyout to escape further damage.

Carl Edwards Jr. was called on to finish off the Indians in the bottom of the tenth, but after retiring the first two hitters (Mike Napoli andJosé Ramírez), he walked Brandon Guyer, who took second base on defensive indifference. Rajai Davis, following up on his eighth-inning heroics, lined a single to center, making it a one-run game, and the score 8–7. Maddon then called onMike Montgomery, who had zero career saves. Montgomery retiredMichael Martinez (the replacement for Crisp who had scored the game-winning run in Game 3 but had struck out in his only two at-bats of the Series) with an infield grounder fielded by Bryant, who threw to Rizzo. This ended the game and the World Series, with the Cubs winning the series and ending their 108-year World Series championship drought.^[88][89] Zobrist was awarded theWorld Series MVP award after hitting .357 in the series and delivering the go-ahead hit.^[90][91]

Rizzo called the rain delay "the most important thing to happen to the Chicago Cubs in the past 100 years. I don't think there's any way we win the game without it." Cubs presidentTheo Epstein said that when he heard about the meeting called by Heyward, "Right then I thought, 'We're winning this game.'"^[84]

The Cubs became the first team to come back from a 3–1 deficit to win the Series since the1985 Kansas City Royals. They were also the first since the1979 Pittsburgh Pirates to do so while winning Games 6 and 7 on the road, and the second team since the 1979 Pirates to win Game 7 as the visiting team, with the2014 San Francisco Giants also having achieved that feat inKansas City; almost one year later, the2017 Houston Astros did the same thing inLos Angeles. Yet another Game 7 would be won by a road team in2019, when theWashington Nationals did so in Houston. With the Game 7 victory, Joe Maddon is 3–0 in postseason series against Terry Francona, having also won the2008 ALCS and the2013 Wild Card Game against him. Game 7 was the 60th extra inning game in World Series history, and the fifth time a Game 7 went into extra innings. This was the first extra inning Game 7 to be won by the visiting team, as the home team won the previous four times in1912,1924,1991, and1997.

With the Cubs winning, the Indians became the owners of MLB'slongest active championship drought, which stood at 68 years, and currently stands at 76 years. Their last title came in1948; however, earlier in 2016, theCleveland sports curse had already been broken, with theCleveland Cavaliers having won the city's first championship since 1964 by defeating theGolden State Warriors in the2016 NBA Finals also with a 3–1 series deficit comeback.

Game 7 of the 2016 World Series won the2017 ESPY Award for Best Game.

This marked the last World Series in which the visiting team's championship presentation took place in the clubhouse instead of the playing field. Following the2017 World Series, every World Series presentation would take place on the field, regardless of whether or not the home or road team won the championship.

2016 World Series(4–3):Chicago Cubs (NL) beatCleveland Indians (AL).

Fox televised the series in the United States, under contract with Major League Baseball giving it exclusive rights to the World Series through 2021.Joe Buck was the network'splay-by-play announcer, withJohn Smoltz ascolor commentator andKen Rosenthal andTom Verducci as field reporters.^[93]Fox Deportes also aired the Series and provided a Spanish-language simulcast over-the-air via Fox'sSAP audio, with Carlos Álvarez andDuaner Sánchez announcing.^[94]

Sportsnet in English andRDS in French televised the series inCanada. Sportsnet used theMLB International feed produced by theMLB Network;Matt Vasgersian was MLB International's play-by-play announcer with theToronto Blue Jays' play-by-play announcerBuck Martinez as their color analyst and MLB Network correspondentLauren Shehadi and analystMark DeRosa as field reporters.^[95] Alain Usereau and formerMontreal Expos player Marc Griffin handled the French-language telecast for RDS.^[96]BT Sport televised the series live in theUnited Kingdom andIreland.^[97]WAPA-TV transmitted the series toPuerto Rico, withRafael Bracero at the helm of the station's sports commentary of the series.^[98]

Initial reports often utilize "fast national" ratings, which are subject to revision.^[99] Game 7 had over 40 million viewers, the largest audience for a baseball game since Game 7 of the1991 World Series, while the series as a whole was the first to average double-digit ratings nationally since2009.^[100][101]

Game	Ratings (households)	Share (households)	U.S. audience (in millions)	Ref
1	11.3	20	19.37	[102]
2	10.2	18	17.40	[103]
3	11.0	20	19.38	[104]
4	9.3	18	16.71	[105]
5	13.1	21	23.64	[106]
6	13.3	23	23.40	[107]
7	21.8	37	40.05	[108]

ESPN Radio's national network covered the World Series through affiliated stations, withDan Shulman providing the play-by-play andAaron Boone serving as color analyst.^[93]Tampa Bay Rays pitcherChris Archer appeared as a guest analyst for select innings of Games 1 and 2.^[109]

Locally, the teams'flagship stations broadcast the series with their regular announcers. In Cleveland,WTAM (1100) andWMMS (100.7) carried the Indians' play-by-play withTom Hamilton andJim Rosenhaus, while in Chicago,WSCR (670) carried the Cubs' play-by-play withPat Hughes,Ron Coomer, andLen Kasper.^[110] The affiliate stations of the teams' regional radio networks were contractually obligated to carry the national ESPN Radio feed; even so, since both WSCR and WTAM areclear-channel stations, most of the eastern and midwestern United States was able to hear the local broadcasts.^[111]

The Chicago Cubs posing with PresidentBarack Obama in theEast Room during their January 2017 visit theWhite House

The Chicago Cubs posing with PresidentDonald Trump in theOval Office during their June 2017 visit to the White House

Victory parade (November 4, 2016)

Victory rally inGrant Park (November 4, 2016)

"L" train of theCTA with special livery celebrating the victory

Lobby ofChicago City Hall decorated in celebration of the Cubs victory

Cubs and World Series merchandise being sold at Chicago Union station several weeks after the end of the series

Flower bed at Chicago'sGarfield Park Conservatory grown in the pattern of the Cubs Win Flag

Members of the Cubs celebrate in January 2017 with the108th Sustainment Brigade of theIllinois National Guard

Following the team's win in Game 7, Cubs fans congregated outside ofWrigley Field and the surroundingWrigleyville neighborhood to celebrate the championship.^[112][113] On November 4, the team's victory parade began at Wrigley Field and headed down Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue at downtown for a noon rally atGrant Park.^[114] Country singerBrett Eldredge sang a cover of "Go, Cubs, Go" during the rally.^[115] The city of Chicago estimated that over five million people attended the World Series parade and rally celebration, making it one ofthe largest gatherings in history, and according to some sources, the largest gathering in the history of theUnited States.^{[a][116][117]} After the season, the Cubs chose to make two traditionalWhite House visits during then-President (andWhite Sox fan)Barack Obama's final week in office on January 16, 2017, and during PresidentDonald Trump's tenure on June 28, 2017.^[118]

In the decades prior to the 2016 World Series, the prospect of the Cubs eventually breaking their World Series victory drought appeared in pop culture.

In the 1989 filmBack to the Future Part II, theChicago Cubs are depicted as the2015 World Series champions, defeating a fictional American League team fromMiami, whose mascot is analligator, in a sweep. A newspaper shown during the film states that the sweep took five games, implying that the World Series had become a best-of-nine series at some point prior to 2015. The team now known as theMiami Marlins was not formed until four years later, with abillfish as a mascot. ScreenwriterBob Gale, who co-wrote the script ofBack to the Future Part II, originally intended it as a joke, saying "Being a baseball fan, I thought, 'OK, let's come up with one of the most unlikely scenarios we can think of", referencing both the Cubs' long championship drought and the fact that Florida did not have a baseball team in 1989. He also explained that the October 21 prediction was based on the postseason structure at the time of the writing of the film, and thus could have been accurate had MLB not added theDivision Series in 1994 andWild Card Game in 2012.^[119]

The film's prediction of the Cubs winning the World Series proved to be incorrect by one year, although it did pick the correct date on which the Cubs' 2015 season ended, when they lost to theNew York Mets in a four-game sweep of theNLCS. The officialBack to the Future Twitter account acknowledged this following the Cubs' win in 2016 by tweeting "Way to go Cubbies" and posting a still image from the film stating the same, and a follow-up tweet that said the 1994 players' strike, in whichthat year's World Series was canceled, caused a "disruption in the space-time continuum". Following the Cubs win,Michael J. Fox, star of the movie, reacted to the Cubs' win by tweeting "Only off by a year, not bad" and a congratulatory message to the Cubs organization.^[120][121]

The episode "Ron and Jammy" in theseventh season of the sitcomParks and Recreation (broadcast in early 2015) portrays the Cubs as having won the 2016 World Series, with a line in that episode mentioning such a victory.Michael Schur (co-creator of the show) took credit for this line. After the World Series, he recalled the prediction as having been informed by observations that promising talent in the Cubs'Minor League Baseball farm system put the team in a position to be competitive in 2016 despite having had a poor2014 season.^[122] In an interview following the World Series, Schur remarked,

It’s not like I was only person who thought the Cubs were going to be good. [In 2014], every baseball writer in America knew the Cubs were going to be good [in 2016]. I can’t emphasize enough how little credit I feel like I should take for that prediction.^[122]

This was the last World Series to have home-field advantage determined by the league winner of theAll-Star Game. From 2017-present, home-field advantage was determined by best record.

This is the most recent World Series to not feature a team fromTexas orCalifornia. TheHouston Astros won AL pennants in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022; theLos Angeles Dodgers won NL pennants in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2024; and theTexas Rangers won the AL pennant in 2023.

Produced byNational Hockey LeagueHall of Fame playerMark Messier in 2024,Amazon Prime spotlighted the 2016 World Series in their documentary series 'Game 7'.^[123]

While the 2015–2020 Cubs had the greatest sustained run of success since thedead-ball era,^[124] the Cubs only reached one World Series during those six seasons. The2017 Cubs returned to theNLCS, but lost to theLos Angeles Dodgers in five games. In2018, the Cubs finished tied with theMilwaukee Brewers for the division, but lost thetie-breaker game and were relegated to the2018 NL Wild Card Game against theColorado Rockies, which the Cubs also lost. They failed to qualify in the postseason in 2019 and were upset by theMiami Marlins in2020. To date, 2020 represents the Cubs last trip to the postseason.

In addition, the Cubs' 2016 championship core slowly moved on over the course of the next few years:

• Dexter Fowler signed with the rivalSt. Louis Cardinals during the 2016–17 off-season.^[125]
• Aroldis Chapman returned to theNew York Yankees by signing the largest contract ever for a relief pitcher.^[126]
• At the 2016 Winter Meetings,Jorge Soler andTravis Wood were traded to theKansas City Royals for All-Star closerWade Davis, effectively replacing Chapman.^[127] Mike Montgomery, the man who recorded the last out of the World Series, was also traded to Kansas City in 2019.^[128]
• Game 7 was also the last game for fan favoriteDavid Ross, who retired. After the 2019 season, Ross replacedJoe Maddon as Cubs manager. Maddon mutually parted ways with the club after five seasons in Chicago.^[129]
• Miguel Montero was traded to theToronto Blue Jays during the 2017 season, due to the emergence ofWilson Contreras and a dispute about playing time.^[130]
• The 2017 season also turned out to beJake Arrieta's last with the club; he signed a free agent contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies (though he later returned to the Cubs in 2021).^[131] The 2017 season was also the last forJohn Lackey, who retired.
• After a serious abuse allegation made by his ex-wife,^[132]Addison Russell's career came to an abrupt end after he was non-tendered by the Cubs following the 2019 season.World Series MVPBen Zobrist retired after 2019 after familial problems as well.^[133][134]
• Theo Epstein announced that he would step down from his role with the Cubs as President of Baseball Operations effective November 20, 2020.^[135] A few weeks later, the Cubs non-tenderedKyle Schwarber in a controversial move to cut cost.^[136] Later in the off-season, Schwarber andJon Lester signed one-year free agent contracts with theWashington Nationals.

By the 2021 trade deadline, the Cubs had fully committed to a re-build, as established players such asAnthony Rizzo,Kris Bryant, andJavier Baez were traded away for young players and prospects.^{[137][138][139]} Many fans and media drew a comparison with the 2016 Cubs to the1986 New York Mets, as both teams had a young core when they won a World Series, both clubs had staged thrilling comebacks to win their respective World Series in seven games,^[140] and they both looked like a start to a potential dynasty that ended up not materializing.

After the departure ofKyle Hendricks following the 2024 season, no players remain from the Cubs' 2016 World Series team. Meanwhile, Soler won a second World Series ring with theAtlanta Braves in2021, even winning World Series MVP. Chapman won his second ring with theTexas Rangers in2023. Bench coachDave Martinez later became a manager and skippered theWashington Nationals to its first World Series title in2019.

2016 was also the high point for the Indians. The2017 Indians won 22 straight games – the second-longest winning streak in MLB history – on their way to a 102–60 record andAL Central title. During their 22 game win streak, they were nicknamed "WIndians" by fans and media.^[141][142] However, their near record winning streak did not translate into postseason success, as they lost to theNew York Yankees in five games in theALDS after taking a 2–0 series lead. The Indians won their division again in2018, but were swept by theHouston Astros in theALDS.

During the 2020–21 off-season, the Indians had traded star shortstopFrancisco Lindor, along with longtime rotation stalwartCarlos Carrasco, to the New York Mets. Currently, the only remaining player from Cleveland's 2016 roster isJosé Ramírez. This would also mark the Indians' last World Series appearance with that nickname, as they changed their name to the "Cleveland Guardians" in 2022.^{[143][144][145][146][147]}

After the loss, the Indians now became the team with the longest World Series title drought as well as the second longest championship drought in North American sports, which stood at 68 years, and is now 76 years. The only team of the four major North American leagues to have a longer championship drought are theNational Football League'sArizona Cardinals, who won their last championship in1947, a year before Cleveland's last World Series title.

The final game of the World Series is a plot point in the fourth episode of the second season of the sitcomNot Dead Yet (aired in 2024).^[148]

• List of World Series champions
• Curse of Rocky Colavito
• Curse of the Billy Goat
• 2016 Japan Series
• 2016 Korean Series

Wikimedia Commons has media related to2016 World Series.

External videos
2016 World Series Game 7 (Cubs vs. Indians) onYouTube

• 2016 World Series atBaseball Almanac
• 2016 World Series atBaseball-Reference.com
• The 2016 Post-Season Games (box scores and play-by-play) atRetrosheet

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