Fenway Set For Fun Series Between Red Sox-Cubs
BOSTON (CBS) - A lot of things changed in 2004 when the Red Sox ended their 86 years of frustration by winning a World Series. Up until then they were looked at as a group of lovable losers. However, now they are still a special team, but they are not that team you feel sorry for if you're a fan of the game.
That team now? The Chicago Cubs.
They haven't won a World Series since 1908. 103 years ago!
Read: Red Sox Welcome Cubs To Fenway For First Time Since 1918
In fact, they haven't been to a World Series since 1945. At least the Red Sox had a few trips to the fall classic along their way.
The Cubbies have been cursed too. In 1945, legend has it that Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was kicked out of a Cubs World Series game because his goat's bad odor. Sianis then supposedly put a curse on the team.
Since then? Nothing. A Game 7 NLCS trip against Florda, but that was cursed by Steve Bartman, who interfered with a foul ball in the 8th inning of Game 6 in Wrigley with the Cubs owning a 3-0 lead. The Cubs eventually lost the game after the Marlins staged a remarkable comeback.
Tough stuff.
And now we get a treat this weekend at Fenway as interleague play begins: the Red Sox and Cubs at Fenway for the first time since 1918.
It's funny in that every time I type 1918 I hear the chants from 2003 and 2004. Those 19----18... clap, clap... clap-clap-clap.
The Red Sox went 75-51 in 1918 while the Cubs were 84-45.
Boston won the series 4 games to 2. They were led by Babe Ruth, who went 2-0 on the mound with a 1.06 ERA.
The two teams have met once since that World Series, back in 2005 in a three game set at Wrigley Field. The Cubbies took two of the three.
Photo Gallery: Red Sox Visit Wrigley In 2005
We were doing Friday Night Baseball back then on TV38 so I was lucky to be there for the series. I remember thinking how run-down Wrigley looked. The clubhouses were tiny and the interview rooms were hidden amongst the grounds crew offices, but the field itself was very cool.
If you've never been to Wrigley, you have to go once just to experience it. It's like Fenway and the old Yankee Stadium. Just oozes history. Wrigley has that "I wonder what baseball was like 70-80 years ago" feel to it, more so than the other two stadiums. I also loved going outside the park to watch the game from atop rooftops across the street. It was a very cool party atmosphere.
Plus, Chicago is one of America's greatest cities.
Now, I will say that since the new ownership group has arrived in Boston and done the renovations, Fenway is a palace compared to Wrigley. Blows it away. It's amazing that these are the only two parks left that were built before 1960.
Ruth, Williams, Yaz, Boggs, Rice, Ortiz, Clemens, Martinez... Banks, Santos, Sandberg, Dawson, Jenkins, Wood, Smith... just a few of the great names from both teams.
This weekend will bring something different as we fight through this miserable May weather. Enjoy the history and the games.
It's all part of the beauty of the Red Sox, Fenway, and the beautiful city of Boston.
