FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-178 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (October 6, 2022) – In Issue 2022-178 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we learn a little about the superstitions of baseball and a notorious goat.

“THEM CUBS, THEY AIN’T GONNA WIN NO MORE”

The Curse of the Billy Goat, a famed sports superstition, occurred on October 6, 1945, during Game 4 of the World Series in Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Billy Goat Tavern owner, William Sianis, bought tickets to the game for himself and his pet goat, Murphy.  When the pair were asked to leave the game because the animal was disturbing the other fans, Sianis uttered his infamous words: “THEM CUBS, THEY AIN’T GONNA WIN NO MORE”.  (This was before the emergence of emotional support animals.)

The curse did hold, despite numerous attempts to break it, until 2016 when the Cubs won the National League pennant and the World Series.  The Cubs previous World Series championship was in 1908.

The Billy Goat Tavern is also famous for the Saturday Night Live skit with John Belushi, “Cheezborger. Cheezborger. Cheezborger”.  If you visit Chicago, look for the famous locale under a bridge just off Michigan Avenue.  Just let the fry cook order for you.

Mitchell’s map of the Windy City from 1876 is presented here.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.