Reflecting on the Cubs’ Historic 2016 Victory

The passage of time offers perspective. Ten years have passed since the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year World Series title drought. Their Game 7 victory in Cleveland on November 2, 2016, remains a milestone. This season, only seven players from that championship team remained in the major leagues. Left-hander Jon Lester could be inducted into the Hall of Fame in January as a first-time ballot candidate. When the Cubs won, Lester’s eldest son was six years old. They picked up right where they left off in the family room, and they’re bumming around, walking around Wrigley and hanging out, and it’s just like a family again, Lester recalled during a reunion.

The 2016 team reunited in mid-July to celebrate a decade since their victory. They unveiled the champions’ gate at Clark Street’s entrance to Gallagher Way near Wrigley Field. The arch bears plaques for the organization’s three championship teams: 1907, 1908, and 2016. There is room for more. In the back of your mind, you knew it was always there and it was always kind of hanging over your head, Lester said, reflecting on the championship weight.

More than 20 players and coaches attended the reunion. There was a private event with nearly all title team members. Theo Epstein, the architect of the championship run, shared insights from a decade of reflection. Acknowledging that plans rarely go without hitches, Epstein noted the difficulty of winning. He wouldn’t have voluntarily left in 2020 if 2016 had not happened. We were all here to do one thing. We got it accomplished, Epstein stated. He described feeling liberated when they returned from Cleveland with the trophy. It marked a sense of completion and opened new paths.

Winning in 2016 cemented the Cubs’ status among fans. Annual conventions still see resounding cheers for the champions. David Ross, the team’s 2020-2023 manager, jokingly noted how the win changed his life. His participation in Dancing With the Stars and his transition to a TV analyst were due to their success. Winning in Chicago, the magnitude of what we won has elevated our careers and lives and brotherhood tremendously, said Anthony Rizzo.

The team’s chemistry started it all. Ben Zobrist, who won the title with Kansas City in 2015, valued the unity of hungry veterans and fresh talents. Even at the end of spring training, we were the team to beat, Zobrist recalled. The league expected their best performance. The team felt prepared for the pressure.

The rotation was vital. Five starters threw 64.8% of the pitching staff’s innings. Led by Lester (2.44 ERA), Kyle Hendricks (2.13), and Jake Arrieta (3.10), they were dominant. The 2016 Cubs and the Toronto Blue Jays remain the last teams to have five pitchers make at least 29 starts in a regular season. It’s pitching and defense and timely hitting, which is what wins championships, Arrieta emphasized.

Despite the historic triumph, achieving another title remains challenging. Since 2017, the Cubs won only one postseason series, last year’s wild card. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken a firm grip on the division. Epstein expressed confidence in Jed Hoyer, now running operations, to guide the franchise. This is a special franchise. It continues to be. It will be. And there’s no doubt they’re going to add more championships, Epstein concluded.