Return trip to Vicksburg could help Cubs

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 16, 2003

[10/16/03]The answer for the Chicago Cubs may lie somewhere in the City of Vicksburg.

The “Lovable Losers,” a team that blew a 3-1 series lead against the Marlins and squandered a chance at the World Series, haven’t won baseball’s biggest prize since 1908.

Sam Sianis was ejected from Wrigley Field during a 1945 World Series game. Fans complained when Sianis used his second ticket to allow his goat to enter the stadium.

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Following an ejection by the ushers, “Billy Goat” Sianis proclaimed the Cubs would never again reach the World Series and they haven’t.

With Wednesday’s 9-6 loss to the Florida Marlins, Chicago once again fell short of the World Series.

But perhaps another curse is looming over the head of those lovable losers. And now seems the appropriate time to reveal a secret, more hidden blight on the Cubs the Vicksburg Voodoo.

Long before the “Curse of the Goat”, the Windy City was home to a baseball powerhouse. The Cubs reached nine World Series from 1906-1938.

In 1908, Chicago became the first baseball team to win back-to-back titles. It was also the last year the Cubs ever won a championship 95 years of agony.

Surely, some hex was put on the team following the 1908 win that prevented another title from reaching Chicago. Perhaps the city of Vicksburg played a part in it.

On March 13, 1908, the Cubs arrived in Vicksburg for two weeks of spring training before the season began.

Future Hall of Famers such as Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown, who won a club record 29 games in 1908, graced the streets of a budding baseball town.

The famous double play combination of Joe Tinker, John Evers and Frank Chance all Hall of Famers camped in Vicksburg for half a month.

While in town, the Cubs were set to scrimmage a best-of-three series with the Vicksburg Hill Climbers. The clubs split the first pair of games.

“The fans hereabouts have been so busy watching the doings of the champions from Chicago that the Vicksburg team, in a measure, has been lost sight of,” The Vicksburg Evening Post wrote in 1908.

The first sign of a possible Vicksburg Voodoo curse on the Cubs came with an injury to first baseman and manager Chance after the first game.

“Frank Chance, manager of the Cubs, further injured his left foot in Sunday’s game,” The Post wrote, “and fearing that if proper medical attention was not given to the member, he might lose its use, he left this afternoon at 12:40 for Chicago. An operation may be necessary.”

Chance tore a ligament in his foot, but returned to the team for the final 129 games of the season and led the team with 27 doubles on a .272 average.

Vicksburg and Chicago were set to play a rubber match, but three days of rain forced the final game of the series to be canceled.

After a spaghetti dinner with city officials and fans, the Cubs said their goodbyes to Vicksburg on Mar. 25 on their way to Meridian and then back to Chicago.

“If the players are given their say-so they will train again in Vicksburg next year,” The Post wrote. “The visitors were well pleased with the ball grounds here, the bathing facilities, climate and hospitality.”But the players were not given their say-so.

The Cubs finished 99-55 on the season and defeated the Detroit Tigers in five games in the World Series.

The following year, the organization held its spring training in Hot Springs, Ark.

Chicago has never won another World Series.