“Go Cubs, go! Go Cubs, go!” The Cubs rally song rings out across Wrigleyville as the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908. Take into account the century-long drought, a dramatic comeback from down 3-1 in the series, and a thrilling extra innings victory in game 7, and the Cubs’ title is one for the ages.

The 112th World Series pitted the Chicago Cubs, who had not won a World Series in 108 years, against the Cleveland Indians, who had not won a World Series in 68 years, the two longest championship droughts in baseball. One hundred seventy-six years of pain, anguish, curses, and misfortune came together to create one unforgettable Fall Classic.

2016 was the Cubs’ year. The 2015 season revealed Chicago as a strong team, but they proved themselves this year, winning 103 games to clinch the National League Central title. The team then outlasted both the San Francisco Giants and LA Dodgers to reach the World Series against the Indians.

As much as the Cubs were destined to win their first title in over a century, it also seemed like the Indians’ year. Early in the baseball season, on June 19th, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals. The Indians won 12 games in a row from that point forward and did not look back, as they never let go of their lead in the American League Central and headed into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in baseball.

After sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in five games in the ALCS, the Indians were ready to take on the Cubs. However, victory was taken from their grasp after they blew a 3-1 series lead, and the Cubs emerged victorious.

Despite numerous superstitions and curses, including the notorious curse of the billy goat, the Cubs were able to defy odds and snatch the World Series trophy.

In 1945, the Cubs made it to the World Series but came up short. In game 4 of the series at Wrigley Field, Cubs fan Billy Sianis brought his goat, Murphy, to the game in hopes of bringing the Cubs some good luck. Instead of bringing luck to the team, Sianis was kicked out of Wrigley Field. On his way out Sianis said the Cubs “ain’t gonna win no more.” And they didn’t, until this year.

Murphy the billy goat is not the only four-legged creature to have placed a hex on these cursed Cubbies; a black cat made its way onto the field and put a damper on the Cubs’ promising playoff run in 1969. In a crucial game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on September 9, with the Cubs holding a 1.5-game lead over the Mets, a black cat wandered onto the field. The cat pranced behind home plate, crossed paths with Cubs third baseman Ron Santo in the on-deck circle and sauntered in front of the Cubs dugout before leaving the playing field.

New York overtook Chicago in the NL East two days later and did not look back. The “Miracle Mets” went on to win the World Series in just their eighth year in existence.

And then there’s Bartman.

October 14, 2003, lives in infamy for Cubs fans. The Cubs held a 3-2 series lead over the Florida Marlins in the NLCS, one win away from reaching the World Series. It seemed as though the Cubs were going to break the curse of the billy goat and make their first World Series appearance in 58 years when they lead 3-0 in game 6. With one out in the top of the 8th inning, the Cubs were only five outs away from the World Series. Then Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo hit the most memorable foul ball in baseball history…

Castillo lifted a lazy fly ball down the left field line. Cubs left fielder Moises Alou raced toward the wall in foul territory, keeping one eye on the ball and one on the wall. When Alou reached the wall, he left his feet and reached his glove into the first row. At the same time, a Cubs fan in the first row named Steve Bartman did what any baseball fan would do in that situation: try to catch the ball and bring home a souvenir.

However, Bartman’s bare hands deflected the ball mere milliseconds before the ball reached Alou’s glove. Alou threw his hands in the air and spiked his glove to the ground in disgust. He pleaded for a fan interference call from the umpire, but he was unanswered. The Marlins went on to score eight runs that inning and won game 6. The Marlins’ win in game 7 and subsequent World Series berth cemented Steve Bartman’s place as the most hated Cubs fan of all-time.

It has been a century of struggles for the Loveable Losers. Now it seems they do not deserve to be dubbed the Loveable “Losers,” but the Loveable “Winners.”

Hats off to the 2016 Chicago Cubs. Sorry, Cardinals fans.