In this engaging and unique book, author William Stanish recounts the drama of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series in which the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians to end a string of more than 100 years without a World Series championship. The account is poetic in nature, after the style of “Casey at the Bat,” with full-page color photographs illustrating the poem and the highlights of the game.
The book is essentially the equivalent of a short story (41 pages), told with poetry and photos, of how the Chicago Cubs broke the “curse” to win Game 7, one of the most exciting World Series games ever played.
The poem, “The End of the Curse,” is reminiscent of the classic baseball poem, “Casey at the Bat,” written in 1888 by Ernest Thayer. Not only do the poems have a similar rhythm, but they both focus on the drama of a single baseball game, and they both pay particular attention to the emotions of the spectators and viewers.
In “The End of the Curse,” Stanish tells the story of Game 7 from the point of view of Cubs fans. Like “Casey at the Bat,” the poem is focused on the “home” team, with no mention of players on the opposing team. That reflects the notion that the battle against Cleveland was perhaps overshadowed by the battle against the “curse,” and the fear that fans would, once again, have to “wait till next year.”
In addition to covering the on-field drama, the author explores the psychological struggles of the fans as their emotions alternated among confidence, fear, hope, despair, and finally, jubilation. He also takes a fanciful look at the “curse” itself, and speculates on its own fear, its own nemesis, and what might have contributed to its own demise.
The book provides a lasting memento of the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship, with a rich artistic and visual experience. And it provides an opportunity for fans of all ages to relive the events and the emotions of Game 7 with a poetic flair that will never grow old.
- Suitable For All Ages
- Hardcover Format
- 41 Pages
- Officially Licensed by Major League Baseball
