{"id":6810,"date":"2016-10-25T05:40:43","date_gmt":"2016-10-25T09:40:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=6810"},"modified":"2016-10-25T05:48:21","modified_gmt":"2016-10-25T09:48:21","slug":"fall-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=6810","title":{"rendered":"fall classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One was originally known as the Grand Rapids Rustlers \u2014 the other as the White Stockings. And tonight, the former Rustlers and Stockings \u2014 now affectionately known as the Indians and Cubs \u2014 will face off against each other in the 112th edition of Major League Baseball\u2019s, best-of-seven World Series.<\/p>\n

While a single Series, Super Bowl, or other professional championship does not necessarily merit an entire blog post, this one feels different. It\u2019s not because it\u2019s a grueling, head-to-head competition (… consistent with another intense, more electoral classic, also going on this time of year).<\/em> It\u2019s instead because of the unique, combined history of these two teams \u2014 and what that means for the rest of us.<\/p>\n

The Cleveland Indians were established in 1894. They have appeared in the World Series six times in those 122 years. They were last in the World Series in 1997, but haven\u2019t won the title<\/em> since 1948.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Chicago Cubs were founded 18 years earlier, in 1876. They have appeared in the World Series eleven times, but not since 1945.<\/strong> The Cubs last won the championship<\/em> in 1908.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s pause here for a moment. The Indians haven\u2019t won since\u2026<\/p>\n