The Chicago Cubs ended a 108-years curse after winning this year’s World Series.
The Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings to scoop the top prize in world baseball.
Joe Maddon’s team, who had been 3-1 down in the best-of-seven series, blew a three-run lead in the final game but came back after a rain delay to clinch the title.
The last time the Cubs were crowned champions was in 1908, 108 years ago, when they beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1.
In 1945, a curse was placed on the Cubs by local bar owner Billy Sianis.
He is said to have cursed the Cubs, so that they would never win a World Series game again, or even reach the World Series again (different versions of the story exist).
“There’s no more curse now, the goat is history,” said Cubs fan Rodrigo Gonzales moments after victory had been achieved.
President Barack Obama, who supports city rivals the Chicago White Sox, tweeted about the win: “It happened: @Cubs win World Series.
“That’s change even this South Sider can believe in. Want to come to the White House before I leave?”
The win gave the Cubs their third World Series crown.
It also sparked wild celebrations in the streets of Chicago, with fans congregating outside the team’s Wrigley Field home.
Many of them took turns writing their names and words of congratulations in various colors of chalk on Wrigley’s brick walls.
Cleveland’s loss leaves their fans waiting for their first World Series title since 1948.
Cubs leftfielder Ben Zobrist was named most valuable player of the World Series.
It was the second consecutive year Ben Zobrist has won the World Series after helping the Kansas City Royals to victory last season.
We call baseball America’s Favorite Pastime, and MLB athletes are some of the highest paid in the world. Lucrative salaries from their teams are expanded by the endorsements they receive for their legendary status. As baseball salaries have exploded, 28 top players will each take home at least $20 million this season. Here are some of the highest paid MLB players this year.
Clayton Kershaw: Los Angeles Dodgers
Image via Flickr by Keith Allison
An MLB 2008 debut, Clayton Kershaw is a starting pitcher with salary tied for top spot. His endorsements push him to the top of the stack, with his total expected earnings reaching $31.2 million this year. His sponsors include Under Armour, Rawlings, Subway, Time Warner Cable, Wilson, and Muscle Milk, adding $1.2 million to his $30 million contract for this season. His seven-year contract is worth a total of $215 million and includes an $18 million signing bonus paid out over last year.
Jon Lester: Chicago Cubs
Though his total contract is only $155 million with the Cubs, Jon Lester is looking at a payout of more than $30 million, with half of his $30 million signing bonus helping to double his salary in 2015. After leaving New England, his $400,000 in endorsements ended. He will likely make at least as much in Chicago this year, though, with Nike remaining his biggest sponsor.
Robinson Cano: Seattle Mariners
Image via Flickr by Keith Allison
With Derek Jeter’s retirement, there’s a large space to be filled in the endorsement world. Robinson Cano is one of the players who has really taken advantage of the opening. With his $27.5 million in salary, Cano is set to earn an additional $3.5 million in endorsements with Pepsi, DirecTV, Wilson, Topps, Nike and more. Check out the free baseball picks and tips on DocSports to see how Cano measures up this season.
Justin Verlander: Detroit Tigers
With a seven-year contract worth $180 million, Justin Verlander will take home $28 million in 2015. The 32-year-old’s average salary will end up being nearly $26 million, with $500,000 currently in endorsements from companies including Reebok and Majestic. A $22 million vesting option could push his total contract to $202 million in 2021.
Josh Hamilton: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
This year, Josh Hamilton will take a salary of $25.4 million from his five-year $125 million contract with the Angels. His contract is set to end in 2019, and his salary will rise to $30 million for the last two contract years. His $500,000 in endorsements comes from Vita Coco, among others. His relapse with cocaine and shoulder surgery could lead to his trade back to the Texas Rangers, which would drastically affect his earnings for 2015.
Cliff Lee: Philadelphia Phillies
Image via Flickr by Keith Allison
At age 36, Cliff Lee is set to rake in $25.3 million in 2015. While his salary had him tied for the highest MLB salary of 2014 and 30th for athletes across the globe in 2014, he has dropped down to sixth in 2015. A mere $200,000 in endorsements comes from J.P. Mascaro & Sons, a waste hauler who has placed Lee’s image on their garbage trucks.
Zack Greinke: Los Angeles Dodgers
As the top free agent pitcher on the market during the 2012 off-season, Greinke signed a six-year contract with the Dodgers for $147 million. He set a record for 22 straight starts where the other team earned two runs or fewer. His endorsements only add up to $50,000, making the 31-year-old pitcher’s total salary $24.5 for 2015.
Ryan Howard: Philadelphia Phillies
While injuries kept this first baseman from more than half of the games in 2012 and 2013, Ryan Howard tied for top salary in 2014 with Cliff Lee in 2014. With a salary of $21.7 million plus $700,000 this year in endorsements, he stands to see a cool $22.4 million this year. Companies endorsed by Howard include New Balance and Subway. He also adds to his salary with memorabilia and appearances.
In 2014, average MLB salaries ($3.92 million) nearly doubled that of average NFL salaries ($2 million), but still fall short of NBA athletes’ average salaries ($4.9 million). With their various endorsements and sponsors, these MLB players take home some of professional sports’ top salaries.
Being a famous athlete puts you in the spotlight. Because of this, every piece of your life becomes public knowledge; from the places you vacation to the people you date and even to your overall health.
Through the years, many famous baseball players have been the victim of various diseases and illnesses. Some of these baseball players were able to treat the disease while others eventually lost their battle.
Take a trip down memory lane and learn about the many diseases that have affected baseball players through the years.
Photo: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley via Instagram.
Lou Gehrig and the Ice Bucket Challenge
Lou Gehrig may just be the most famous baseball player known for a disease. After all, he has a disease named after him. Lou Gehrig, otherwise known on the field as The Iron Horse, played first base for the New York Yankees for 17 years. In 1939, Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS, or what some currently refer to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a progressive disease in which the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord become degenerate, resulting in paralysis.
Ron Santo
Ron Santo was an American baseball player for the Chicago Cubs. Santo was an All American player, earning many achievements and accolades throughout his career despite battling type 1 diabetes. In fact, Santo hid his diabetes for more than 80 percent of his career. After his retirement, he ended up having the lower half of both his knees amputated. Santo died in 2010.
Brett Butler
Brett Butler was an outfielder for the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1990s. In May 1996, Butler found out that he had squamous cell carcinoma in his tonsils, which required surgery and intensive treatment. Just four months after surgery, Butler was back on the field for the Dodgers, and even scored the winning run.
Ben Petrick
Ben Petrick is a former baseball player who had careers in both the minor and major leagues. He played for the Colorado Rockies and the Detroit Tigers from 1999 to 2004. In 2004, after noticing that his statistics and skill had fallen, he announced his retirement from baseball and disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Josh Hamilton
Whether for recreation, medical or steroidal use, many baseball players have been affected by some form of drug abuse. Josh Hamilton is the poster boy for baseball players with a drug problem. Hamilton suffered from drug addiction and alcohol abuse, and finally decided to fight his illness when confronted by his grandmother. Although he has been sober since 2004, in order to stay on track, Hamilton undergoes drug testing three times every week. And when his team achieves something great, Hamilton’s teammates opt to celebrate with ginger ale instead of alcohol to accommodate their teammate and keep him sober.
Baseball is America’s past time, and through the years, America has come to love many different players. Unfortunately, although we look up to these athletes, they’re not superheroes, and they too are affected by illness and disease just like everyone else.
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