The Chicago Cubs are one of the most iconic franchises in professional sports. Nothing compares to the ivy walls, the bleacher seats, and the day games at Wrigley Field. And yet, in the early 2010s, the Cubs were best known for their failures.

Longtime sports and politics writer Charles P. Pierce called the Cubs title drought the last great American sports story. It had been more than 100 years since their last championship. They hadn't even played in the World Series since 1945, a series that birthed the famed Curse of the Billy Goat.

So how does a team go about ending a century-long losing streak? By hiring Theo Epstein, the only living executive to overcome a curse of this magnitude, and letting him tear the whole thing down.

This is the story of 108 years of heartbreak, superstition, and mismanagement coming to an end. Join us as we explore how Theo Epstein, Joe Maddon, and an unforgettable roster transformed the Cubs from lovable losers into World Series champions, and what their journey reveals about building a winner.

Our favorite links

• The Cubs Way – Tom Verducci, Book

• How Theo Worked his Magic – Bradford Doolittle and Luke Knox, ESPN

• The Mastermind – Wright Thompson, ESPN The Magazine

• The 100 Most Influential People (2017) – John Cusack, TIME

• Everybody Wants Their Own Theo Epstein – Michael Baumann, The Ringer

• The Chicago Cubs Are Flexible Beasts – Rany Jazayerli, The Ringer

• Valuing Relievers: Correction or Bubble? – Dave Cameron, FanGraphs

Credits

• Theme music by Paul Hinkes

• Graphic design and logo by Kai Takahashi

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