The Curse of the Billy Goat is one of the most famous sports curse legends in American history. In 1945, Chicago Cubs fan and Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis was kicked out of Wrigley Field after trying to bring his pet goat to the World Series — and according to legend, he cursed the Cubs on the spot. What followed was decades of heartbreak, near-misses, black-cat omens, failed curse-breaking rituals, and one of the longest championship droughts in baseball history.

In this episode of Cursed...ish, we dig into the full story of the Billy Goat Curse, from its origins at Wrigley Field to the Cubs’ dramatic 2016 World Series win. Along the way, we explore Chicago Cubs history, the folklore surrounding sports curses, and the media hysteria that helped turn a bitter moment in 1945 into a legendary baseball myth. Was the Cubs’ losing streak just bad luck — or was the Curse of the Billy Goat real or just cursedish?

Questions, comments, or your own accursed tales to share? Send us a hex at uhoh@cursedish.com.

The hosts of Cursed...ish are not responsible for any misfortunes that may befall you while listening to this podcast. By listening to Cursed...ish, you assume all risk of bad luck, ill omens, and unexplained catastrophes.

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