Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians The Chicago Cubs celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series on Thursday, November 3. The Cubs won 8-7 in 10 innings to win the series 4-3. The billy goat curse is dead. The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions at long last, winning their first Fall Classic in 108 years Hide Caption 1 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians The Chicago Cubs celebrate in the locker room. Hide Caption 2 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians World Series MVP Ben Zobrist of the Cubs poses with The Commissioner's Trophy. Hide Caption 3 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Anthony Rizzo, David Ross, and Jason Heyward of the Cubs celebrate with actor John Cusack (far right). Hide Caption 4 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Bill Murray reacts on the field after the Cubs won. Hide Caption 5 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs celebrates with Jason Heyward after scoring a run in the tenth inning of Game 7. Hide Caption 6 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians The grounds crew covers the field during a rain delay before the start of the tenth inning in Game 7. Hide Caption 7 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor of the Indians jumps over Chris Coghlan of the Cubs in the ninth inning in Game 7. Hide Caption 8 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Aroldis Chapman of the Chicago Cubs reacts after Rajai Davis of the Cleveland Indians (not pictured) hit a two-run homer during the eighth inning to tie the game 6-6 in Game 7. Hide Caption 9 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Rajai Davis of the Indians celebrates after hitting a two-run homer during the eighth inning to tie the Game 7 at 6-6. Hide Caption 10 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Indians fans react as they watch outside of Progressive Field during Game 7. Hide Caption 11 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jon Lester of the Chicago Cubs reacts after retiring the side during the seventh inning of Game 7. Hide Caption 12 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians David Ross of the Cubs reacts after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning in Game 7. Hide Caption 13 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after scoring runs on a wild pitch during the fifth inning in Game 7. Hide Caption 14 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians David Ross of the Cubs reacts after Jon Lester (not pictured) threw a wild pitch during the fifth inning, allowing 2 runs to score in Game 7. Hide Caption 15 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Javier Baez of the Cubs runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning in Game 7. Hide Caption 16 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Kris Bryant of the Cubs slides safely under Indians catcher Roberto Perez during the fourth inning of Game 7. Hide Caption 17 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Coco Crisp of the Indians hits a double during the third inning in Game 7. Hide Caption 18 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor of the Indians tags out Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs during the third inning of Game 7. Hide Caption 19 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs throws during the first inning of Game 7. Hide Caption 20 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Dexter Fowler of the Cubs celebrates after hitting a lead off home run in the first inning of Game 7. Hide Caption 21 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians The Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs stand for the national anthem prior to Game 7. Hide Caption 22 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians The Cubs celebrate after defeating the Indians 9-3 in Game 6 to even the World Series 3-3. Hide Caption 23 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs hits two-run homer during the ninth inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 24 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Aroldis Chapman of the Cubs races Francisco Lindor of the Indians to the bag during the seventh inning in Game 6. Hide Caption 25 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Addison Russell of the Cubs tosses the ball to Javier Baez (not pictured) for a force out in the sixth inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 26 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jason Kipnis of the Indians rounds the bases after a home run during the fifth inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 27 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jose Ramirez of the Indians makes a catch in the fifth inning in Game 6. Hide Caption 28 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jake Arrieta of the Cubs is in action on the mound during Game 6. Hide Caption 29 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Indians fans congregate outside Progressive Field during game 6. Hide Caption 30 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Addison Russell of the Cubs celebrates after hitting a grand slam in the third inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 31 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Ben Zobrist of the Cubs collides with the Indians' Roberto Perez in the first inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 32 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall of the Indians are unable to make a play in the first inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 33 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Kris Bryant of the Cubs hits a solo home run during the first inning of Game 6. Hide Caption 34 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians A general view during Game 6 of the 2016 World Series. Hide Caption 35 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Dexter Fowler, left, and Anthony Rizzo, right, of the Cubs celebrate after beating the Indians 3-2 in Game 5. Hide Caption 36 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Fans celebrate after the Chicago Cubs win in Game 5. Hide Caption 37 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Javier Baez, left, Jason Heyward, center, and Kris Bryant of the Cubs celebrate after Game 5. Hide Caption 38 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jason Heyward of the Chicago Cubs steals second base past Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians in the eighth inning in Game 5. Hide Caption 39 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward catches a fly ball hit by Indians' Trevor Bauer during the third inning of Game 5. Hide Caption 40 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians The Cubs' Kris Bryant, left, celebrates with Ben Zobrist after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of Game 5. Hide Caption 41 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer throws during the first inning of Game 5. Hide Caption 42 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) reaches for a ball bounced off from catcher David Ross who was trying to catch a foul ball hit by Cleveland's Carlos Santana during the second inning of Game 5. Hide Caption 43 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester throws during the first inning of Game 5. Hide Caption 44 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Chicago Cubs fans outside of Wrigley Field before Game 5. Hide Caption 45 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor, left, and Brandon Guyer, right, of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after beating the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in Game 4 of the 2016 World Series at Wrigley Field on Saturday, October 29, in Chicago. Hide Caption 46 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler can't make the catch on a double hit by Cleveland Indians' Coco Crisp during the seventh inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 47 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana wears socks with the team logo before Game 4. Hide Caption 48 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians hits a single off of John Lackey of the Chicago Cubs in the third inning in Game 4. Hide Caption 49 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis collides with Cubs Jason Heyward as Kipnis turns a double play on a ball hit by the Cubs Javier Baez during the second inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 50 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana hits a home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey during the second inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 51 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland's Corey Kluber is safe at first as Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo can't make a play on a wild throw by third baseman Kris Bryant during the second inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 52 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Indians center fielder Rajai Davis can't catch the ball hit by Chicago Cubs' Dexter Fowler during the first inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 53 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws during the first inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 54 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cubs' Anthony Rizzo hits an RBI single during the first inning of Game 4. Hide Caption 55 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor and Brandon Guyer of the Indians celebrate after beating the Cubs 1-0 in Game 3. Hide Caption 56 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Ben Zobrist of the Cubs reacts after striking out in the ninth inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 57 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Bryan Shaw of the Indians throws a pitch during the seventh inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 58 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Actor Bill Murray sings "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch in Game 3. Hide Caption 59 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Michael Martinez of the Cleveland Indians scores a run during the seventh inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 60 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Coco Crisp of the Indians breaks his bat hitting an RBI single during the seventh inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 61 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Fans cheer in the stands after the fifth inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 62 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Justin Grimm of the Cubs reacts after a double play during the fifth inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 63 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Addison Russell of the Cubs turns an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 64 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Willson Contreras of the Cubs throws to second baseman Javier Baez for an out on a bunt attempt by Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin in Game 3. Hide Caption 65 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor of the Indians hits a single in the fourth inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 66 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Addison Russell of the Cubs makes a diving catch for an out during the third inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 67 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Josh Tomlim of the Indians pitches in the first inning in Game 3. Hide Caption 68 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians A Teddy Roosevelt impersonator stands outside Wrigley Field prior to Game 3. Hide Caption 69 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Dexter Fowler of the Cubs celebrates with Jason Heyward after defeating the Indians 5-1 in Game 2. Hide Caption 70 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Designated hitter Carlos Santana of the Indians reacts after striking out during the seventh inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 71 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jason Kipnis of the Indians is unable to handle the ball as Willson Contreras of the Cubs slides safely into second during the seventh inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 72 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Indians fans hold up a sign in the stands during the sixth inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 73 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Ben Zobrist of the Cubs in action at the plate in Game 2. Hide Caption 74 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Relief pitcher Zach McAllister and shortstop Francisco Lindor of the Indians react during fifth inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 75 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jake Arrieta of the Cubs throws a pitch during the fourth inning of Game 2. He had a no hitter through five innings. Hide Caption 76 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs celebrates scoring a run on an RBI single hit by Kyle Schwarber (not pictured) during the third inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 77 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs hits an RBI single during the third inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 78 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor of the Indians dives back to first on an attempted pick-off in Game 2. Hide Caption 79 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jake Arrieta of the Cubs throws a pitch during the first inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 80 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Kris Bryant of the Cubs hits a single during the first inning in Game 2. Hide Caption 81 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Francisco Lindor, left, and Rajai Davis of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the Game 1. Hide Caption 82 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland's Roberto Perez hits a three-run homer in Game 1. Hide Caption 83 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Javier Baez of the Cubs tags out Cleveland's Francisco Lindor as he tries to steal second base in Game 1. Hide Caption 84 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cubs catcher David Ross falls after catching a pop fly by Cleveland's Lonnie Chisenhall in Game 1. Hide Caption 85 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland fans react to a strikeout in Game 1. Hide Caption 86 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland outfielder Rajai Davis catches a ball hit by the Cubs' Willson Contreras in Game 1. Hide Caption 87 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Jon Lester of the Cubs throws a pitch in Game 1. Hide Caption 88 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland Indians fans show their enthusiasm during the first game in Game 1. Hide Caption 89 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Addison Russell of the Cubs catches a ball hit by Cleveland's Jason Kipnis in Game 1. Hide Caption 90 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland's Jose Ramirez rounds a base after hitting a double in Game 1. Hide Caption 91 of 93 
 
 Photos: World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Cleveland starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws a pitch. Kluber set a World Series record with eight strikeouts in the first three innings in Game 1. Hide Caption 92 of 93 ||||| Chicago Cubs players soaked each other with champagne as they celebrated their Nov. 2 World Series victory. (Reuters) 
 
 Chicago Cubs players soaked each other with champagne as they celebrated their Nov. 2 World Series victory. (Reuters) 
 
 Life changed in the early part of Thursday morning for so many of the good people of Chicago, for the North Side and all the way downstate, across huge swaths of the Midwest and even, judging by the din, from more than a few transplants and travelers right here. It took a rain delay, a stark reminder of just how disastrous baseball life has been there for so long, an impromptu and emotional meeting, and nothing short of one of the most thrilling baseball games ever played. But it changed. 
 
 Now, in the lives even of Chicago Cubs fans who are more than a century old, there is a clear and distinct dividing line. There are the days and years and decades before 12:47 a.m. Thursday. And there is the unfamiliar feeling — the absolutely delirious feeling — of whatever life is like now. 
 
 Take this in, Chicago. Read it twice if need be. Hold it, cradle it, caress it, cherish it. The Cubs won the World Series. 
 
 [Thomas Boswell: Finally, a time to rejoice for legions of sufferers] 
 
 They did it with a riveting, 8-7, 10-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians in the seventh and final game at Progressive Field, one that tore out the lining of Chicago’s roiling stomach before stitching it back together again. The simple part: Ben Zobrist’s double off Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw pushed across the lead run, Miguel Montero followed with a run-scoring single, and Chicago . . . Chicago . . . 
 
 Hint: There were only 46 states. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) 
 
 What to make of Chicago now? 
 
 “It’s 108 years, generations, some still here, some not,” said Theo Epstein, the Cubs president of baseball operations. “They were all here tonight.” 
 
 There is so much more to how the Cubs won their first World Series title since 1908, more than could be covered in the 17-minute rain delay that preceded just the 10th inning of — get this — just the fourth extra-inning Game 7 the World Series has ever known. 
 
 “This one about made me pass out,” Zobrist said. 
 
 How to distill it? Well, maybe with the most Cubs’ fact of all: They held a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, with four outs to go. They had their 100-mph closer on the mound to seal it up. And they couldn’t do it. 
 
 Suddenly, 2016 was going to fit right alongside 2003 and 1984 and all the rest. That backstory, and the fact that it was 68 years since the Indians’ last World Series title, colored this entire event. 
 
 “There’s been a burden placed,” Cubs Manager Joe Maddon said. “And I think, quite frankly, it’s misplaced. . . . I totally respect what’s happened in the past, and I totally respect our fan base. But if you just want to carry the burden with you all the time, tonight would never happen.” 
 
 1 of 26 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × The Chicago Cubs win World Series View Photos The Chicago Cubs won their first title since 1908 with a riveting, 8-7, 10-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians in the seventh and final game at Progressive Field. Caption The team won its first title since 1908 with a riveting 8-7, 10-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians in the seventh and final game at Progressive Field. Nov. 2, 2016 The Cubs celebrate after winning the World Series. Matt Slocum/AP Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. 
 
 It did. So clear off the table. Spread out the evidence. Take a deep breath. Let’s sort this out. 
 
 The Cubs took what appeared to be control — a laughable notion in Wrigleyville, for sure — by going up 5-1 in the fifth, with all the runs coming off Cleveland ace Corey Kluber and impenetrable reliever Andrew Miller. And yet, when Maddon went to get starter Kyle Hendricks in the fifth, there were potential issues. 
 
 Asked before the game whether he would insert veteran left-handed starter Jon Lester into a situation with men on base, Maddon was clear. “I don’t think it would be appropriate,” he said. Lester has an awful time holding base runners on due to an absolute phobia of throwing a baseball — other than 60 feet, 6 inches. Yet he entered — along with David Ross, his personal catcher — with two outs and a man on first in the fifth. 
 
 For the first time, things went a bit haywire. Not in the Cubs’ history, of course. But for the first time Wednesday night. Jason Kipnis hit a spinner in front of the plate that Ross misfired to first for an error, and Lester uncorked a wild pitch that was so wild, it scored two runs. Progressive Field, filled with plenty of Cubs fans, shook with the glee from Cleveland’s own. 
 
 “You don’t think about storybooks and stuff like that,” Cleveland Manger Terry Francona said. “You’re trying to figure out a way to score one more run.” 
 
 When Lester departed with two outs in the eighth, he received and deserved congratulations. The last of his 55 pitches became an infield single to Jose Ramirez. But when Maddon turned to Aroldis Chapman, his closer, the situation was manageable: 6-3 lead, one on, one out to get in the eighth, then three more to get in the ninth. 
 
 “People are texting me congrats,” Epstein said. “I’m like, [expletive]. This is baseball. Anything can happen.” 
 
 So it did. Twice in this series, Chapman entered in the seventh. And as the Cubs crawled back from what had been a 3-1 deficit, he was asked to get the final eight outs of Game 5, then four more outs in Tuesday’s Game 6. The first hitter he faced was Brandon Guyer, and it was clear immediately that Chapman’s velocity — his defining quality — was down. 
 
 “I think if you’re being honest, I feel like the entirety of the playoffs probably did take its toll on him,” Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer. “I think that he’s probably tired, as he should be.” 
 
 [ End of Cubs’ championship drought brings forth a mighty sound ] 
 
 Normally the hardest thrower in the game, with a fastball that averages more than 100 mph, Chapman settled in immediately at 97 mph. Hard to deal with, for sure. But not his overwhelming self. So Guyer cranked a double to right-center that scored a run. Cleveland all but shook as Rajai Davis came to the plate. Davis, in the lineup for his defense, had gained confidence against Chapman earlier in the series. 
 
 “I just felt like this was going to be a fight,” he said, “that I was going to win.” 
 
 Chapman fed Davis nothing but four-seam fastballs. He missed with two out of the zone, but there was a telling development: the four that were strikes, Davis didn’t swing and miss. He fouled them off. 
 
 “He was battling,” Montero said of Chapman. 
 
 With the count 2-2, Chapman came with his seventh straight fastball, this one at 97 mph. Davis jumped on it. It wasn’t majestic. Just historic. It went into the corner in left field, near the foul pole. When it cleared the wall, the Indians spilled out of their dugout like Little Leaguers. Tie game. 
 
 “Just ecstatic,” Shaw said. 
 
 And then at the end of the ninth, the skies opened up. The tarp came out. 
 
 “I really feel like in some ways that rain delay was kind of divine intervention,” Hoyer said. “The game was going really fast for us at that point.” 
 
 Epstein and Hoyer went under the stands to meet with officials from Major League Baseball about the plan and the weather. They then slipped into the Cubs clubhouse, where the hitters who were due up the next inning were meeting. 
 
 [‘Cubs had a great night. Bill Murray’s was better.] 
 
 “I got a little concerned,” Epstein said. He cracked open the door. Right fielder Jason Heyward — he of the $184 million contract and the .200 postseason batting average — had called the guys together. 
 
 “I’ve got something to say,” Zobrist recalled Heyward saying. And he talked about this epic game, and this epic team. He told them they would win. 
 
 “We just needed a brief moment to kind of collect ourselves and be reminded of who we are,” Heyward said. 
 
 And who they were about to become. In the 10th, Zobrist came up with two on and one out against Shaw. Maddon believes Zobrist consistently delivers the Cubs’ best at-bats. Here, he fouled off one 1-2 cutter from Shaw. He didn’t miss the next, sending it into left field, scoring Almora with the run that put them up 7-6. Turns out they needed Montero’s RBI single, too, because Davis somehow managed to push one across for the Indians in the bottom of the 10th. 
 
 “I died like six times,” Epstein said. 
 
 So start the conversation: Where does this Game 7 fit, all-time? Debate it Thursday, over the weekend, for 108 years. Epstein considered it after 2 a.m., standing on the mound at Progressive Field where he had just taken a picture with the front office he runs. Rain poured down, and he looked up into it. 
 
 “Everyone’s prone to hyperbole on nights like tonight,” he said. “But it is kind of epic, right?” 
 
 Routine, three-run victories don’t change life. There is now what we knew before 12:47 a.m. Thursday, and the unknown afterward. Welcome, Cubs fans, to the other side. ||||| CLOSE The Cubs pull off a thrilling win in 10 innings over the Indians to end their 108-year World Series title drought. USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner recaps how it all went down, and what Chicago and Cleveland can look forward to. USA TODAY Sports 
 
 Jason Heyward celebrates after the Cubs won the World Series, beating the Cleveland Indians in Game 7. (Photo: Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports) 
 
 CLEVELAND -- As the Chicago Cubs trudged out of the dugout and back toward the locker room to wait out the rain delay, Jason Heyward herded his teammates into a tiny weight room. 
 
 There were no coaches, no front-office types. Just the players, all 25 of them crammed into a tiny room with bright, white walls, low ceilings and row upon row of gleaming weights. 
 
 The Cubs had blown a three-run lead, and momentum would be squarely in the Cleveland Indians’ favor when they returned for the 10th inning tied at 6. The 103 games they’d won during the regular season, the 3-1 deficit they’d erased, the century of futility and despair they were about to put to rest – all of it was slipping away. 
 
 With his teammates surrounding him, Heyward began to speak. He’s a quiet man, Heyward, preferring to let the other veterans be the vocal leaders in the clubhouse. So when he does speak, his words have a gravity that commands full attention. 
 
 “I just wanted them to remember how good they were, how good we are,” Heyward said as his teammates sprayed champagne around him following Chicago’s historic 8-7 win Wednesday night. “Know how proud of them I was and that I loved them. That I mean it from the bottom of my heart.” 
 
 Looking around the room, Heyward said that every single one of them had played a part in bringing the Cubs to this point. Whether it was soon-to-be NL MVP Kris Bryant, rookie Albert Almora or veteran backup catcher Miguel Montero, Heyward reminded them, the Cubs had gotten this far as a team. 
 
 They had everything they needed to win, Heyward said, so long as they believed in each other and played for one another. 
 
 “He spoke up and said this is about your teammates,” David Ross said. “He just said, `We’re the best team in baseball for a reason. Continue to play our game, support one another. These are your brothers here, fight for your brothers, lift them up, continue to stay positive. We’ve been doing this all year so continue to be us.’ 
 
 “It was a great message,” Ross said, “and well said.” 
 
 By the time Heyward was finished speaking, several of the Cubs were in tears. Addison Russell freely admitted he was one of them, feeling a weight lift as Heyward encouraged the Cubs to be the team they’ve been all season rather than trying too hard to something new in the last game of the season. 
 
 “We all vented. We all felt we had to say things that were on our mind, just get it off our chest,” Russell said. “We reached new levels. Grown men talking about that stuff, it doesn’t happen. The fact we did it here in the World Series, I really respect everyone for that.” 
 
 As Heyward looked around the room, he could see the mood shift and sense a new determination in his teammates. 
 
 They had won two games just to get to Game 7, Willson Contreras said. There had to have been a reason for that. 
 
 “Now we are here and we can do this,” Contreras said. “We’ve got this.” 
 
 The rain shower was brief, only causing a delay of 17 minutes. But it was long enough for the Cubs to get their minds right. 
 
 “We don’t know what’s going to happen but I knew we were ready to do what we did,” Heyward said. 
 
 Kyle Schwarber, who didn’t even know he’d be playing in the World Series two weeks ago after blowing out his knee in April, led off the 10th with a single. Almora was brought in to run, and he took second base on Kris Bryant's deep fly ball. Cleveland walked Anthony Rizzo, only to have Ben Zobrist make the Indians pay by doubling in the go-ahead run. 
 
 After Russell was walked intentionally, Montero gave the Cubs an insurance run with a single. 
 
 “It was,” Rizzo said, “the best rain delay of all time. It kind of settled us down, got us regrouped.” 
 
 The Cubs still had to close out the bottom of the 10th and Cleveland clawed back one of the runs. But this was Chicago’s game to win, and they knew it. 
 
 “We came back from 3-1 deficit against a really good pitching staff and a really good team,” ace Jon Lester said. “That’s a testament to these guys in this clubhouse.” 
 
 Players often say titles are won when no one is watching, through the work they put in off the field and in the weight room. Never has that been more true. 
 
 *** 
 
 Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour 
 
 GALLERY: Cubs celebrate World Series title
– It was, as Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post writes, "nothing short of one of the most thrilling baseball games ever played." And in the aftermath of the Cubs' World Series victory, players are talking about a late pep talk from quiet outfielder Jason Heyward. He called a players-only meeting during a rain delay after the ninth, when the Cubs were reeling after blowing a late three-run lead, reports CNN. "He spoke up and said, 'This is about your teammates,'" recalls catcher David Ross, per USA Today. "These are your brothers here, fight for your brothers, lift them up." Several players were moved to tears, including Game 6 star Addison Russell, notes a post at Knuckleball. Heyward himself explains that it was a "venting thing" for him. "I just had to let them know that I loved them. I had to let them know that we had 113 wins because we had overcome every bit of adversity that we've had thrown at us to this point. We needed 114 wins, and I told them everybody in this room could go out and get this 114th." They did, in the very next inning. Heyward has taken flak this year over the perception that he hasn't lived up to his $184 million contract on the field. In fact, he went just 3-for-15 during the World Series. But at a key moment, "Jason Heyward led the way," said teammate Kris Bryant.