2016 World Series Facts for Kids

The 2016 World Series was the 112th edition of the World Series, the championship game of Major League Baseball. It was played between the Chicago Cubs of the National League and the Cleveland Indians of the American League. The Cubs defeated the Indians in seven games after trailing in the series three games to one, to win their first World Series title since 1908.

The Indians took the first game with a 6-0 victory, in which Indians' starter Corey Kluber pitched six plus shutout innings. The Cubs evened the series, winning 5-1. And then the series shifted to Wrigley field for the next three games. The Indians took a three games to one series lead after winning games 4 and 5 by respective scores of 1-0 and 7-2. The Cubs, however, sent the series back to Cleveland, winning game 5 by a score of 3-2. Game 5 was notable for Aroldis Chapman pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the save. The Cubs would then force Game 7 with a 9-3 blowout win in Game 6.

Game 7 would go down as a classic, with comparisons to 1960, 1991, and 2001 regarding the game's intensity. Dexter Fowler led off the game with a home run. But the Indians would tie the game in the bottom of the third inning. The Cubs then jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but then a David Ross error followed by a wild pitch allowed the Indians to cut the lead to 5-3. Ross, however, hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning to make it 6-3 Cubs. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Brandon Guyer cut the lead to 6-4 with a run-scoring double. And then Rajai Davis tied the game at 6-6 with a two-run home run. After nine innings, there was a rain delay which lasted for 17 minutes before play resumed. In the top of the tenth, the Cubs broke the tie with RBI hits from Ben Zobrist and Miguel Montero, making the score 8-6. In the bottom of the inning, Carl Edward Jr. retired the first two but then walked Guyer and allowed an RBI single from Davis, making the score 8-7. Mike Montgomery then retired Michael Martinez for the final out. The Cubs thereby won the Series, ending their 108-year championship drought.

Images for kids

Progressive Field, a few hours before Game 1 of the 2016 World Series
Jake Arrieta earned the win in Game 2.
Coco Crisp drove in Game 3's only run.
Corey Kluber earned his second win of the series in Game 4.
Kris Bryant hit a home run for the Cubs in Game 5.
Addison Russell had six runs batted in in Game 6, tying a Series record.
The Cubs celebrate after their 9–3 win over the Indians in World Series Game 6
Ben Zobrist won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
The tarp on the field during the 17 minute rain delay.
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo celebrates the final out of the 2016 World Series, after his putout.
Chicago Cubs celebrate their World Series championship victory.
Cubs players celebrating on the field moments after winning Game 7 and the World Series.
Cubs fans celebrating in Wrigleyville.
The Chicago Cubs visit the White House in January 2017.
Cleveland Indians' 22nd consecutive win in 2017, just four shy of the MLB record

2016 World Series facts for kids

Images for kids

See also