Da Curse of the Billy Goat Timeline

October 6, 1945 - The Beginning of Da Curse of the Billy Goat.  William "Billy Goat" Sianis and his pet goat Murphy were allowed into Wrigley Field for the fourth game of the 1945 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers.  Sianis and the goat made it onto the playing field before ushers intervened and led them to the grandstand aisle.  Billy Goat Sianis maintained that he had two $7.20 box seat tickets and that there was no disclaimer preventing him for using a ticket for his goat.  After a short argument, Sianis and the goat were allowed to occupy the seats for which he had tickets.  Nevertheless, they were later ejected at the command of Cubs' owner Philip Knight Wrigley due to the animal's objectionable odor.  Sianis was furious over the ejection and placed a curse on the Cubs that they would never win a National League pennant or play in a World Series game at Wrigley Field.  The Cubs lost game four and eventually the World Series.  Sianis sent Wrigley a telegram that read, "Who Smells Now!"

September 1950 - Wrigley's Apology.  In September 1950, facing the possibility of another last-place finish, P. K. Wrigley, the owner of the Cubs, sent a letter of apology to Billy Goat Sianis, asked that the hex be reversed, and that the goat start pulling for the Cubs.  Yet, Sianis was not ready to end the curse.

April 15, 1969 - Da Curse of the Billy Goat is lifted.  William Sianis finally agrees to lift the curse.  The Cubs are in first place and would remain there for most of the season.

September 9, 1969 - The Black Cat.  During the second game of a pivotal two game series in New York against the Mets, a black cat ran onto the playing field and stared a Ron Santo in the batter's box, before it scurried under the stands.  The Cubs lost the game. And after a loss the next day to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs lost the division lead.  Some fans blame the black cat and the curse of the billy goat for the Cubbies' September fold.

July 4, 1973 - Another Goat Rebuff.  Sam Sianis, William Sianis' nephew, attempted to bring another goat named Socrates into Wrigley Field, but was banned from entry.  The Cubs went on to win the game, however, starting the next day, the Cubbies 8 1/2 game first place lead vanish when the managed to win only four of their next twenty games.  Causing some fans to believe that Da Curse of the Billy Goat had struck again.

April 13, 1984 - Sam Sianis and Goat invited into Wrigley Field.  For the first time since 1945, the Cubs allowed a goat into Wrigley Field on Friday April 13, 1984 - the Cubs home opener.  The Cubs won the game and went on to win their first Eastern Division title.

October 1984 - Postseason Collapse.  The Cubs won the first two games against the San Diego Padres in the National league Championship series played at Chicago, but lost the next three straight games in San Diego.  A ground ball that slipped through Leon Durham's legs forever haunts Cubs fans.  And many fans maintain that Da Curse of the Billy Goat was responsible for the postseason collapse.

April 30, 1994 - Da Curse of the Billy Goat publicly blamed for the Cubs'  0-9 home game losing streak.  Cubs Manager Tom Trebelhorn tells a Chicago Tribune reporter that the goat hex is to blame for the teams home losing streak.  The Cubs lost three more games, extending their record-setting, home-field losing streak to twelve games.

May 4, 1994 - Goat called in to stop record-setting losing streak. Sam Sianis and a goat arrived at Wrigley Field to end the Cubbies twelve game home game losing streak.  The Cubs went on to beat the Reds 5-2 to stop the streak at twelve games.

March 1997 - Cubs hold curse removing press conference at the Billy Goat Tavern and announce Old Style Commercial featuring Billy Goat Curse.  Cubs marketing chief John McDonald and former Cub Ron Santo appeared at the curse removing press conference at the Billy Goat Tavern.  The Cubs opened the season with a record-setting thirteen straight losses, but refused to bring Sam Sianis and the Goat into Wrigley Field again to stop the streak.

September 22, 2003 - Attempt to reverse or transfer the curse.  In mid-September 2003, some discussion took place on WGN's John Williams Radio Show about attempting to reverse or transfer the curse.  On September 22, 2003, three listeners to the show approached the Houston Astros' Minute Maid Stadium with a goat and were prevented from entering.  After reciting a verse, the men proclaimed that the curse was reversed and transferred to the Astros.  The Giants beat the Astros 6-3 and the next day the Cubbies regained first place.  Whether the curse will take hold in Houston remains to be seen.  But, for the record, the Houston Astros have won neither a pennant nor a championship since they came into the league in 1962-the team's drought stands at forty-two years.

October 14, 2003 - Cubs collapse five outs away from the World Series.  Five outs from winning their first National League pennant since 1945 and going to the World Series, the Cubs blew a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning when the Florida Marlins scored eight runs.  The collapse began after a Cubs fan (Steve Bartman) unintentionally hit the foul ball with his hand as Moises Alou was attempting to catch it.  The Cubs lost the game that night, and the series the following night.

February 26, 2004 - Bartman ball blown to mush. The infamous "Bartman" ball was auctioned off on December 1, 2003.  On February 26, 2004, a live "Predestruction Show" hosted by Keith Olbermann featured the destruction of the Bartman ball to rid Cubs of whatever hex fans attached to it.

April 5, 2004 - Sports Illustrated declares Cubs will win World Series.  Daring to mock the hex gods, Sport Illustrated places a picture of Kerry Wood on the cover and declares the Cubs will win the World Series.  Thus bringing the dread Sport Illustrated Cover Jinx and Da Curse of the Billy Goat to bear on the Cubbies - who haven't been in the postseason in back-to-back season since 1908.  The last time the team won a World Series.

September 21, 2004 - The Chicago Cubs fold with nine games left.  With nine game remaining in the season, the Chicago Cubs held a two and a half game lead over the Houston Astros for a wildcard birth. Yet the Cubs lost seven of their last nine games, five losses in a row at one point, and finished in third place for the 2004 season. Causing some fans to believe that the Curse of the Billy Goat had struck again.

February 16, 2005 - Harry Caray's Restaurant announces they will be serving "Curse Meal.".  In another attempt to end the curse of the Billy Goat, Harry Caray's restaurant, site of the destruction of the infamous "Bartman Ball," announced that it would be serving a "curse meal" for four days in February. The spaghetti meal will be prepared with a "curse-ending sauce" made from remnants of the Bartman ball soaked in Budweiser beer.