Shea: Is Wrigley Field itself ‘cursed’?
From SABR member Stu Shea at the Chicago Tribune on June 27, 2014:
You can’t really recount the history of Wrigley Field without darkness closing in — the darkness of legendary homers in the gloamin’ as well as the darkness of curses and superstitions involving priests, ashes and farm animals. And what of the mysterious disappearance of a hapless young man targeted at the intersection of fandom and fate?
Over its 100-year history, the ballpark has never been the home of a World Series champion. Is it coincidence, curse or something simpler?
Perhaps Wrigley Field actually affects whether the Cubs win or lose. And it’s also arguable that Cubs fans are complicit in this no-win situation.
In the Cubs’ last 30 full seasons, they have fared worse at home, on average, than has the average National League team.
Read the full article here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/wrigley/ct-wrigley-curse-spt-0629-20140628,0,888560.story
Related link: “Wrigley Field: A Century of Survival” by Sam Pathy (Baseball Research Journal, Spring 2011)
Originally published: June 27, 2014. Last Updated: June 27, 2014.