Cubs mark decade since 108 year drought ended

On Nov. 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in extra innings of Game 7 to end a 108 year title drought. That victory remains the most recent World Series championship for the franchise, a milestone now marked by a physical monument at the park.

The organization unveiled the champions gate at the Clark Street entrance of Gallagher Way in mid-July 2026. The archway features plaques for the Cubs' three championship teams from 1907, 1908, and 2016, with space reserved for future titles. More than 20 players and coaches from the 2016 squad attended the ceremony, which was part of a larger weekend celebration at Wrigley Field.

Left-hander Jon Lester, who is a first-time candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame this January, noted that only seven players from that team remained with major league franchises this season. Lester recalled that his oldest son was six years old during the 2016 run. He said the kids from the roster picked up where they left off, interacting in the family room and walking around the stadium like a family unit.

Theo Epstein, who served as president of baseball operations when he was hired before the 2012 season, reflected on the decade since the win. Epstein acknowledged that he made plenty of missteps and errors in judgment during his tenure. He stated that he would not have voluntarily left the organization after the 2020 season had the team not won in 2016. Epstein described the group as fearless, noting that the players embraced the opportunity rather than feeling burdened by the long wait for a title.

The 2016 roster combined veteran leadership with young talent, a dynamic Ben Zobrist identified as critical to their success. Zobrist, the World Series MVP that year, said the team knew they would draw their opponents' best efforts and felt prepared for that scrutiny. The rotation was dominant, with five starters throwing 64.8% of the pitching staff's total innings. Jon Lester finished with a 2.44 ERA, Kyle Hendricks posted a 2.13 ERA, and Jake Arrieta recorded a 3.10 ERA. The 2016 Cubs and the Toronto Blue Jays are the last teams to have five pitchers make at least 29 starts in a regular season.

David Ross, who became Cubs manager in 2020 after his playing career, credited the 2016 title with elevating his professional opportunities, including roles on Dancing With the Stars and as an ESPN analyst. Ross now co-hosts a weekly baseball podcast with Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo said winning in Chicago changed the magnitude of their careers and lives. The team has won only one postseason series since 2017, in last year's wild-card round, while the Milwaukee Brewers have dominated the division and remained one of the league's top teams.

General Manager Jed Hoyer and the current front office built the best defense and offense in the majors this year, but pitching shortcomings prevented a deeper run. Epstein said Hoyer's group is on its own journey and that the franchise will likely add more championships in the future.