Sorry, Chicago, Cubs Won't Host Wrigley Field Watch Parties for Final World Series Games

The Chicago Cubs need two more wins before they reach the promised land: a World Series title, the team's first since 1908. But to get there, the Cubs must face the Cleveland Indians, the American League champions who have home-field advantage in the series thanks to the AL's victory in the All-Star Game. Here's your quick guide to what you need to know before the first pitch of Game 6 is thrown.

2016 World Series: Cubs vs. Indians

Cleveland leads the best-of-seven series, 3-2. Check out the Game 6 recap.

GAME 6

First Pitch: 7:08 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1

Where: Progressive Field at Cleveland

TV | Radio | Streaming: Fox 32 Chicago (WFLD-TV) | 670 the Score (WSCR-AM), ESPNRadio 1000 (WMVP-AM) | Fox Sports Go

Pitching Matchup: Jake Arrieta (1-1, 3.78 ERA) vs. Josh Tomlin (2-0, 1.76 ERA)

Series Schedule

• Game 7*: 7:08 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2

*if necessary

Cubs Stats/History/Trivia Etc.

The atmosphere surrounding the first World Series games to be played at Wrigley Field in 71 years was electric. But the Cubs won't be trying to replicate that experience by holding viewing parties at the ballpark while Chicago plays in Cleveland, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The decision to keep Wrigley Field empty during Game 6 and, the baseball gods willing, Game 7 is consistent with how the organization has handled postseason away games this year. Although the team has considered broadcasting playoff away games on the ballpark's scoreboard screen in the past, the logistics of such an undertaking has always proved prohibitive, the Tribune reports.

Some fans, however, were hoping the Cubs would follow Cleveland's example of hosting viewing parties. The Indians sold tickets — ranging from $5 to $24 — to watch Games 3 through 5 on the big screen at Progressive Field.

Does Cleveland Have a Curse of the G.O.A.T.?

You can't swing a baseball bat this World Series without someone talking about goats and the need to bust them and their curses.

But did you know Chicago's other famous G.O.A.T. also has a connection to this year's series?

When Michael Jordan, the NBA's Greatest of All Time, retired from basketball and tried his incredibly gifted hands at baseball, his manager on the Chicago White Sox's Double-A Birmingham team was current Indians skipper Terry Francona.

Makes you wonder if Cleveland's Game 5 defeat is the beginning of a new G.O.A.T. curse for the Indians.

Meet the Schwarb-O'-Lantern

Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber's return to the lineup as Chicago's designated hitter in Games 6 and 7 is a scary prospect for Cleveland. But it's not as scary as this Schwarb-O'-Lantern.

Reddit user TexasLizard posted a photo of his jack-o-lantern creation that's part pumpkin, part ridiculous facial hair, all postseason hitting machine. The Redditor also carved a slightly less frightening Anthony Rizzo jack-o-lantern.

More Cubs Coverage on Patch

The Players and Teams

• Watch Jon Lester Give a Young Cubs Fan His Cleat — and a Thrill — After Game 5 of World Series
• Eddie Vedder Dedicates Cubs' 7th Inning Stretch to Catcher David Ross
• Listen to Waveland Avenue Crowd Sing With Bill Murray During the 7th Inning Stretch
• Are Cubs Fans Schwarber-reacting to Slugger's World Series Play? You Bet
• Cubs vs. Indians: Who's Cursed Worse?
• Indians' Jason Kipnis Grew Up in Northbrook as a Cubs Fan

The Fans

• Oops! Cubs Fans Cheer for the Wrong Team Leaving Wrigley Field
• Palatine Dad Surprised With Cubs World Series Tickets in Son's Feel-Good Film
• Fans High 5 Cops After Cubs' Win, Capping Wrigleyville's World Series Weekend
• Joliet Reverend Offers Spiritual Guidance to Cubs as Chaplain
• Holy Cow! Cubs Caskets and Urns Sales Show Life Thanks to World Series Run
• Joliet Family Names Baby After Wrigley Field Streets
• Oswego Homeowner Paints 2 Cubs Logos on Lawn
• Cub Fan From Northbrook Was Born in 1908
• Local Hero Paints Giant 'W' on Sister-In-Law's Oswego Lawn
• Hey, Shepard Students, What Do You Say? Mentor Program Creates Video to Cheer on Cubs
• Huge Cubs Logo Painted on Highland Park Man's Front Yard
• Grow Cubs, Grow! Manhattan Woman Paints Love for Team on Lawn
• Cubs Memories: Hitchhiking to the Game and Throwing Out the 1st Pitch at Wrigley Field
• High School Student's 1993 Yearbook Prediction: Cubs Win World Series in 2016

Images via Patch archives

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