The Chicago Cubs and the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
Posted by: Richie Rich in Cubs, Sports Illustrated
The Cubs are on the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated.
Oh No.
There’s been a lot said about the SI Cover Jinx – it’s the kiss of death – athletes and teams who appear on it will inevitably fail. You might believe in it, you might not. But there’s definitely one team whose fortunes seem to crash after showing up on the cover.
You guessed it – THE CHICAGO CUBS. Since 1966, the Cubs have been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated nearly twenty times. And if the Cubs have something at stake when they show up on the cover … bad things seem to happen.
Especially if that appearance happens late in the season or (gasp) during the playoffs.
Seeing as Aramis Ramirez and the Cubs are the pre-playoff SI Cover-boys again in 2008 … let’s take a look at the Cubs and the SI Jinx, starting in depth with the late-season appearances …
September 8, 1969
On September 8th, 1969, the Cubs were in the midst of a four-game losing streak and the Cubs and Mets were about to begin a two-game series at Shea Stadium – with the Cubs 84-56-1 and the Mets right on their well-clicked heels at 80-57, a mere 2.5 games back.
The SI Jinx took effect immediately. Ron Santo (who was on the cover back in June) met the Black Cat in the on-deck circle at Shea on September 9th … and the Mets completed the short sweep, pulling within a half-game of the Cubs, who simply withered up and died.
The Cubs finished eight stinking games behind the Mets.



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