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Our
History
Birth
of a Chicago Legend
 The
original Billy Goat Tavern location was "born" in 1934 when
Greek immigrant, William "Billy Goat" Sianis, purchased the
Lincoln Tavern. Billy Goat bought the tavern for $205, with
a check that bounced but was later repaid with sales from the
first weekend. The tavern was located across from the Chicago
Stadium (now United Center) and attracted mainly sports fans.
Sianis became known as "Billy Goat," when a goat fell off a
passing truck and wandered inside. Sianis adopted the goat,
grew a goatee, acquired the nickname "Billy Goat," and changed
the name of the bar to the Billy Goat Tavern. |
 The
Republican Convention came to town in 1944 and Billy Goat posted
a sign saying, "No Republicans allowed." This caused the tavern
to be packed with Republicans demanding to be served, and led
to local fame for the savvy Billy Goat, publicity stunt master. |
| In
1964, Billy Goat moved his tavern to its present subterranean
location. Since then, the Billy Goat Tavern has expanded to
include locations on Washington Street (Loop), Wells Street
(South Loop), the "Billy Goat Inn" on Madison Avenue (United
Center), Navy Pier, O'Hare (Terminal !, Concourse C), and Washington D.C. |
The
Curse of the Billy Goat
 The
Cubs were born the Chicago White Stockings in 1876, one of eight
inaugural teams. The team would go on to win the first National
league Championship and would become one of sports first dynasties
by winning six of the first eleven championship titles (1876,
1880-82, 1885-86). The modern day "Cubs" would come into existence
in 1903, and continue their success posting a record in wins
in 1906 with 116 games won. This would also be their first pennant
win as the "Cubs." The World Series title would be lost to their
cross town rivals, the White Sox.
The following year, after a repeat pennant, they would go on
to win their first World Series title in 1907. They returned
the following year to win their second (and last) World Series
becoming the first team in baseball to win back to back World
Series Titles.
The Cubs continued their success capturing pennants in 1910,
1918 and an astounding four pennants in a ten year span (1929,
1932, 1935, 1938). The Cubs would play in the World Series in
each of those years. Their final pennant would come in 1945,
the year the Cubs faced the Detroit Tigers and a local Chicago
saloon owner named William "Billy Goat" Sianis with his goat,
Murphy.
From 1876 to 1945, The Chicago Cubs were one of the most successful
baseball teams in the country. They would post a 5475-4324 (.559)
record, with 51 winning seasons, 16 first place finishes, and
16 pennants and World Series appearances. They would win two
World Series titles and six Championship titles in that span.
This would come to a screeching halt in game four of the 1945
World Series. 1945- "Who Stinks Now?"
October 6th, a sad day in Cubs history. The Cubs entered game
four of the World Series leading the Detroit Tigers 2 games
to 1, and needing to win only two of the next four games played
at Wrigley Field. A local Greek, William "Billy Goat" Sianis,
owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and a Cubs fan, bought two tickets
to Game four. Hoping to bring his team good luck he took his
pet goat, Murphy, with him to the game. At the entrance to the
park, the Andy Fran ushers stopped Billy Goat from entering
saying that no animals are allowed in the park. Billy Goat,
frustrated, appealed to the owner of the Cubs, P.K. Wrigley.
Wrigley replied, "Let Billy in, but not the goat." Billy Goat
asked, "Why not the goat?" Wrigley answered, "Because the goat
stinks." According to legend, the goat and Billy were upset,
so then Billy threw up his arms and exclaimed, "The Cubs ain't
gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so
long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field." The Cubs
were officially cursed. Subsequently, the Cubs lost game four,
and the remaining series getting swept at home and from the
World Series. Billy Goat promptly sent a telegram to P.K. Wrigley,
stating, "Who stinks now?" For the next twenty years, throughout
the remainder of Billy Goat's life the Cubs would finish each
season at 5th place or lower, establishing a pattern that would
reverse the Cubs luck and term the team "The Lovable Losers."
The World Series would become a dream, and "wait 'til next year"
would become the team's motto. From 1946 to 2003, the Cubs would
post a 4250-4874 (.466) record, have only 15 winning seasons,
finish in first place a mere 3 times, have no pennants, no World
Series appearances let alone wins, with only four post season
experiences (1984, 1989, 1998, 2003) resulting in a complete
reversal of their fortunes. The Cubs were and are a cursed franchise.
1969- "Miracle" Mets or "Cursed" Cubs
In 1969, a year before he passed away, "Billy Goat" Sianis finally
felt satisfied and claimed the curse is lifted, but the goat
still was bitter. The Cubs began the season winning and coasted
throughout the season into mid-August with a commanding first
place lead. By the end of the season a surging "Miracle" Mets
overtook the struggling "Cursed" Cubs to claim first place and
knock the Cubs out of contention. This would become a pattern
over the years.
1973- One limo, a red carpet, and a goat denied once again
In 1973, Billy Goat's nephew,
Sam Sianis, with the help of Tribune columnist, Dave Condon,
brought the goat to Wrigley in an attempt to lift the curse.
The goat was escorted to Wrigley in a white limousine, and given
a red carpet entrance to the park with a sign saying, "All is
forgiven. Let me lead the Cubs to the pennant." The ushers at
the entrance denied the goat "Socrates," a descendant of Murphy,
yet again. The Cubs saw their mid-season first place lead whither
away to another unsuccessful season.
1984- Eight outs away
The Tribune Company, new owners of the Cubs, finally invited
the goat to opening day at Wrigley Field in an attempt to lift
the curse. Sam Sianis and his goat finally walked the grass
of Wrigley Field, and in an effort to lift the curse Sam raised
his hat and said, "The curse is lifted." The Cubs won and won
and won their way to their first post season game and division
title in almost forty years. They continued their winning taking
the first two games of the National League Championship Series
against the San Diego Padres. They just needed to win one of
the next three games at San Diego to finally reach the World
Series. Sam and his goat waited for the call to go along with
the team and ensure the victory, only to be left behind in Chicago.
After losing games three and four in San Diego, the Cubs were
leading the Padres 3-2 in the seventh inning, with only eight
outs needed to win the game and the ace pitcher Rick Sutcliffe
at the helm. An eerie chain of events would ensue. A routine
ground ball was hit to first baseman, Leon Durham, which dribbled
through his legs allowing the tying run to score. An overworked
Rick Sutcliffe, who dominated game one, yielded the remaining
three runs. The Padres swept the Cubs in San Diego, and swept
the Cubs out of the series. The Cubs were still cursed.
1989- So Close, So Far
Hoping for a repeat of 1984, Sam Sianis and his goat again walked
the field of Wrigley on opening day. The Cubs again won their
way to first place and their second division title in five years.
But the goat was left behind once again in the post season,
where the Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants four games to
one.
1994- "Let the Goat in!"
The Cubs started the 1994 season horribly, losing twelve home
games in a row. Their worst home start in history. In an effort
to end this streak, Sam Sianis and his goat went to Wrigley
Field only to be denied entrance yet again. Amidst the chant
of "Let the Goat in!" amongst the Wrigley crowd, Hall of Famer,
Ernie Banks helped by escorting Sam and his goat into Wrigley.
The Cubs won the game 5-2, ending their worst home start ever.
A lesson learned?
1998- Bring in the Wild Card
In 1998, the Cubs finished the season with 89 wins, tied with
the San Francisco Giants for the Wild Card. During the Tiebreaking
game on Sept. 28th, the Cubs brought in their Wild Card, Sam
and his goat. The Cubs would go on to win the game 5-3 and went
into the post season as a Wild Card. But once again Sam and
his goat were left behind in Chicago, while the Cubs got swept
in Atlanta, and swept out of the post season.
2003- Five outs away
The Cubs ended the 2003 season in a tight race with the Houston
Astros. When the goat was sent to Houston in an effort to reverse
the curse, Houston lost while the Cubs won their first division
title in fourteen years. The Cubs were on a roll. They would
go on to beat the Atlanta Braves, winning their first post season
series in almost 100 years. In the National League Championship
Series against the Florida Marlins, the Cubs took a quick 3
game lead needing only one more victory to go to the World Series
for the first time in almost sixty years. In game six of the
series, with the ace Mark Prior at the helm, the Cubs entered
the eighth inning leading 3-0. Once again the goat was left
behind, and an eerie chain of events would ensue. With only
five outs needed to secure a victory, a pop foul seemingly in
play was interfered with by a fan taking away a sure out. That
was followed by the next play, when a routine ground ball was
hit to the sure handed Alex Gonzalez only to be bobbled, taking
away an inning ending double play. Ace pitcher, Mark Prior,
overworked, yielded the tying and leading runs, until the Marlins
left the eighth leading 8-3. The Marlins ended up winning the
game, then swept the Cubs at home and swept them out of the
playoffs yet again.
What does the future hold in store for the Cubs? Many attempts
have been made to lift the curse, yet the goat still has not
seen his baseball game. One moment in time, one horrible mistake
in game four of the 1945 World Series, has yielded years of
pain and anguish for Cubs fans abroad. The Chicago Cubs prior
to the curse were one of the best teams in baseball, and after
the curse have become the "Lovable Losers." If the Cubs are
ever again in a situation, where they are outs away from the
World Series, will the goat get the call? For the sake of the
Cubs, "LET THE GOAT IN!"
Pre-Curse
1876-1945
Record:
5475-4324 (.559)
World Series Victories:
1907, 1908
Championship Titles:
1876, 1880-82, 1885-1886
World Series Appearances:
1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938,
1945
Pennants:
1876, 1880-82, 1885-86, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918,
1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1945
***The Cubs posted 51 winning seasons and finished in
first place 16 times. |
Post-Curse
1946-2003
Record:
4250-4874 (.466)
World Series Victories: none
World Series Appearances: none
Pennants: none
Post Season Experience Division Titles:
1984, 1989, 2003, Wild Card-1998
***The Cubs posted only 15 winning seasons and finished
in first place only 3 times. |
Saturday Night Live
 Ordering
at the Billy Goat may go something like this: "Cheezborger!
Cheezborger! You want doublecheez?!? Who's next!?! WHO'S NEXT!?!"
If you take more than one second to answer: "Don't look at the
menu, look at ME! I order for you - DOUBLECHEEZ!" If you only
feel like a single: "No. DOUBLECHEEZ!!!" If it's the end of
the week: "It's Friday, doublecheez for everybody! It's payday!
Triplecheez for the big guy!" Want French fries with that? "No
fries - CHEEPS!" Thirsty? "No Pepsi - COKE!" To drink: "Coke
or Diet?!"
Such rantings by the Billy Goat staff have gone on for almost
40 years and originated when Billy Goat Sianis and another Greek
immigrant by the name of Bill Charuchas would entertain patrons
by yelling out: "Try the double cheese! It's the best! No fries,
cheeps!" In the 1978, Sam Sianis and Charuchas were immortalized
by Saturday Night Live's John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray
and Loraine Newman. The sketch was originally written by Don
Novello (of Father Guido Sarducci fame) when he was an advertising
copywriter in Chicago. John Belushi and Bill Murray knew the
Billy Goat from their Second City days, and the rest is history.
As a result, the Billy Goat Tavern achieved national infamy.
When in Chicago, Don Novello and Bill Murray still come by and
visit Sam and the Billy Goat staff and have their "Doublecheezborger"!
Mike Royko
 If
you're not bellying up to the bar, have a seat at one of the
red & white checkered tables near the bar or on the other side
of the grill in the "Wall of Fame" section. This area features
photographs of local celebrities and yellowed articles written
by famous Chicago newspaper columnists from the nearby Chicago
Tribune and Chicago Sun Times like Dave Condon, Bill Granger,
John Kass, Rick Kogan, Richard Roeper, Rick Telender and Irv
Kupcinet. One of the largest "displays" is dedicated to the
legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning Trib columnist, Mike Royko,
and is comprised of photos, columns, and a memorial written
by Royko following the passing of Billy Goat Sianis himself.
In it, Royko declares Sianis the "Greatest Innkeeper in Chicago."
Royko was often found each day after work, holding court down
at the Billy Goat. He would entertain crowds by espousing local
politics as the "voice of the little guy." Most of his reader
and colleagues would say that he was "Mr. Chicago." His columns
would consist of stories that described the different events
and characters that brought out the true Chicago. Sam and Billy
Goat Sianis acknowledged Mike Royko as a part of their family
and he treated the Billy Goat as his home. Royko wrote many
articles about events that happened at the Billy Goat or about
Sam and his adventures. That is why Royko had such a following,
because along with writing about the big events around the world,
he also wrote about "the little guy", which his readers could
relate to. He new how to tell the "bar stories" or the "neighborhood
stories" which many lived through. When people wanted to discuss
what Mike Royko had written, they knew they could find him at
the Billy Goat to express their views on his columns. Mike Royko
would be more than happy to backup what was written.
The Billy Goat Tavern is still frequented by many of Chicago
Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times writers of today and is considered
a media hangout.
The Legend Continues...
 
The Billy Goat has been selected Best of the Best
by New City Chicago (2002), was #2 for Must See Sports Destination
in the "Food and Drink" category by CNNsi (2001), was ranked
#1 in Citysearch: Chicago's Audience Poll for Best Burger (2001),
was one of five bars nominated as Citysearch: Chicago's "Editor's
Pick" for Best Local Tradition (2000), and was one of only 12
bars receiving Four Mugs (highest rating) by The Official Chicago
Bar Guide in both 1994 and 2001 - and these are but some of
the accolades lauded upon the Billy Goat Tavern.
The Billy Goat Tavern is considered a Chicago Tourist Landmark
and is visited by Chicagoans, world travelers, politicians,
athletes and all sorts of celebrities. The Goat has been frequented
by Pres. George Bush Sr., President George W. Bush (while governor),
President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Dennis Hastert,
Mayor Daley (past and present), and many more politicians. A
wide range of celebrities have also visited, like: Jay Leno
(both times he visited Chicago, he did skits from the Billy
Goat), Bill Murray, Don Novello, Loraine Newman, John Belushi,
Billy Zane, Jack Black, John Stewart, Harrison Ford, Neve Campbell,
John Cusak, Jewel, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kathy Bates, Charleton
Heston, Frank Sinatra, and many more.
So, the next time you're in Chicago, stop by for a "Cheezborger"
but, you'll order a "Doublecheezborger" and rub elbows with
the "REAL CHICAGO."
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