DeKALB | Art major Erik Carillo believes that superstitions influence the Cubs’ playoff performance, so he wears Cubs gear every game day.

For baseball players and sports fanatics, superstitions play a big role in athlete performance. The last World Series win for the Cubs was 108 years ago in 1908.

The Chicago Cubs are having success in this year’s postseason. After their win in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, the Cubs’ magic number for a World Series victory is six wins.

“I want to say World Series, but I don’t want to jinx them,” said freshman pitcher William Anderson. “They have all the pieces to win the World Series, so I think they can do it.”

During the Cubs game, it is difficult to stop watching. Engineering major David Hodges believes the Cubs are negatively affected when he takes any time away from watching.

“I feel like if I don’t watch them [the entire time], they’re going to lose,” Hodges said. “I can’t even make myself a hotdog until it is a commercial.”

In the long history of the franchise, the Cubs have had curses which have hung over their heads throughout the years, such as the Billy Goat in 1945, the black cat in 1969 and the Steve Bartman incident in 2003.

The Billy Goat curse began in the 1945 World Series when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave the game because the odor of his pet goat was bothering other fans. In outrage, Sianis famously said “them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.”

“Growing up, especially after 2003, I was young back then, so I believed in the Billy Goat superstition. Later on, I did not believe in the curse,” said junior pitcher Ryan Blanton. “My dad said since I was a little kid that [the Cubs] need to get a bunch of young guys out there and have them play and learn as they go. That is definitely what they have going on now, so I’m hoping that will break [the curse].”

Other baseball players agree with Blanton, saying any curse surrounding the Cubs does not apply to their World Series aspirations.

“Billy Goat is long gone,” Infielder Tommy Hook said. “I mean, I just think it’s something that the fans can talk about, myself included.”

Taking note of all the curses and superstitions, the Cubs are having success in the playoffs this year. NIU baseball players, along with many others, are optimistic about this team being the last team standing in October.

“What [the Cubs] are doing is awesome,” Hook said. “Everyone talks about their offense, but they’re the best defensive team in baseball. There is no doubt that, with what they’re doing now, that they’re going to win it all.”