5 reasons Cubs-Indians was the best World Series ever

Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist (18) celebrates after hitting a RBI double against the Cleveland Indians in the 10th inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after throwing out Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler (not pictured) in the 9th inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The young superstars

World Series games and playoff series are typically not decided by 22, 23, and 24-year-old players in their second MLB seasons. Conventional wisdom held that only a veteran team could win a World Series, but Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, Jose Ramirez, and Addison Russell all played major roles the entire postseason. There may never have been a younger group to have such a major impact on a single postseason and World Series.

In Game 7, Bryant and Baez homered, Russell hit a grand slam in Game 6 and drove in six runs, Schwarber batted .412 and started the game-winning rally in the 10th inning, Lindor hit .310 for the entire postseason, and Contreras hit a key two-run double. To top it all off, 25-year-old rookie and former 48th-round draft pick Carl Edwards Jr. recorded the final out of the game.

Baseball’s young superstars took over the postseason last year, but came up a bit short of the World Series. The Cubs were shut down in the NLCS because their rookies were too green. One more year added experience, but hardly dulled the passion and joy with which they played the game. Anthony Rizzo is one of the old heads in the Chicago clubhouse at the age of 27.

The game of baseball has never been blessed with more young talent, and so much of it was on display in the World Series. Fans of the game have a chance to fall in love with an entire generation of new stars all arriving at the same time.

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