What Schwarber remembers most from 2016 World Series

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Sep 3, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Kyle Schwarber (18) reacts after hitting an RBI double against the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Five years ago Tuesday, the Cubs ended their 108-year championship drought with a win over Cleveland in Game 7 of the World Series.

Kyle Schwarber played a big role in the series following his return from a serious knee injury sustained that April. He joined ESPN 1000's "Waddle & Silvy" Tuesday to look back on Game 7.

Schwarber was asked specifically what stands out most to him from that day and responded by telling a story.

Umpire Joe West was working a series between the Red Sox and Yankees this summer, which pitted Schwarber against former Cubs teammate Anthony Rizzo after both were traded at the deadline.

At one point, Rizzo reached first base, where Schwarber was playing for Boston, and turned to West.

"He goes, 'Joe, that was the best decision you made in your career, a rain delay,'" Schwarber recalled Rizzo telling West, part of the umpire crew that worked the 2016 World Series.

The rain delay before the 10th inning is part of Cubs lore. Jason Heyward delivered a speech to motivate his teammates after Cleveland rallied to tie the game.

The Cubs regrouped, retook the lead and clinched the series in the bottom half of the 10th.

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"That probably stands out the most, with just the whole situation that we were in," Schwarber said. "Don't get me wrong — playoff baseball, anything can happen. But you're pretty confident in your lead and the people that are going to be coming in.

"And next thing you know, in the snap of a finger, it's taken away and it's a tie ballgame again. No one really knew what the hell happened.

"Just to take that 18 minutes of a deep breath and be able to head right back out, it was great."

It certainly worked out for the Cubs, who technically won Game 7 after midnight in Cleveland.

Which raises the question: Do Cubs fans celebrate the anniversary each year on Nov. 2 or Nov. 3?

"I think it's two days, right? Let's make it into a two-day thing," Schwarber said. "All Cubs fans, go get drunk, remember it, have fun, go visit the people you need to visit.

"It deserves to be two days."

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