Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations since 2011, was the general manager of the Boston Red Sox when they won the World Series in 2004. His field manager was Terry Francona, who is managing the Indians against the Cubs in the '16 Series.
Last World Series in which home field advantage was decided by the results of the All-Star Game, a rule introduced in 2003. From 1903 to 2002, the two leagues alternated, and in 2017, the rule was changed to award it to the team with the better regular season record.
The Chicago Cubs are playing in their first World Series since 1945, and for their first championship since 1908.
Because of a season-ending injury he suffered in April, the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber, serving as the designated hitter during games in Cleveland, became the first position player in major league history to record his first hit of the season in the World Series.
Dexter Fowler, Addison Russell, Jason Heyward, and Carl Edwards, Jr. were the first African-Americans on a Cubs' World Series team. As lead-off hitter, Fowler was the first African-American to bat for the Cubs in the Series, while he and Russell were the Cubs' first African-American starters in the Series.