Game 7 of the 2016 World Series might go down as one of the best winner-takes-all games in the history of MLB.
It had two teams hungry for success: the Chicago Cubs hadn’t won a World Series since 1908, and the Cleveland Guardians (then Indians) had their own drought since 1948.
The two squads had won three games each to that point, and it could be a historic day for one of those franchises.
In the end, the Cubs got the last laugh in a back-and-forth game that saw several ties and lead changes.
Outfielder Dexter Fowler made sure to kick things off the best possible way.
“Dexter Fowler started Game 7 of the 2016 World Series with a homer,” MLB Vault tweeted with a video of the iconic moment, maybe the best in his career.
Dexter Fowler started Game 7 of the 2016 World Series with a homer. 😤 pic.twitter.com/bkKsyMAGVt
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) January 31, 2023
Fowler took none other than Corey Kluber deep to center field to give his team an early lead and set the tone for the evening.
That man is now officially announcing his retirement from baseball.
Fowler had his best year in 2016, with 4.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), .276/.393/.447, 13 home runs and 13 stolen bases.
He also scored 84 runs and got his first All-Star berth.
Fowler was a good hitter who proudly defended five uniforms in MLB: the Colorado Rockies (2008–2013), the Houston Astros (2014), the Cubs (2015–2016), the St. Louis Cardinals (2017–2020) and the Los Angeles Angels (2021).
He retires with a .259 batting average, 127 home runs, 517 RBI, and 149 stolen bases.
Cubs fans have a special place for Fowler in their hearts, especially after watching him play that season and star in the World Series.
He is part of that unforgettable 2016 team that forever changed history for the much-maligned franchise.
NEXT: The Cubs May Be A Sneaky Contender In 2023
