Fly the W: The Chicago Cubs' Historic 2016 Championship Season

by Daily Herald, Len Kasper (Foreword)

After over a century of waiting, the Chicago Cubs are World Series champions for the first time since 1908. Relive all the dazzling moments from the remarkable 2016 season with this beautiful commemorative book, featuring thoughtful, in-depth writing and vivid photographs of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Jake Arrieta, and all the top stars from this historic team. *High quality hardcover gift edition with dust jacket; this coffee table book is an essential keepsake for Chicago Cubs fans *Nearly 100 full-color photos printed on museum-quality paper stock, including exclusive photographs from the Cubs' championship celebration *Season-spanning coverage from respected Cubs insiders

Genres: Sports

160 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2016

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be clear, the events this book pertains to are clearly Five Star events. This just isn't the book that best covers those events.

A hastily put together collection. Rather than reflecting back on the season and the road to the Championship, the Daily Herald merely slaps together Cubs-centric articles hoping that these pieces help make up the entire picture.

Some obvious things go missing...stats, for example. The book has a section devoted to player bios, but it is severely lacking: No Zobrist, no Schwarber, no Arrieta, no Contreras, no Heyward. Plus, the bios offered aren't that great.

To make matters worse, the events are put in a strange order in the book: World Series, season write-up, the NLDS, player bios, and ends with the NLCS. Not the most rewarding order for a reader.

Some great pictures. Some ho-hum pictures. Either way, this book is more about look than content.


Some moments I enjoyed (or hated) reliving:

PRE-2016
“In addition to the 101losses in 2012, the Cubs lost 96 games in 2013 and 89 in 2014.” (76)
In 2015, Cubs were swept in the NLCS by the Mets.

A LITTLE ABOUT 2016
Joe Maddon’s quirky team building ideas and his changing players’ positions around.
Ross acquired simply to catch for Lester.
Started season 25-6.
Jake Arrieta, 2015’s Cy Young winner, threw a no-hitter on April 21.
Kyle Schwarber’s devastating injury and subsequent miraculous return. (7)
Contreras stepped up during Schwarber’s time out, because, remember, Schwarber was a catcher. (21)
22-6 in August. (8)
“the franchise’s first 100-plus winning season since the 1935 club” (73)
Kyle Hendricks was a much-considered Cy Young possibility in 2016.

NLDS
Game 3 vs. Giants was a 13-inning loss. Arrieta vs. Madison Bumgarner.
3 games to 1 was final vs. Giants for division title.

NLCS
Game 1 vs. the Dodgers was won with a grand slam from pinch hitter Miguel Montero.
“Since last reaching the World Series 71 years ago, only twice have the Cubs come within a game of reaching the World Series. After Thursday night, you can make it three. The Cubs had three chances to get it done in 1984 and three more in 2003, and both times the dream ended with three consecutive defeats.” (146)
Cubs won over Dodgers, 4 games to 2.

WORLD SERIES
Indians went up 3 games to 1.
Maddon kept bringing Aroldis Chapman in early during the series, not just Game 7.
That rain delay!
Cubs win in 7 games.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for "Fly the W" the official book published by the Chicago Cubs. It is a fantastic coffee table book with amazing, new pictures and great essays. Highly recommended, even though it is very spendy.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a post-title thrown together collection of columns. Which is fine. I enjoyed it, but it'll stay on my shelf mostly for the excellent photos.

[Chris Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the publications put out to commemorate the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series victory, this has been my favorite. Large photos from the season were what I have missed most from other books that were put out. (Others just plain sucked - see my other reviews.) But Bruce Miles has been one of the better local sportswriters for a while and it's good to see the work of him and other writers from the Daily Herald have a bound edition of some of their columns from the season here. Small complaint is that every article seems to have had at least one typo in it, but times are tough for newspapers, I guess. Maybe they can't afford editors anymore. Still, if you can get past that, this is a nice one for your bookshelf.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! It's full of previously published articles from the Daily Herald recapping each playoff game, plus individual spreads and interviews with most of the starters. Lots of wonderful pictures too!

However there are lots of typos- definitely needed an editor. Plus the arrangement was weird. It starts with the World Series, then has other random articles from the season, then NLDS recaps, then player profiles, then NLCS recaps.

Still a fun read and a good coffee table book.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh. Typos galore. Apparently the Dodgers played the Dodgers and won on October 16, 2016. This was clearly a rushed print job of all the Daily Herald articles and photos. And what is going on with the order? Why start with the World Series reports and then the play off games and player highlights? Just like with any other book, wouldn't you want to reveal your story in the order it naturally progressed? Glad this one was a freebie at ALAAC.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I thought I would never own.

That fact alone is worth the 5 stars. But the book is well-written and has wonderful photographs.

Recommended.

[Beckett Kot · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the cubs you will love this. And it talks about the road to the world series.

[Charlie]

Great Book