Longtime member of Cubs lore passes away at 91

It was announced on Friday that Sam Sianis, longtime owner of the famed Billy Goat Tavern, passed away at the age of 91. Sianis’ business is known nationwide for the yelling of “Cheezborger! Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, chips!” Especially after being immortalized by the late John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd on SNL.

While a celebrated Chicago establishment, the Sianis Family and the Billy Goat Tavern were longtime parts of infamous Chicago Cubs lore.

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sam Sianis — the legendary, longtime owner of Billy Goat Tavern and a true Chicago original. Sam passed away peacefully this morning in his sleep, surrounded by his loving family.

Sam was more than a… pic.twitter.com/sL5BlIX7N0

— Billy Goat Tavern (@Cheezborger) May 15, 2026

Sianis and the old Cubs “curse”

Sianis was the nephew of the Billy Goat Tavern’s founder, William “Billy Goat” Sianis, who established the business in 1934. He was known for putting a “curse” on the Cubs during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series when he was not allowed to bring his pet goat, Murphy, into Wrigley Field. A frustrated Sianis left the park saying, “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.”

That’s what the family says at least. He also apparently sent a telegram to then-Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley after the series, asking, “Who stinks now?”

A celebration of our 90th Anniversary wouldn’t be complete without the Curse of Billy Goat Sianis. It all started in the 1945 World Series against Detroit and stayed with the Cubs until Sam Sianis rang the original goat’s bell during the 2016 World Series, breaking the Curse!… pic.twitter.com/ckTyFtmRT2

— Billy Goat Tavern (@Cheezborger) November 22, 2024

William died in 1970, but Sam had spent decades trying to lift the jinx his uncle had placed on the team. On numerous occasions, he brought goats into the park. This included Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS, to the displeasure of manager Dusty Baker. While it never seemed to work, Sianis and his family were finally absolved in 2016 when the Cubs won it all.

And thus, another era in Chicago has sadly ended, though the famous tavern will live on. May Sam Sianis rest in peace, and the Billy Goat curse get further in the rearview mirror. (It’s all so silly looking back at it)

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