The Chicago Cubs last won the World Series in 1908, 108 years ago. It’s the longest active championship drought in North American professional sports. But that hasn’t stopped one Chicago man from betting it all on the team in 2016.
According to Net One Sports, Don Majewski of Jefferson Park, Chicago bet just about his entire life savings on the Cubs to win the World Series. Earlier this month, he withdrew $200,000 (94 percent of his retirement savings), flew to Las Vegas, and put it on the Cubs. Here’s the ticket (photo courtesy of Net One Sports).
Majewski will make a $600,000 profit if Chicago wins the World Series, as the Cubs have a 3-to-1 payout.
“I waited overnight before buying the ticket because I promised my wife I’d sleep on it,” says the 54-year-old sanitation worker turned carpenter. “I’ve been watching the Cubs my whole life, and when you’ve been doing that, you know that this team is truly special,” says Majewski.
“I know it seems crazy, but what am I risking, really?” asks the 54-year-old Majewski. “I could save for six more years, and maybe I’d have, what, a quarter million to live on for the rest of my life? And that’s if the market doesn’t tank again.”
Majewski was asked if he had any regrets after placing the bet, and he only wished he had done it sooner.
“What kills me is that I didn’t do this sooner, back in April, or before the season started. I could have gotten six to one or better back then.”
“You only get so many chances in your life to do something big,” Majewski says. “My whole life I’ve been watching the Cubs, saying — Just give me one, just one. If I didn’t go for it now, I’d just regret it for the rest of my life.”
It’s early, but Majewski’s gamble is looking good so far. The Cubs have the best record in baseball at 24-6, and they currently have the best odds to win the World Series. Vegasinsider.com has the Cubs at 7/2 odds to win it all.
Update: The ticket has been “altered and is illegitimate”, according to ESPN’s David Payne Purdum.
MGM says it’s willing to take a bet like that, but this ticket has been altered and is illegitimate. https://t.co/uo5HvSVxfn
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 10, 2016