THE CHICAGO CUBS Story of a Curse

Adam Grupper is a charming and entertaining narrator of this jaunt through Chicago Cubs history. The story spans more than a century--roughly from 1908 to 2016, the years between Cubs championships--but moves swiftly. It's less a comprehensive historical account than snapshots of different baseball eras. Grupper's resonant voice warrants full attention as he describes decades of hope, heartbreak, desolation, and, eventually, triumph. When author Rich Cohen becomes a more present voice in the narrative, Grupper shifts to a conversational tone that forges a personal connection with the listener. High praise to Grupper for also adding some laughs, especially with a hilarious impression of sportscaster Harry Caray and a full re-creation of 1983 manager Lee Elia's infamous profanity-laced tirade. A.T.N. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2017]