Indians history traces back to Grand Rapids in 1884, though the club moved to Cleveland to play in the new American League in 1901 as Cleveland Bluebirds (then the Bronchos and Naps before adopting their current name in 1915). They are two-time World Series champions (1920 and 1948) and have collected five American League Pennants (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997, and 2016) in 12 total playoff appearances.

Chicago’s National League ball club goes all the way back to 1876, with the very founding of the league. They’ve played successively as the White Stockings, Colts, Orphans, and finally, the Cubs starting in 1903. Like the Indians, the Cubs have two World Series trophies for back-to-back wins in 1907-08. Chicago owns 17 NL Pennants (1876, 1880-82, 1885-86, 1906-08, 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1945, 2016) over 18 total playoff appearances.

World Series Game Schedule

The World Series will be carried on the FOX Network with the first two games at Progressive Field at 8:08 ET / 5:08 PT for first pitch . Games 3, 4, and if necessary, Game 5 will take place in Chicago at Wrigley Field on Friday through Sunday, October 28-30.

First pitch for Friday and Saturday’s game is 8:08 ET. Saturday’s game’s first pitch would come at 8:15 ET. Should the series continue, it will return to Cleveland on November 1-2 with first pitch at 8:08 ET.

Calling the Games

For Umpires Guccione, Hudson, Randazzo, and Vanover it will be a first-ever appearance in the World Series. For veteran umpire West, this year’s will be his sixth.

As in all postseason games, the umpiring crew includes officials in left and right field to augment the regular set of umpires at each base. A seventh member of the crew operates as the replay official in Games 1 and 2 before rotating into on-field duties.