The Chicago Cubs found a severed goat's head at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, and they're treating the cruel reference to a longtime curse as a crime.
Chicago police were called in to investigate after a man stopped the white van he was driving, walked a box to a security entrance at Gate K on Waveland Avenue and wordlessly put it down, Cubs spokesman Julian Green said.
Security workers opened the box, addressed to team owner Tom Ricketts, and discovered the severed head. The team immediately called police.
Green said Thursday that police were given surveillance video, and that he doesn't know why someone would deliver a goat's head. Police did not comment on who might have left the goat head or a possible motive — other than to refer to the head in a brief statement as an "intimidating package."
Cubs manager Dale Sveum had a theory, of sorts.
"Obviously, it's just an unfortunate fan doing something pretty stupid," he said.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday he has contacted Ricketts about the head.
"There's nothing else to say, it speaks for itself, it's wrong to do," Emanuel said. "I did call Tom last night, and said obviously that the police need to do something, we'll be on it."
The delivery comes in the midst of the organization's ongoing negotiations with the city and small business owners regarding a a five-year, $300 million plan to renovate the Friendly Confines.
The Billy Goat Curse dates back to Oct. 6, 1945, when tavern owner Billy Sianis bought a box seat for his goat, Murphy, for Game 4 of the World Series at Wrigley Field to help promote his establishment. When he was ordered to remove the goat, he claimed to place a curse on the team that would prevent it from ever hosting another World Series at Wrigley Field.
Dead goats were found hanging on the Harry Caray statue outside the field in 2007 and in 2009.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
