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Epstein named World's Greatest Leader by Fortune Magazine

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

It appears breaking an 108-year World Series drought has earned Chicago Cubs team President Theo Epstein the honor of being ranked as Fortune Magazine's World's Greatest Leader, just don't tell him that.

"Um, I can't even get my dog to stop peeing in the house," Epstein wrote in a text, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. "That is ridiculous. The whole thing is patently ridiculous. It's baseball - a pastime involving a lot of chance. If (Ben) Zobrist's ball is three inches farther off the line, I'm on the hot seat for a failed five-year plan. And I'm not even the best leader in our organization; our players are."

Epstein being chosen as the World's Greatest Leader isn't entirely surprising if you factor in his resume.

At only 28 years old, Epstein became the youngest general manager in league history when he was hired by the Boston Red Sox in 2002. Only two years later, he helped build a championship-caliber team guiding the Red Sox through the "Curse of the Bambino," snapping an 86-year World Series drought.

He joined the Cubs' front office as team President in 2011 and his patient approach helped transform the team from 101-game losers in 2012, to a league best 103-win team in 2016 and the franchise's highest win total since 1910.

Epstein's blueprint eventually led to a World Series championship, breaking yet another spell, this time in the form of the "Curse of the Billy Goat."

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