As a psychic, Michael Lee is batting 1.000.
Back in 1993, Lee predicted in his yearbook picture that the Chicago Cubs would win the 2016 World Series, adding, “You heard it here first.”
The yearbook photo went viral after the Cubs made it to the World Series for the first time since 1945.
But Lee, now a 41-year-old software engineer living in the Chicago suburbs, kept a low profile by design.
“My attitude was, ‘You have to play the games,’” he told The Huffington Post. “I didn’t want to be a distraction. The players shouldn’t be asked about my prediction.”
Ah yes, the prediction. It may have been printed in the yearbook 23 years ago, but Lee said it actually came to him in a dream in 1983.
“I saw the words, ‘Cubs World Champions 2016’ on the Wrigley Field sign and I heard Harry Caray calling home runs,” he said.
Lee may have predicted it, but he actually forgot about it until former classmate Marcos Meza reminded him, according to WGN TV.
“When [Lee and I] connected on Facebook in 2009 I sent him the photo and told him we were nearing 2016. He posted the photo of his prediction on August 8th,” Meza told the station. “After my Dodgers lost it was time for me to make this go viral and BeLEEve in the Cubs for 2016.”
Lee had hoped that the prediction might come true last year when they almost fulfilled a prediction made in 1989’s “Back To The Future II.”
“When it didn’t happen,” he said, “I thought maybe they’ll do it next year.”
Lee tried to put the prediction out of his mind during the games, but had a good feeling during the rain delay during Game 7.
“Going into the 10th inning, I thought this might be good for the Cubs since they were deeper,” he said.
Once the 108-year drought was ended, Lee said his phone practically broke because so many people were calling to congratulate him.
“I’ve never texted so many people at once,” he laughed. “My brothers, Dad and I were happy.”
Lee couldn’t have predicted the media interest in him after his Cubs prediction came true. He’s skeptical that people can predict the future to begin with.
“I think this is really a very extreme coincidence,” he said. “Does it blow my mind? A little.”
Although Lee could rest on his laurels, and possibly never buy another beer in his life thanks to grateful Cubs fans, he’s trying to use his newfound fame for good.
Lee is marketing a line of T-shirts featuring his now-famous yearbook photo and the phrase “You Heard It Here First”
He says he plans to donate proceeds to charities that focus on stomping out bullying.
“They won’t stop it by themselves,” he said, “but it will give funding to defray this activity and maybe quell that behavior.”
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