That’s an interesting idea: a Cubs-Tigers series in 1984, but likely the Tigers would have still prevailed back in the days of Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, and all of the others with Sparky Anderson as manager.
As a further note, this is only the second World Series appearance for the Houston Colt 45s/Astros franchise, as their previous one was in 2005 versus the Chicago White Sox. The Sox ended their 1917 “Black Sox Scandal” drought with a 4-0 sweep of the Astros (representing the National League at the time) and the 88 year drought was the longest ended until the Chicago Cubs last year ended their 108 year old one against the Cleveland Indians.
The last time the Cubs were in the World Series before last year was 1945 when they lost to the Detroit Tigers in 7 games.