4 unforgettable Cubs facts we learned MLB Network's 2016 World Series Game 7 special

On Thursday night, MLB Network debuted a new special centered around Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, with hosts Bob Costas and Tom Verducci sitting down with former Cubs skipper Joe Maddon and former Cleveland manager Terry Francona as they broke down key moments from that fateful November night.

Even after almost 8 years, there were still some nuggets in there that I'd either forgotten about since then or maybe had never even heard before. I'm going to go through those - and sprinkle in some other fun facts or stories that really stood out to me when watching - as we look back on what I believe to be the most iconic game in World Series history.

#4: Everyone involved knew the day before Game 7 that David Ross and Jon Lester would enter the game together

It was no secret heading into Game 7 that Maddon's plan was to go from his starter Kyle Hendricks to Jon Lester and then, if all went well, Aroldis Chapman. He said as much on the air prior to the game. But this wasn't something he came up with that day. In fact, everyone involved knew the day prior that Lester was first up out of the pen and Ross would enter with him.

Of course, one of the biggest and longest-standing criticisms of Maddon's game-calling during that Fall Classic centers around when he pulled Hendricks and went with his veteran left-hander. Prior to allowing a two-out baserunner in the fifth, Hendricks had retired 7 straight hitters and had really looked to settle in.

But with a man on and two out, Maddon went to Lester - and things got off to a bumpy start, with a throwing error from Ross and a wild pitch from Lester allowing the Indians to score twice and make it a 5-3 ballgame, completely changing the momentum of the game in the process.

Throughout the special, it was made abundantly clear: Maddon had his gameplan locked in and, no matter what, he was going to do everything in his power to execute it down to the smallest detail. But what may have surprised us as fans at home, clearly, had been thought through and hashed out internally prior to that game with everyone involved.