1998 Cubs

[UMFan83]

Ignoring the present and remembering the 1-2 happy moments of our past is what we do best as Cubs fans.

 

That said, I find little mention of the 1998 Cubs on this board. Honestly, as much as I loved the 2003 Cubs and everything they did and meant to the franchise, I enjoyed the 1998 Cubs just as much. Maybe it was because I was just turning 16 and at the peak of my teen years, but no team struck me as they did.

 

Just think of all the story lines this team had:

-Harry Caray dies suddenly in February. Team dedicates the season to him and puts patches on their uniforms.

-Jack Brickhouse dies in August, and the team also commemorates with patches

-Kerry Wood, young phenom from Texas, explodes onto the scene, racking up K after K after K

-Going along with that, in his 5th start ever in the majors, he throws one of the best games likely in the decade of the 1990's, pitching a 1 hit, 0 walk, CG shutout and striking out 20 in the process. The only hit is questionable at best. If that play is converted, he pitches a 20 K perfect game.

-Sammy Sosa bursts to life in June. Starting the month with 13 HRs, he hits 20 in the month, breaking the major league record and pulling him close to McGwire for the HR chase. As the season wears on, as we all know it becomes a national and even international story. At the end, both break the previous record but McGwire wins the race 70-66. I remember for several months afterward being able to tell you EVERY game Sosa hit a HR in for 1998.

-Brant Brown's error in Milwaukee almost costs the Cubs the Wild Card

-Crazy Rob Beck (all season long)

-The one game playoff against SFO. Beating Dusty Baker, Gary Gaietti's huge HR, almost blowing it in the 9th, and ending Joe Carter's career on a popup.

-Game 2 of the NLDS, Tapani pitches an absolute gem and goes into the 9th leading 1-0. He then tires, gives up a HR I believe, and the Cubs lose in the 10th. They end up getting swept.

 

Why am I posting all of this? Basically time and Cub futility have taken a toll on my brain. I have forgotten a bunch of the memories, and maybe because of the failure of the team in the playoffs, or the downsizing of Sosa's legand, or the disapointment that was/is Kerry's career, this team almost seems like a lost team. So if anyone has any memories of that, if not great, interesting team please share them.

[stitchface]

he throws one of the best games likely in the decade of the 1990's,

 

best games ever. not in the 90s. ever.

[A New Era]

Speaking of. Does anyone have the pat & ron audio of that game?

[UMFan83]

he throws one of the best games likely in the decade of the 1990's,

 

best games ever. not in the 90s. ever.

 

His game score was 105 for the game. Not sure what the highest is, but I know its up there. The top score you could theoretically get is 114, which Kerry was 7 K's and 1 hit away from getting

[SouthSideRyan]

he throws one of the best games likely in the decade of the 1990's,

 

best games ever. not in the 90s. ever.

 

His game score was 105 for the game. Not sure what the highest is, but I know its up there. The top score you could theoretically get is 114, which Kerry was 7 K's and 1 hit away from getting

 

I wanna say it's the highest 9 inning game score.

[chuckywang]

he throws one of the best games likely in the decade of the 1990's,

 

best games ever. not in the 90s. ever.

 

His game score was 105 for the game. Not sure what the highest is, but I know its up there. The top score you could theoretically get is 114, which Kerry was 7 K's and 1 hit away from getting

 

I wanna say it's the highest 9 inning game score.

 

I also believe it is, which makes it the most dominant game ever pitched.

[fromthestretch]

-Crazy Rob Beck (all season long)

-The one game playoff against SFO. Beating Dusty Baker, Gary Gaietti's huge HR, almost blowing it in the 9th, and ending Joe Carter's career on a popup.

 

If I remember correctly, Beck came into that game with absolutely nothing left in the tank. He had no velocity whatsoever. I believe he got Carter to pop out on an inside pitch that barely broke 70 mph.

[Banedon]

I just loved Rod Beck. Him and Terry Mulholland just pitched their arms off that season.

[thedaymen]

I just loved Rod Beck. Him and Terry Mulholland just pitched their arms off that season.

 

Literally.

 

I remember going into that 9th inning with Bonds and big game Joe Carter coming up and being convinced the season was over.

[daske17]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

[rawaction]

That season to me is more memorable for individual performances. Sosa's entire season, especially June, and the 2 GS series in Arizona. I will argue to the death that Wood's game was the best ever pitched. Consider his age, inexperience, and the conditions (looked like a potential rain-out) and it is better than anything Clemens has done. The Cubs had a nice showing in the playoffs that year too. I expected them to get swept, but they were in 2 of the games with a good chance to win with any offense whatsoever.

[CubColtPacer]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

[Soriano12]

Who could forget Sosa's 20HR's in June

 

Or when McGuire broke Maris' record and was embraced on the field by Sosa.

 

All tainted unfortunatly by the steroid questions.

 

 

They say when JFK was assasinated American lost it's innoncence.

 

After 1998 baseball lost it's innoncense IMO

[abuck1220]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

i think it was more the 831 runs, sosa, tapani and wood that got them to the playoffs. and morandini may have been toward the end of his career, but he was pretty darn good that year. they were far from a royals type team.

[jmajew]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Just a guess but Kerry Wood and Mark Grace

[CubColtPacer]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Just a guess but Kerry Wood and Mark Grace

 

Those are two good guesses, but surprisingly neither of those is right.

[erik316wttn]

The Summer of '98 was probably the most fun I've ever had watching baseball.

[goonys evil twin]

I think I started posting on my first message board, espn.com's cubs page during that season, or else right after that season. At the time there were like 4 people who would each write 1 or 2 things a day. There were no threads, just one post after another, and you could see the whole month's posts on one page. I think part of the reason you don't hear much talk about that season on here is because so few people were writing on message boards about it. Plus, it was a long time ago. Teenagers now, a big part of this community, were young kids then.

 

Plus, it wasn't that good of a team, and they didn't make any noice in the playoffs. I remember at the time enjoying the season, and making a couple road trips to see them in Chicago, and in Atlanta for the loss in Game 2. It was cool to finally see the team in the playoffs again. But you could tell the team wasn't built for the long haul, with so many lightning in a bottle type players.

[USSoccer]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Henry Rodriguez and Tapani?

[goonys evil twin]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Just a guess but Kerry Wood and Mark Grace

 

Those are two good guesses, but surprisingly neither of those is right.

 

Beck and Tapani?

[CubColtPacer]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Just a guess but Kerry Wood and Mark Grace

 

Those are two good guesses, but surprisingly neither of those is right.

 

Beck and Tapani?

 

Beck is correct-Tapani is incorrect.

[Banedon]

Henry Rodriguez and Beck?

[USSoccer]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Just a guess but Kerry Wood and Mark Grace

 

Those are two good guesses, but surprisingly neither of those is right.

 

Beck and Tapani?

 

Beck is correct-Tapani is incorrect.

 

Henry Rodriguez is the other one, then.

[CubColtPacer]

The great thing about that team (and to a lesser extent 2003) is that it was compiled by a group of guys who had no right being winners.

 

Micky Morandini and Jeff Blauser were on the downside of their careers, Gary Gaeti was on his last legs, the outfield was a patchwork of seven different guys (the only one of whom worth a darn was Sosa). I mean Jose K-Machine Hernandez was our third baseman!

 

This team more resembled a Royals team than a Wild Card winner. But it was that scrappiness and "us against the league" mentality that got them to the playoffs. Then, unfortunately, they ran out of gas against a 106 game-winning Braves.

 

But what a ride. God, that was fun.

 

Wow-I just went and looked up the Cubs statistics from that year, and that led me to the MVP voting that year-not only did Sosa win the MVP, but 2 other Cubs were among the 24 who got at least 1 MVP point. Anyone know without looking who those two other Cubs were?

 

Just a guess but Kerry Wood and Mark Grace

 

Those are two good guesses, but surprisingly neither of those is right.

 

Beck and Tapani?

 

Beck is correct-Tapani is incorrect.

 

Henry Rodriguez is the other one, then.

 

You would think so-but that is incorrect also. Beck is the first one, still waiting on the second one.

[goonys evil twin]

Beck and Morandini?