Re: 10 years ago today (Brant Brown)

[erik316wttn]

Ok, you all remember it. September 23, 1998. Cubs vs. Brewers at County Stadium. Two outs in the 9th, and an easy fly ball to left. Brant Brown drops it and the Brewers win.

 

Where were you when our playoff hopes were almost dashed?

 

I was sitting on my couch, watching WGN TV and had Pat and Ron on the radio. I was home from school that day because I had knee surgery the day before. I'm pretty sure I had some vicodin in me as well. I'll never forget Santo screaming like he had been shot.

[adamb10]

I dont remember the game 10 years ago but maybe being a brewers fan I just dont see the big deal in the game. Yes it did happen at a crucial point in the season but stuff like this happens in baseball all the time.

[otis89]

I don't remember what I was doing at the time. I was only 9. I'll be honest. I didn't pay much attention to the Cubs until 2003.

[mopapa]

I was at work, happily following the game via friends and family who called in periodically with updates. Went home after work, my mom was watching the game (back in the wonderful days when WGN broadcast nearly every game), first thing I saw was the legions of Cubs fans sitting, dejected, in the stands. I asked what happened, my mom said "They lost." I said how could they lose, they were up by (however many) runs! She told me what happened and I couldn't believe it. Then later when I watched the tape, I still couldn't believe it. :shock:

[Sammys Boombox]

I was watching at home. I was 10. I remember feeling bad b/c I was so mad at Brant Brown and saying, "Even I could have caught that ball," and then I saw him crying in the dugout.

 

Thankfully, we still got into the playoffs and that one-game playoff was one of the most memorable games I've ever had as a Cubs fan.

[cubsaregreat]

Can anyone upload the audio from that day? I loved hearing Ron Santo's call.

[FergieJ31]

In the LF bleachers, silently screaming along with Ronny.

 

Between the Brewers comeback, the wild card race and the HR race - Sammy hit two that day - that was one of the wildest games I've ever seen, just absolute hysteria in the bleachers.

 

Wow, ten years. Yikes.

 

Incidentally, the winning pitcher in that game was also the winning pitcher in the mother of all "ohh noo!! nooooo!!!!" moments in Cub history, and the losing pitcher in a painful loss earlier this year (freakin Skip Schumaker):

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200805020.shtml

[jersey cubs fan]

WFAN in NY was regularly cutting into WGN radio that summer, mostly for Sammy's at bats. I was at my friend's parents house in New Jersey hanging out at the pool listening to 660 for updates and heard it live. They replayed Santo's call dozens of times laughing the whole time.

 

It was Mike and the Mad Dog.

[Bergy92]

I was at home watching the game, couldn't believe it. Partly because I was one of the few that really like BB that year. To be sure, we would not have been where we were without him having his career that year.

[David]

I came home from school to see the end of that game. Sophomore year in HS. It sucked.

 

I also remembered that we played tennis in PE that day. I was launching balls on to the adjacent highway, fungo style...or attempting to, at least.

[AlwaysaCub]

In the LF bleachers, silently screaming along with Ronny.

 

Between the Brewers comeback, the wild card race and the HR race - Sammy hit two that day - that was one of the wildest games I've ever seen, just absolute hysteria in the bleachers.

 

Wow, ten years. Yikes.

 

Incidentally, the winning pitcher in that game was also the winning pitcher in the mother of all "ohh noo!! nooooo!!!!" moments in Cub history, and the losing pitcher in a painful loss earlier this year (freakin Skip Schumaker):

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200805020.shtml

 

I know what you're referring to, but game 6 was extended agony. For a single moment, I can't decide between Brant Brown and Victor Diaz.

[rawaction]

I was in college, and I believe I had just gotten back from class. I remember being upset, but not as upset as I probably should have been. That was an amazing season for Sammy's HR chase and the Wood 20K game. I didn't follow the Cubs very close from 94-97, my first 4 years in college. Apparantly I didn't miss much as they were about 50 games under .500 for that span.

[mdwilla]

I was there down the third base line , Stunned and Silent. My Grandpa at the time was suffering from alzheimer's disease and the whole way home kept telling me that he was pretty sure we lost. At the time Miller was still under construction and the Traffic was insane.

[FergieJ31]

In the LF bleachers, silently screaming along with Ronny.

 

Between the Brewers comeback, the wild card race and the HR race - Sammy hit two that day - that was one of the wildest games I've ever seen, just absolute hysteria in the bleachers.

 

Wow, ten years. Yikes.

 

Incidentally, the winning pitcher in that game was also the winning pitcher in the mother of all "ohh noo!! nooooo!!!!" moments in Cub history, and the losing pitcher in a painful loss earlier this year (freakin Skip Schumaker):

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200805020.shtml

 

I know what you're referring to, but game 6 was extended agony. For a single moment, I can't decide between Brant Brown and Victor Diaz.

 

Perfect comparison. I can't decide either. I assumed the Cubs were dead after the BB game with only four games left. Thank God Neifi saved us.

[Prior4CyYoung]

I was actually at this game. My mom pulled me out of school and pretended we were going to the doctor office. I legitimately thought we were going there till we passed up chicago and were following the signs to milwaukee. I also like a dummy thought at first brant brown caught the ball. I just remember it going up in the air and us wanting to beat traffic so we were hurrying out. Not till someone brought it up going down the stairs did I realize he did not catch that and we lost the game it was pretty shocking.

[Tracer Bullet]

I was in college and watching on TV. That was the exact moment that I stopped liking Brant Brown (I really was pulling for him until that moment).

[David]

remember when brown got called up when grace got hurt in like 96 and was just awesome

 

i remember him hitting like eleventy billion home runs in 20 games

[UMFan83]

The first time I almost cried as a Cubs fan.

[chuckywang]

The Brant Brown play was also the 90th anniversary of Merkle's boner.

 

In 1908, Fred Merkle of the NY Giants committed a terrible baserunning error against the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. The result of the play forced the Giants to play the Cubs in a 1 game playoff at the end of the season to determine who would represent the NL in the World Series. The Cubs won the playoff game and the rest is history.

 

Coincidently, Brant Brown's drop also forced a 1 game playoff between the Cubs and Giants in 1998. Today would be the 100th anniversary of Merkle's boner, and the Cubs are in New York once again. I wonder what will happen today.

[Banedon]

They played the video along with the Pat and Ron radio call on Comcast Sport Net this morning on Sportrise. I imagine they'll do that all day on that channel.

 

I thought I remembered that season really well, but I don't remember where I was now...weird. I know I'd have been back at college after having spent the summer in Milwaukee doing an internship...but I just can't specifically place where I was when that happened.

[fiver]

i was a sophomore in college, and i remember watching on WGN....my freshman and sophomore years of college are really foggy to me these days though....i don't remember the exact location as i do with 9/11, '03 playoff games, etc.

[Bote McBoteface]

I turned the TV on right after he dropped it. Great timing by me.

[Jehrico]

I dont remember the game 10 years ago but maybe being a brewers fan I just dont see the big deal in the game. Yes it did happen at a crucial point in the season but stuff like this happens in baseball all the time.

Except the Ron Santo almost having a heart attack part, that is...

[Bote McBoteface]

He actually does that a lot now, too. But I think he does the "OHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOO" on purpose now.

[Proven Veteran]

Thankfully, we still got into the playoffs and that one-game playoff was one of the most memorable games I've ever had as a Cubs fan.

 

 

I was at the one game playoff, behind home plate, it was awesome. The whole crowd stayed and cheered well after the game was over, we were dancing in the aisles.