NEWSLETTER
It’s almost unbelievable just how many wonderful moments we shared as Chicago Cubs fans in 2015. I tried my best to catalog them throughout the year, so that we could re-live them here at the end of the year.
They’re very roughly in chronological order, but there were so many that I wasn’t always able keep it strictly so. Still, I think you’ll be amazed and enjoy just how many high points there were – and I probably didn’t even get them all! If my count is right, there are 55 moments included below. Even I’m stunned by that, and I live here.
Away we go …
Remember that time Kris Bryant seemed to hit a home run – or two – every day in Spring Training?
Remember that time Will Ferrell played for and against the Cubs? Oh, and Kris Bryant homered over his head?
Remember that time Jorge Soler, Javy Baez, and Kris Bryant went back-to-back-to-back?
Remember that time the Cubs came back against the Rockies in the 9th inning (capped by a Dexter Fowler homer) after not doing that at all in 2014?
Remember that time Kris Bryant finally debuted to much ballyhoo?
Remember that time a Cubs fan caught a foul ball in her beer and chugged it like a pro?
Remember that time the Cubs walked off against Craig Kimbrel?
Remember that time Jorge Soler homered twice against the Reds, saved an errant Jon Lester pickoff throw, and Arismendy Alcantara walked it off?
Remember that time Gregory Polanco fell for no reason and the Cubs won a thriller after missing out in the exact same situation earlier in the game? (One of my favorite games of the year.)
Remember that time the Cubs nearly ran themselves out of a win against the Royals, but then walked it off?
Remember that time Starlin Castro walked the Cubs off against the Reds? And then did it again the next night?
Remember that time Kris Bryant hit the new video board in left … while he was showing on the board?
Remember that time Addison Russell walked the Cubs off against the Nationals in the same game? (Another of my favorite games of the year.)
Remember that time David Ross “walked off” the Nationals by picking a runner off at first base?
Remember that time a Cubs fan caught a foul ball while holding onto his baby?
Remember that time Kris Bryant honored America on the Fourth of July by homering twice in the first two innings, including a grand slam?
Remember that time the Cubs beat the Indians 17-0?
Remember that time Kris Bryant homered in that same game and made David Murphy, who was pitching, laugh?
Remember that time Kyle Schwarber knocked his first big league hit, a triple, in that same game?
Remember that time Kyle Schwarber also hit a triple in the Futures Game? Because he’s a triples maniac?
Remember that time Chris Coghlan worked the walk-off walk?
Remember that time Anthony Rizzo was magic?
Remember that time David Ross pitched and then hit a home run to save the mood?
Remember that time the Cubs blew it against the Rockies just after being swept (and no-hit) by the Phillies, which crushed their playoff odds … only to have Kris Bryant turn everything around with a walk-off homer? (In a season full of moments, that was probably the moment for me.)
Remember that time Kyle Schwarber gave us the Kyle Schwarber Game?
Remember that time the next day that Taylor Teagarden got a game-winning hit off of Aroldis Chapman after the Cubs trailed 5-0?
Remember that time the Cubs finished a four-game sweep of the Giants after Hector Rondon loaded the bases and then struck out the side?
Remember that time Kris Bryant walked off against the Indians after the Cubs had blown the shutout in the 9th, and Pedro Strop skipped down the line in celebration? (Another of my favorite games of the year.)
Remember that time Anthony Rizzo climbed the tarp and made the catch of the year?
Remember that time Miguel Montero walked the Cubs off with a 10th-inning homer in the same game?
Remember that time Jake Arrieta no-hit the Dodgers? (Another of my favorite games of the year.)
Remember that time the team wore pajamas immediately thereafter, including Arrieta in a mustache onesie?
Remember that time a Cubs fan put together the absolute perfect Cubs-Perfect Strangers mashup?
Remember that time Pedro Strop got a huge strikeout against the White Sox and showed every bit of his emotion?
Remember that time the Cubs had a four-homer party only to top it the very next day with a five-homer party?
Remember that time Kris Bryant hit a 500-foot bomb off of the left field video board?
Remember that time Jonathan Herrera took an unsolicited curtain call in the same game? (Another of my favorite games of the year.)
Remember that time Kyle Schwarber hit a homer but wiped out rounding first?
Remember that time Jon Lester threw his glove to first base to get an out?
Remember that time Jon Lester finally got a hit?
Remember that time Jon Lester finally picked someone off?
Remember that time Addison Russell finished off the Cardinals with an incredible diving play? (Another of my favorite games of the year. Also, Russell did that kind of thing all season long.)
Remember the time Chris Denorfia walked the Cubs off by providing the only run in the game?
Remember the time he did it again? (Wrap your head around that: twice this year, Chris Denorfia walked the Cubs off by providing the only run of the game. Twice!)
Remember that time Jake Arrieta won his 20th game of the year?
Remember that time Kris Bryant turned a wild pitch into an unassisted out at third base?
Remember that time Starlin Castro homered twice against the Cardinals and took his first ever curtain call at Wrigley?
Remember that time Kyle Schwarber gave the Cubs the only run support they’d need in the Wild Card Game with a mammoth blast that left PNC?
Remember that time the Cubs won that game?
Remember that time the Cubs hit six homers in Game Three of the NLDS against the Cardinals?
Remember that time Javy Baez brought the Cubs back with a homer and Anthony Rizzo gave them the lead in Game Four of the NLDS?
Remember that time Kyle Schwarber hit an insurance run homer in the same game and it landed on the right field video board?
Remember that time the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the NLDS?
(And absolutely nothing else happened thereafter during the playoffs. Nothing at all.)
Remember that time the Cubs thereafter signed John Lackey, Ben Zobrist, and Jason Heyward en route to improving the team even further for 2016?
Here’s to many, many more magical moments next year.
