The Chicago Cubs did not play in the NLDS this year, and, even if they had, there would be no NLDS game on October 12 this year. So, no memories were lost on what turns out to be a pretty special date in recent Cubs history.
Not only is today the 7th anniversary of the day on which Theo Epstein agreed to become the President of the Chicago Cubs, it is the anniversary of three consecutive special moments in the NLDS for the Cubs in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Three years ago today, the Cubs were playing the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS – their first postseason match-up ever. The Cubs won that night in Game Three on the strength of a postseason-record SIX home runs in the game:
The Cubs went on to win that NLDS the next day against the Cardinals. It was my second favorite Cubs postseason series victory, behind only, well, you know.
Two years ago today (thanks to the game running just past midnight), the Cubs were in San Francisco, trailing 5-2 in the 9th inning of Game Four of the NLDS, with a scary Game Five match-up with Johnny Cueto looming. That’s when they mounted the biggest 9th inning comeback in a clinching game in postseason history:
(Bonus: the hopeful rally cap fan there at the top of the clip is my buddy Jeff!)
The Cubs took that clinching game, and then never looked back, securing their first World Series title in 108 years.
And on this date last year, the Cubs were closing out the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS, a game so crazy that MLB created a Top 10 Moments just for that game alone:
Happy anniversaries to the Cubs!
And now let’s none of us think about the fact that the Cubs cannot celebrate anything meaningful or special on the field today.