"Reflection: September 13, 1998"

Allow me to paint a picture for you, shall I?

It's one of the last days in the summer of 1998, and I was in the mere age of seven, innocent and skating by in a stress-free, work-free lifestyle. I just started First Grade, a time when school was actually enjoyable and something to look forward to. The family had decided to buy a vacation to Florida for that October just a few weeks prior, a trip everyone, from my mother, my sister, grandma, grandpa, and Uncle Tom, all except my father, would attend, my first time ever on a REAL vacation. Chicago sports had taken a beating, dismantling the Chicago Bulls dynasty, no real interest in Blackhawks hockey anymore, the Bears were losing, the White Sox were subpar. But there was one ray of hope, yes, you guessed it. My Cubs were winning, for the first time in the three years I had been watching them, in the magical fairy tale season that was 1998.

Today was Sunday, September 13, 1998. Typically on Sundays, my mother, sister, and I would head over to the grandparents' house for a lunch / dinner around three in the afternoon, and I'd spend most of my time with my grandpa and uncle over the summer watching Cubs games on WGN, as the aroma of pork, perogi, sometimes saurkraut or cauliflour, and my favorite dish of my grandmother's, mashed potatoes, filled the air as we awaited the feast. This Sunday was no different, except for the fact that at it's standard 1:20 PM start, we didn't know history would be made.

Let's recap the first two games of this series. The Wild Card leading Cubs began a series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, September 11, 1998 at Wrigley Field. The team, at this point, needed to win as many games as possible in order to stand pat in the race, as the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants showed no signs of slowing down at this point. The Cubs had a solid 82-66 record, by far exceeding expectations for the season, but the Brewers were in fourth place in the NL Central and essentially out of contention, so they were playing the spoiler. This was also special, not to mention, because of Sammy Sosa's status in the Great Home Run Race of '98, standing at 58 and could likely catch up to leader Mark McGwire (62) by weekend's end.

Sparks flew in the first game that Friday, sadly resulting in a 13-11 victory for the Brewers. Don Wengert pitched only two and a third, allowing five Milwaukee runs, but his replacement, Rodney Myers was no better, giving up four. The Cubs burned through a whopping six relievers in the loss, but the Cubs did fight, with homers by Gary Gaetti (15th), Jason Maxwell (1st), and at no surprise, Sammy Sosa (59th), snapping a five game homer-less streak.

The second game was even more of a thriller, starting off poorly once again for the Chicago Cubs. Mike Morgan surrendered eight runs in three innings, allowing homers to Geoff Jenkins, Jeromy Burnitz, and Bobby Hughes. By the bottom of the seventh, Milwaukee led the Cubs 12-5, but an offensive explosion by the Cubs brought them within just three (courtesy of a three-run homer by Sammy Sosa, now standing at 60 on the year). The Cubs eventually tied it and took the game to the bottom of the ninth, still trailing, this time 12-10. The Cubs tied it up with punch base hits, but the big hit was a pinch-hit, three-run homer by Orlando Merced, thrusting the Cubs to a shocking 15-12 victory.

Could the series possibly get anymore exciting? It was tied 1-1 going into Sunday the 13th, with both teams scoring a combined 51 runs in the series alone (by then the third highest run total for one series in the 1998 season, with one more game to go). You wouldn't believe it, but damnit, it did. It was "Gracie the Swan" promotional giveaway day, where swan Beanie Babies were given out in commemoration of Cubs legendary first baseman Mark Grace. Grandpa, Uncle Tom, and I expressed our interest in wanting to be there amidst the 87 degree Indian summer North Side heat, sadly it was the hottest ticket in Chicago since the NBA Finals that past June.

It started off negatively once again, with Steve Trachsel starting the game off by giving up a solo home run to Mark Loretta in the first, making it 1-0. Things didn't get any better as Milwaukee would go up 2-0 on pesky base hits by the bottom of the third. But in that bottom half of the inning, the Cubs offense powered it's way to a six run inning, thanks to hits by Mickey Morandini, Scott Servais, Jose Hernandez, Glenallen Hill, and Gary Gaetti, and even doubles by pitcher Steve Trachsel and Mark Grace, playing surprising small-ball instead of the usual, powerful approach the team had normally taken. The Cubs led 6-2.

Trachsel, however, was ready to let that slip. After retiring Jeff Cirillo, he gave up Jeromy Burnitz's 36th homer of the season, making it a 6-3 score. Things were silent from here on out until the bottom of the fifth, where Mark Grace singled to set-up Sammy Sosa's third at-bat of the game. All eyes were on Chicago's latest hero to bring the Cubs ahead further, and he didn't disappoint. Sosa hammered a 480 foot blast to left field (I agree with Steve Stone's assessment of the distance being "grossly understated") for #61 on the season, tying Roger Maris' former single-season record (broken by McGwire just five days prior). The Cubs were now ahead 8-3. Seemed like a good lead, but the way the series had been, nothing was ever set in stone. In the top of the sixth, after retiring Dave Nilsson, Trachsel surrendered a home run to Jeff Cirillo, closing the gap within four runs. Then the Brewers led off the top of the seventh with a home run by Bobby Hughes, making the score 8-5.

Exit Steve Trachsel, enter Terry Mulholland, retiring the rest of the Brewers easily. After Chris O'Donnell gave a quote-unquote "stirring" rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," the Cubs stepped in, still ahead, and Sosa led off. He struck out, and the place became silent as the Cubs were retired aside from one walk to Glenallen Hill. The top of the eighth was vital for the Brewers, as they scored four runs off Mulholland, all on punchy base hits. Suddenly, the Brewers were ahead 9-8. The bottom of the Cubs' eighth was quiet. Guys got on base but failed to score. The top of the ninth saw Jeff Cirillo hitting another home run, this time off Cub newcomer Chris Haney. Brewers went up 10-8 by the end of the inning.

Now is when the REAL fun begins. It's the bottom of the ninth. Crunch time. The shadow-line had already crossed the infield as the game surpasses it's standard three-hour run-time. The Cub fans, who would've usually left by now in the 1997 season (since a loss could be expected), are staying not only to see Sammy Sosa anymore, but to also see their beloved Cubbies pull out their 84th win of the year and maintain first in the Wild Card race.

After Grace led off and grounded out, it was Sosa turn, millions of eyes outside of the 40,000 strong at Wrigley around the world surrounding him, awaiting history to be made. He didn't disappoint, as he smacked one of the longest home runs I'd ever seen in my days at Wrigley Field, hit into the alley outside of left-center field (another grossly underestimated 480 feet). This would be one of the most touching moments I'd ever seen in a baseball game. Tears filled the eyes of Sammy Sosa, the fans at Wrigley Field, my mother, myself, and I think my grandfather, over such an accomplishment for such a tremendous hero. Yes, in future years Sosa would alienate his fanbase away from him and turn into a serious egomaniac, but here, he was just the little guy, succeeding and beating the odds, before the success got to him. He was the guy who cared more about his team winning than his own record, the guy who gave his millions to people who needed it more than he did. Suddenly, this guy was a superstar, who put up numbers as if he were a machine, but his tears proved he was human after all. Without question, the greatest moment I'd ever seen on a baseball field in my lifetime, and after a whopping three curtain calls, the game continued, in front of 40,000 roaring fans.

There was still baseball to be played though. Sosa's homer put the Cubs only within one of Milwaukee, and the injured pinch-hitter Henry Rodriguez dug in and doubled on the first pitch, admirably limping into second base. Chip Caray had stated amidst the excitement (and excited himself) that "My grandfather said in the fourth game of the 1964 season that the Cardinals would win the World Series. Well, as crazy as it sounded then, you get the feeling that this may just be our year..." Jason Maxwell pinch-ran, and on a 2-2 count, Gary Gaetti slapped a single up the middle which scored Maxwell and tied the game. 10-10. Un-be-lievable. It was a mob scene at the ballpark no one ever expected to see in 1998. It's safe to say it was the most ambitious and positive I've ever seen that ballpark in my entire life.

The game would go to extra innings, and Rod Beck (Shooter, if you will), our excellent closer with 50 saves, comes in and shuts down the Brewers 1-2-3 in the top of the tenth. It was the Cubs' chance to pull out a victory in the bottom of the inning. After Lance Johnson and Jose Hernandez lost their at-bats, Mark Grace dug in with two outs, and on "Gracie the Swan" day, he caps off the legendary game in perfect fashion, by delivering a solo blast into the streets in right field to win the game for the Cubs, final score 11-10. As "Celebration" played in the background, the team carried Sammy Sosa on their shoulders as they walked off Wrigley, and with a final curtain call by Mark Grace, the game was officially over. But the fans stuck around, and I'm not sure if anyone knows how long the folks actually stuck around...

I don't care what ANY Cubs fan says, that was single-handedly the best series ever at Wrigley Field and possibly Cubs history. The excitement, the drama, the back-and-forth of the score, the playoff atmosphere, the "90 Mile Rivalry" (as I call it) with the Brewers, the magic of the home run race, the magic of the Wild Card race. It was single-handedly a story-book series, one that must NEVER be forgotten by Cubs fans. And probably wouldn't.

I'll never forget the end of the game, my grandfather said to me "Remember this game, and remember this series. You'll never see another one like it ever again. I know I haven't." And he was right. I have yet to see something as exciting as that mid-September series on the North Side. When teams combine to score 72 runs in a three game series, you know it's something special. Steve Stone's "offensive onslaught" description seems rather fitting, eh?

The last game was the greatest Cub game I'd ever seen in my life. It capped off a magical series perfectly, with pieces of history thrown in there and an ending that you could only write in a book. September 13, 1998 is easily one of the finest memories of my entire life, even for being so young. Thanks to the Cubs Legends DVD box set, I was able to relive the memory today. Certainly not the sunny, 87 degree day it was ten years ago, but nevertheless, the chills ran down my spine when Chip Caray would call the home runs and the end of the game, as they were just as vibrant as they were this day ten years ago.

Probably the best baseball experience I ever shared with my grandfather and uncle, and probably the best experience to date. Hard to believe a regular season game tops off all the playoff victories and clinchers I'd seen, but there was something in the air that day, and something magical about that 1998 season, that makes it's memory so valuable. And I'm damn proud to have been around long enough to remember it and respect it the way I do today.

-Zach