Chicago Cubs Brief History
The Chicago Cubs won their 1st division title in fourteen years in 2003, and their NLDS win over the Braves was the team's 1st postseason series victory since 1908. The team then took a three-games-to-one lead over the Marlins, and it appeared the Cubs would reach the WS for the 1st time in fifty-eight years.
The Chicago Cubs seemed to be in their best form in 2006, but an injury to All-Star 1B Derrek Lee sent them into a tailspin of historic proportions. In early May, the Chicago Cubs set a franchise record for offensive futility by scoring only thirteen runs in eleven matches. On 2 separate occasions within one month, the Chicago Cubs tied a team record by allowing eight home runs in a single match. On July 16, 2006, the Chicago Cubs had a 5-2 lead over the NL record leading Mets before giving up an eleven-run rally to them in the 6th inning, eight of which were scored on grand slams by Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran. The Chicago Cubs finished the season 66-96.
After a rough start during the 1st half of the 2006-2007 season, the Chicago Cubs were able to overcome the Milwaukee Brewers through an inspired stretch of baseball during the first two summer months. The Brewers had led the division for most of the season. After a less-than-impressive August 2007, the Chicago Cubs got over the hump at the beginning of the fall, clinching the Central Division on September 28 in Cincinnati. The team insured their 1st post-season campaign since the disastrous playoffs in 2003. The Chicago Cubs will go on to the Playoffs only to be swept by the Diamondbacks in the 1st round. The Cubs ended the 2006-2007 Season much like the previous ninety-nine years, with disappointment and hope that next year will be the year.