CHICAGO — Move over Halloween, the Cubs are back in the playoffs for the first time in five years and fans hope October turns into Cubtober.
With the club looking to march past the Padres in the Wild Card to set up a marquee divisional matchup with Milwaukee, let’s take a look at some of the best moments in Cubs’ playoff history.
Whether it’s a specific moment or an inning or game, here’s 10 of the best.
Cubs comeback in Game 4 of 2016 NLDS
San Francisco’s ace Madison Bumgarner was waiting in the wings for Game 5 of the 2016 NLDS back at Wrigley Field and things were bleak heading into 9th inning of Game 4.
Down three runs, KB singled, Rizzo walked and then Ben Zobrist punched a ball down the right field line.
Just kids at the time, Wilson Contreras and Javy Baez tied and put the Cubs ahead with clutch singles up the middle. The club went on to win 6-5 to set up a showdown with the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Baez homers off Lackey in 2015 NLDS against Cardinals
Wrigley was absolutely shaking after Baez hit a three-run home run off John Lackey in Game 4 of the 2015 NLDS. As the broadcast noted, it wasn’t a bad pitch — Javy just extended in only a way “El Mago” could.
Joining in chanting “Lackey, Lackey” directly after was a religious experience. People forget that after allowing two runs in the first, Cubs starter Jason Hammel hit an RBI single up the middle with two outs to set up the homer.
Schwarber goes off the scoreboard, 2015 Game 4 NLDS
Flash forward five innings and one of the most iconic homers in Wrigley Field history happened.
Kyle Schwarber launched a bomb in the bottom of the 7th hit the top of the newly-installed right field scoreboard off the Cardinals.
The ball was encased at the top and the Cubs went on the win 6-4.
Cubs beat Kershaw to win 2016 pennant at home
The energy walking to the ballpark was electric on a warm late October afternoon in 2016.
The Cubs had one of the best pitchers ever, Clayton Kershaw, in their way. “Kershaw, Kershaw” chants erupted from the bleachers when he was warming up on the field.
A little bit later he was in hell during the first inning, giving up two runs. The Cubs went on to win 5-0, capturing the club’s first pennant since 1945.
Kerry Wood homers in Game 7 of 2003 NLCS
Alex Gonzalez and Steve Bartman were the villains of the infamous Game 6 collapse, but Game 7 still offered hope.
It was dashed in the first after the Marlins put up three runs on a young Miguel Cabrera home run, but Woody stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the second and unleashed a bomb to the left field bleachers.
Chaos ensued but it was short lived.
Schwarber hits ball into Allegheny
“Whatever helps keep your hope alive, just know, it doesn’t matter,” Jake Arrieta on Twitter circa Oct. 4, 2015.
Gerrit Cole, 98 wins, it did not matter. The Pirates had no chance to beat the Cubs in the 2015 NL Wild Card game and Kyle Schwarber punched an early exclamation mark by crushing a ball in the third inning into the Allegheny River.
The Pirates were shut out.
Cubs dominate Scherzer in 2017 NLDS
The Cubs played with a self-admitted hangover from the World Series win in the first half of 2017. They finally kicked it into gear in the back half and had a chance as great as anyone to repeat.
That year, future hall-of-famer Max Scherzer was at his peak and the Nationals had him pitch in relief in the 5th inning. You may expected him to shut the Cubs down — the opposite happened.
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Cubs 1984 NLCS Game 1
Ask any Cubs fan of a certain age and they still have a deep distain for Steve Garvey. Prior to that awful series of events in San Diego, the Cubs got off to a great start in Game 1 — completely blowing out the Padres during a day game at Wrigley 13-0.
Even “Big Red” homered, watch below.
Montero’s 2016 NLCS Grand Slam
The anxiety in the stands of Game 1 of the 2016 NLCS was palpable. It was a low scoring game until the Dodgers tied it in the top of the 8th 3-3.
With two outs, backup catcher Miguel Montero stepped to the plate, worked a great at-bat and then launched an absolute missile off Joe Blanton for a grand slam.
Cubs win the 2016 World Series
The 2016 World Series win transcended sports and was a cultural event not only for Chicago, but for America. The tears, the pure joy felt by millions, the parade — all of it makes it hard to believe we’re coming up on ten years.
Time for the Cubs to do it again.
