www abdopublishing com Published by Abdo Publishing a division of ABDO PO Box 398166 Minneapolis Minnesota 55439 Copyright 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group Inc International copyrights reserved in all countries No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher SportsZone is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing Printed in the United States of America North Mankato Minnesota 052014 092014 Editor Chrös McDougall Copy Editor Nicholas Cafarelli Interior Design and Production Kazuko Collins Cover Design Christa Schneider Photo Credits Mark Duncan AP Images cover Photo File MLB Photos via Getty Images 1 John Bazemore AP Images 4 43 bottom Morry Gash AP images 7 Jonathan Daniel Getty Images 9 National Baseball Hall of Fame Library MLB Photos via Getty Images 10 15 42 top and bottom FPG Getty Images 13 AP Images 16 19 21 23 24 27 42 middle Isaac Sutton Ebony Collection via AP Images 29 43 top Focus on Sport Getty Images 31 John Swart FILE AP Images 32 Mark Elias AP Images 35 Mark A Duncan AP Images 36 43 middle Brian Kersey AP Images 39 Al Behrman AP Images 41 Kent Horner AP Images 44 Charles Rex Arbogast AP Images 47 Library of Congress Control Number 2014932904 Cataloging-in-Publication Data Castle George Chicago Cubs by George Castle p cm Inside MLB Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-1-62403-464-0 1 Chicago Cubs Baseball team History Juvenile literature I Title GV875 C6C25 2015 796 357’640977311 dc23 2014932904
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Breaking the Curse 4 Chapter 2 Becoming the Cubs 10 Chapter 3 The Cubs Golden Era 16 Chapter 4 The Second Wrigley 24 Chapter 5 Coming Close Again 32 Chapter 6 Still Trying to Get Back 36 Timeline 42 Quick Stats 44 Quotes and Anecdotes 45 Glossary 46 For More Information 47 Index 48 About the Author 48
CHAPTER 1 BREAKING THE CURSE
T he 2003 Chicago Cubs were not expected to be a serious contender for a World Series title Under new manager Dusty Baker they hung around 500 until early September Then they caught fire A pitching staff led by Mark Prior and Kerry Wood sud denly became one of the best in Major League Baseball MLB After some inconsistency the Cubs lineup became more pro ductive too The Cubs started September by going 8 1 As the month and season came to a close they were right in the mix for the National League NL Central Division title f K g f f ld Extra Support Extra Support Extra Support Extra Support On July 23 2003 the Cubs landed On July 23 2003 the Cubs lande On July 23 2003 the Cubs landed On July 23 2003 the Cubs landed third baseman Aramis Ramirez and third baseman Aramis Ramirez and third baseman Aramis Ramirez and center fielder Kenny Lofton from center fielder Kenny Lofton from center fielder Kenny Lofton from the Pittsburgh Pirates for third the Pittsburgh Pirates for third the Pittsburgh Pirates for third baseman Jose Hernandez and t o baseman Jose Hernandez and two baseman Jose Hernandez and two minor leaguers Ramirez and Lofton minor leaguers Ramirez and Lofton sparked the Cubs to within five outs sparked the Cubs to within five outs sparked the Cubs to within five outs sparked the Cubs to within five outs of the World Series Lofton hit 327 of the World Series Lofton hit 327 of the World Series Lofton hit 327 wwith a 381 on-base percentage in 56 with a 381 on-base percentage in 56 games Ramirez had 15 home runs games Ramirez had 15 home runs games Ramirez had 15 home runs games Ramirez had 15 home runs and drove in 39 runs in 63 games and drove in 39 runs in 63 games and drove in 39 runs in 63 games Lofton left the team after the 2003 Lofton left the team after the 2003 Lofton left the team after the 2003 season Ramirez went on to star in season Ramirez went on to star in season Ramirez went on to star in Chicago for several years Chicago for several years p Mark Prior reacts after getting an out in Game 2 of the 2003 NL Mark Prior reacts after getting an out in Game 2 of the 2003 NL Championship Series against the Florida Marlins Championship Series against the Florida Marlins BREAKING THE CURSE 5
