1998 National League Wild Card tie-breaker game

1998 National League wild-card tie-breaker
Teams
Date September 28, 1998
Venue Wrigley Field
City Chicago
Umpires Bruce Froemming, Steve Rippley, Gary Darling, Mike Winters, Larry Poncino, Larry Vanover

The 1998 National League wild-card tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1998 regular season, played between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants to determine the winner of the National League (NL) wild card. The game took place at Wrigley Field in Chicago, on September 28, 1998. The Cubs won the game 5–3, holding the Giants scoreless for the majority of the game until the Giants threatened heavily in the ninth inning and scored all three of their runs. As a result of the game, the Cubs qualified for the postseason and the Giants did not.

The game was necessary after both teams finished the season with identical win–loss records of 89–73. The Cubs won a coin flip late in the season which, by rule at the time, awarded them home field for the game. This victory advanced the Cubs to the 1998 NL Division Series (NLDS) where they were swept by the Atlanta Braves, ending the Cubs' season. Michael Jordan, a popular Chicago sportsman then ending his career with the Chicago Bulls, threw the game's ceremonial first pitch. In baseball statistics, the tie-breaker counted as the 163rd regular season game for both teams, with all events in the game added to regular season statistics.

Background

The Chicago Cubs finished the previous season at the bottom of the Central division with a 68–94 record while the Giants won the West at 90–72, though were defeated by the eventual 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins in the NLDS. The Giants' Barry Bonds drew criticism for his postseason performance, which had been a recurring criticism dating back to his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[1] The Cubs made several offseason acquisitions following the 1997 season including trading Doug Glanville for second baseman Mickey Morandini along with signing Jeff Blauser and Henry Rodríguez as free agents.[2][3][4]

One notable event of the 1998 season was the race for the home run title and Roger Maris' single-season record of 61 home runs between the Cubs' Sammy Sosa and the Cardinals' Mark McGwire. McGwire ultimately won, setting a new record of 70 while Sosa closed the season with 66.[5] Bonds would top their totals with 73 home runs in 2001, setting the current record, while McGwire and Sosa's totals remain the second and third highest figures in MLB history.[5] Additionally, three teams finished the 1998 season within one game of one another in the race for the National League wild card: the Cubs, Giants, and New York Mets. This late-season race included a dramatic Cubs loss to the Brewers on September 23. The Cubs led 7–5 with two outs and the bases loaded for the Brewers in the bottom of the ninth inning when Brant Brown dropped a fly ball, allowing three unearned runs to score on his error and losing the Cubs the game.[6] This loss gained notoriety for announcer and former-Cub Ron Santo's call of the final play, yelling "Oh, no!" as the final runs scored.[7]

The Mets were tied with the Cubs and Giants in the wild-card race as late in the season as September 25 at 88–72.[8] However, the Mets lost their remaining two games and finished their season one game back of the Cubs and Giants who ended tied at 89–73.[9] This record was also the best non-division-winning record and as such a tie-breaker was necessary to determine the wild-card winner. A coin flip on September 14 gave the Cubs' home field advantage, setting Wrigley Field as the location for the game.[10] In the event of a three-way tie the Cubs were presented with the choice to either host two home games or receive a bye and play the winner of a Mets-Giants game on the road because they had the best combined record against the Mets and Giants.[10] Cubs' general manager Ed Lynch decided on the second option, though the choice was moot as the Mets fell out of the race.[10] The Cubs' Steve Trachsel and Mark Gardner of the Giants were slated to start the tie-breaker on the September 28.[11]

Game summary

An African American man in a white baseball uniform with "GIANTS" on the chest takes a left-handed baseball swing as a catcher kneels behind him to receive the pitch.
Barry Bonds had a poor offensive performance in the tie-breaker, twice making outs with the bases loaded en route to the worst win probability added for any player in the game. The authors of Game of Shadows allege that Bonds turned to performance-enhancing drugs after the 1998 season.

Box score for Monday September 28, 1998—7:10 p.m. (CT) at Wrigley Field in Chicago

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
San Francisco Giants 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 6 0
Chicago Cubs 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 X 5 10 0
WP: Steve Trachsel (15–8)   LP: Mark Gardner (13–6)   Sv: Rod Beck (51)
Home runs:
SFG: None
CHC: Gary Gaetti (19)

The game remained scoreless in the early innings, with only two baserunners apiece for each team through the first three innings. The Giants loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the 4th inning, but Brian Johnson struck out to end the inning. The first runs of the game came in the top of the 5th as Henry Rodriguez singled to lead off the inning and scored on a home run by Gary Gaetti to give the Cubs a 2–0 lead. The Cubs threatened again in the next inning with singles by Lance Johnson and Sammy Sosa. Rich Rodriguez relieved Gardner, but loaded the bases with a walk to Mark Grace and allowed a single to Matt Mieske which scored two more runs and extended the Cubs' lead to 4–0. John Johnstone relieved Rodriguez and closed the inning without further scoring.

After getting one out in the top of the 7th, Steve Trachsel allowed a single and a walk to pinch hitters Brent Mayne and Armando Ríos respectively. The Cubs double switched, bringing in Matt Karchner to relieve Trachsel and Orlando Merced to play left field. Karchner induced another out before loading the bases on a single by Shawon Dunston. Félix Heredia entered in relief of Karchner and got Barry Bonds to ground out to first base to end the inning. The Cubs further extended their lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. After Alvin Morman got Morandini to strike out to open the inning the Giants double switched to bring in José Mesa to pitch and Bill Mueller at third base. Mesa allowed a single to Sammy Sosa and a double to Mark Grace which advanced Sosa to third. Following a ground out Mesa threw a wild pitch while facing Gaetti and Sosa scored to make the game 5–0.

The Giants responded in the top of the 9th, scoring their only runs of the game. Kevin Tapani allowed successive singles to Brent Mayne and Mueller to open the inning before Terry Mulholland relieved him. Stan Javier singled to score Mayne and Ellis Burks then walked to load the bases. Bonds came to bat with the bases loaded for the second time in the game and lined out to deep right field, scoring Mueller on a sacrifice fly and Javier advanced to third base. Rod Beck entered and got successive outs by Jeff Kent, which scored Javier, and Joe Carter to end the game 5–3 for the Cubs.

Aftermath

Chicago's win clinched the team's 15th postseason berth in franchise history, their first in 9 years since losing in the 1989 National League Championship Series.[12] The Cubs' presence in the postseason, playing for a spot in the World Series, led several sportswriters to reference the Curse of the Billy Goat and the difficulties the Cubs' had faced since 1945.[13][14][15] The Billy Goat story suggests that Billy Sianis cursed the Cubs after he and his goat were asked to leave game four of the 1945 World Series.[16][17] The playoff berth matched the Cubs with the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, where the Cubs were swept three games to none. The Cubs have not made the World Series since 1945 and have not won a title since 1908.[12]

In baseball statistics tie-breakers count as regular season games, with all events in them added to regular season statistics.[10] For example, the Chicago Sun-Times noted that Sammy Sosa could have added to his notable home run total in the game.[10] Sosa did add to his league-leading strikeout total with one in the 4th inning.[18] Beck also added to his league-leading total in games played and earned his 51st save of the season which finished 2nd to Trevor Hoffman's 53 but is tied for the 9th highest single-season save total in MLB history.[19][20] Several Cubs and Giants won awards for their regular season performances including Rookie of the Year honors for Kerry Wood, a Silver Slugger Award for Sosa, and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for J. T. Snow.[21] Sosa also won the Most Valuable Player award, earning 30 out of 32 first place votes (with McGwire taking the remaining 2).[22]

Barry Bonds drew criticism after the game for his poor performance, including twice making an out with the bases loaded,[23] with some suggesting that Bonds often played poorly in "big games".[1][24] Bonds' 0–4 performance with an RBI and a strikeout earned him a −.186 win probability added (WPA), the lowest figure for any player in the game. WPA is a statistic which takes the game situation into account to quantify how a player altered his team's chances of winning. Bonds' figure translates into decreasing the Giants' chances of success by 18.6%. The book Game of Shadows, which details Bonds' suggested use of performance-enhancing drugs (PED), argues that Bonds grew jealous and resentful of the attention Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were given during their record chase. As a result, according to Game of Shadows, Bonds turned to weight training under Greg Anderson who began providing him with steroids and other PEDs following the 1998 season.[25]

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 Cruze, Tom (September 29, 1998). "Bye, Bonds: Giant lives down to playoff history". Chicago Sun-Times.
  2. ↑ "Mickey Morandini Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Jeff Blauser Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Henry Rodriguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Single-Season Leaders and Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ "September 23, 1998 Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  7. ↑ Behrens, Andy. "ESPN.com: Page 3 – 'This Old Cub': A tribute to Ron Santo". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2005.
  8. ↑ "Standings on Friday, September 25, 1998". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  9. ↑ "1998 National League Season Summary". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Ginnetti, Toni (September 25, 1998). "Cubs get bye with 3-way tie". Chicago Sun-Times.
  11. ↑ Podgorski, Al (September 28, 1998). "Magic number: 1 more; Cubs lose, but live to play again". Chicago Sun-Times.
  12. 1 2 "Chicago Cubs Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  13. ↑ Cruze, Tom (September 29, 1998). "At last, there's joy in Wrigleyville". Chicago Sun-Times.
  14. ↑ Domke, Ellen (September 29, 1998). "Brown can sleep easy after win". Chicago Sun-Times.
  15. ↑ Green, Michael; Cruze, Tom (September 29, 1998). "Hey, hey! Holy cow!; Blue Heavy; Cubs in playoffs for the first time in nine seasons". Chicago Sun-Times.
  16. ↑ Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelivable!. Chicago, Illinois: Triumph Books. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
  17. ↑ Gatto, Steve. Da Curse of the Billy Goat. Protar House, LLC. ISBN 0-9720910-4-1.
  18. ↑ "1998 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  19. ↑ "1998 National League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Saves". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  21. ↑ "1998 National League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  22. ↑ "1998 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  23. ↑ "September 28, 1998 San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  24. ↑ Gregor, Scot (September 29, 1998). "Once again, Bonds fails in the clutch". Chicago Daily Herald.
  25. ↑ Fainaru-Wada, Mark; Williams, Lance (2006). Game of Shadows. New York: Gotham Books. pp. 38–39.

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