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The 1998 Chicago Cubs excited us all, for an array of different reasons

By Alexander Patt

28 Sep 1998: Members of the Chicago Cubs celebrate a victory over the San Francisco Giants by showering their manager Jim Riggleman with champagne following a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Giants 5-3. Mandatory Credit:
28 Sep 1998: Members of the Chicago Cubs celebrate a victory over the San Francisco Giants by showering their manager Jim Riggleman with champagne following a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Giants 5-3. Mandatory Credit: /
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Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allspor /

Chicago Cubs: The 1998 Cubs had some good players but some weaknesses.

Outside of Sosa and Wood, there were some other notable names on the squad. Longtime fan-favorite Mark Grace slashed .309/.401/.471 and Henry Rodriguez hit 31 homers. Mickey Morandini and former Cub-killer Jeff Blauser teamed up with veterans Gary Gaetti and Lance Johnson later in the season. As a team they slashed .264/.337/.433 which was right around league average.

On the pitching side, Wood was the brightest spot. No pitcher who made 20 or more starts other than Wood had an ERA below 4.46. The Cubs got 30 starts out of Kevin Tapani, Mark Clark and Steve Trachsel. However, we cannot write about the 1998 team without bringing up Rod “Shooter” Beck‘s 51-save performance that year, which was his career-best. As a team, the pitching staff had a 4.47 ERA and 1.424 WHIP which were both just below league average.

Put this in perspective, roughly 37 percent of the team’s 180 homers year belonged to Sosa. Wood’s 233 strikeouts made up roughly 19 percent of the team’s 1,207. Beck posted a 3.02 ERA which was second-best among qualifying relievers behind Terry Mulholland’s 2.89. Long story short, this team does not get close to the postseason without any of these guys.

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