Chicago Cubs: Was 2019 or 2004 the more painful collapse?

The collapse of this year’s Chicago Cubs team was undoubtedly painful. It also brought up memories of the 2004 meltdown. Which one was worse?

As the Chicago Cubs fell apart late this year, I couldn’t help but think back to the 2004 season, when the team also choked down the stretch and lost out on a playoff spot.

Back then, I was a 19-year-old kid in college, still relatively naive about Cubs history (though I had watched the NLCS slip away against the Florida Marlins the previous year). I took it pretty hard, maybe even as I hard as I did the end of 2003.

Now, at 34 years old, I’ve watched Chicago again squander away a playoff spot in stunning fashion. I’d like to think I’m more mature now and am able to take the 2019 collapse with more perspective. Still, given that the Cubs were in control of a playoff spot not that long ago, it was difficult to watch it all unfold.

For those of us old enough to remember 2004, which season was worse? Let’s look back at both.