Chicago Cubs: Ranking the top 10 home runs of the decade

Chicago Cubs: Hard to forget one of the greatest walk off homers of all time.

#7 Javy decks the Cards

Before the pennant and World Series in 2016, the 2015 NLDS victory over the St. Louis Cardinals was really the biggest accomplishment of the Chicago Cubs franchise since 1945. Think about it, it was only their second playoff series victory since 1908 and it was against their biggest and oldest nemesis.

The series-clinching game at Wrigley Field on October 13, 2015 got off to a rough start for the home team when they fell behind 2-0 early. However they began to rally in the bottom of the second facing future-Cub John Lackey.

With a run in and two on, Javier Baez swung at Lackey’s first offering and drove a 94 MPH fastball the other way into the right field bleachers to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead. It was Javy’s first career postseason homer and a complete game-changer.

#6 Bryant starts the comeback

Our first World Series homer on the list.

Down 3-1 in the series and 1-0 in the fourth inning of Game 5, the Cubs were 18 outs away from elimination. Wrigley was quiet as the dreams of the first World Series win in 108 years were fading fast. Eventual NL MVP Kris Bryant stepped up against Trevor Bauer.

1-1 pitch, *crank*. The ball sailed into left center field and just over the wall for a game-tying solo shot. The 41,711 spectators roared with a thunderous cheer that could be heard blocks away. Wrigley was alive again. This was the turning point in the series as the Cubs not only rallied for two more runs in the inning and win the game, they would never trail the series again.

#5 SANTA MARIA!

Every kid who plays baseball dreams of hitting an epic walk-off home run in the majors. Imagine the ultimate walk-off hitting a grand slam down by three with two outs…well that is exactly what David Bote did on August 12, 2018 against the Washington Nationals.

A nationally televised game on ESPN saw the Cubs and Nationals play in a fairly important game as both teams were chasing postseason spots. Max Scherzer shut out the Cubs through seven and trailed 3-0 heading to the ninth inning with Nats reliever Ryan Madson on the mound to get the final three outs.

A single and two HBP would load the bases with two outs for pinch-hitter David Bote. It was veteran vs. rookie for all the marbles. Bote was patient and worked a 2-2 count before he swung at a 95-mph at the bottom of the zone and drove it to deep center.

The ball bounced off the green batter’s eye as Bote sprinted around the bases with and entire stadium going absolutely nuts around him. Bote’s third career home run was one for the history books and no doubt the best regular season walk-off homer in a very long time.