Ranking my top 10 Chicago Cubs moments from the last 10 years

The last decade has brought some lifelong memories to Chicago Cubs fans.

Since 2010, there have been some great moments with the Chicago Cubs. From defensive plays that made your jaw hit the floor to hits that sent Wrigley into pandemonium. There are so many plays to choose from during this time, but I’m going to do my best to pick a Top 10.

Let’s get started.

Chicago Cubs – #10: Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS

In a pitching duel between Jon Lester and Johnny Cueto, Jon Lester came out victorious. Both pitchers and defenses were in a deep and heavy duel with no mistakes being made on either side. Johnny Cueto made his first mistake of the game in the 8th inning allowing Javier Baez to go yard off of him. Lester didn’t make any mistakes and the game was closed out by Aroldis Chapman.

Chicago Cubs – #9: Hendricks’ 81-pitch shutout vs Cardinals – 2019

This was just an amazing feat to watch. Being able to not have to worry about a team’s bats because of how great your starter pitched is great. With the Cardinals being aggressive early in the count because that is when he normally throws his strikes, every pitch was calculated. But the defense also backed Hendricks up with some great plays allowing him to stay comfortable and keep on putting on a show.

Chicago Cubs – #5: 2015 National League Wild Card game

Another Jake Arrieta performance makes the list. This one came in the wildest of Wild Card games. Coming into this game, in the regular season, Jake Arrieta won 22 games with a sub-2.00 ERA. Really, it was the year of Arrieta; he tossed his first no-no and won NL Cy Young honors.

Taking the ball against the Pirates at PNC Park in the Wild Card game, he struck out 11 total batters, let up just four hits, and didn’t walk anyone. While the game was won because of this, Kyle Schwarber launched a game-deciding home run into the Allegheny off Pittsburgh aceGerrit Cole and the Cubs were, at last, a force to reckon with.

Chicago Cubs  – #4: Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS

I remember being so scared of a seventh game against the Dodgers and bringing the 3-2 lead back to Chicago was huge. The entire city was abuzz with excitement over the prospects of a World Series.

With the Dodgers on their last leg, they went with their ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest. And the rest is history. Contreras and Rizzo both hit bombs off Kershaw, Kyle Hendricks probably pitched one of his best games ever and the double play to end the game will be engrained in every Cubs fan’s brain forever.

Chicago Cubs  – #3: Game 4 of the 2016 NLDS

Going into the ninth inning down 5-2 as a Cubs fan is usually the point where you’re just watching because there is nothing else on. But 2016 wasn’t a typical year – so instead of being down on ourselves we turned those hats inside out and stayed behind the Cubbies.

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The Chicago offense had been shut down by the San Francisco starters in the series – Madison Bumgarner and Matt Moore dominated the team. But against the bullpen it was a different story. After Moore was pulled that night, the Cubs put up four runs against five different relievers. And then Aroldis Chapman came in to close it out, striking out the side and sending the North Siders to the NCLS.

Chicago Cubs – #2: Game 4 of the 2015 NLDS

From Baez hitting a game-tying two-run home run early in the game to Rizzo’s go-ahead homer and Schwarber’s moon shot – this was a game I’ll never forget, a game for the Wrigley Field books.

I was lucky enough to attend this game and is definitely one of the best sports moments in my life. From the crowd chanting “LACKEY” to the pandemonium of the last pitch. The win coming against the rival Cardinals seemed to be the unofficial changing of the guard atop the NL Central.

Chicago Cubs – #1: That magical Game 7

The night 108 years of drought came to an end. Dexter Fowler’s leadoff home run. David Ross’ last at-bat being a homerun. The ‘oh no here we go again’ when Rajai Davis hit the home run. The rain delay? This can’t be true.

Everything just seemed to be lining up to add to the list of the Billy Goat, the Black Cat, Steve Bartman. But the Cubs pulled it off and won the World Series behind a pep talk from a guy who we thought wasn’t worth the money.