Chicago Cubs: Who were the five best players on the 1998 team?

Chicago Cubs – #3: There was more to Trachsel than serving up history

When people talk about 1998 and right-hander Steve Trachsel, it’s more than likely because he was the man on the mound when Big Mac clobbered his record-breaking 62nd home run, toppling the then-home run record of 61, set by Roger Maris.

But there was a lot more to Trachsel’s 1998 season than that one moment. The 27-year-old ranked third on the club with 208 innings of work, going 15-8 on the year. He made 33 starts and was a horse alongside fellow rotation members Mark Clark and Kevin Tapani.

Trachsel was masterful in the month of July, going undefeated in five starts with a 2.56 ERA. Given the era, turning in those kind of numbers was particularly impressive. Down the stretch, though, he struggled – but was still undoubtedly a critical piece to the puzzle for Jim Riggleman and the 1998 Cubs.