Chicago Cubs: Top 5 moments of the golden era of Cubs baseball

Chicago Cubs: Top 5 moments of the Golden Era – Honorable mentions

5. Javier Baez Wild Card game-tying RBI double

At the end of the 2018 season, the Cubs found themselves in a rather precarious spot. After losing Game 163 (and the NL Central) at home to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs played host to the Colorado Rockies for a Wild Card clash at Wrigley. In the eighth inning with the score 1-0 Rockies, Javier Baez delivered a crowd-erupting RBI double to tie the game. Unfortuantely, the Cubs ultimately fell short.

4. The entire 2016 NLDS

Starting with Game 1, when Javier Baez deposited a Johnny Cueto pitch into the left-field basket, and ending with an amazing late-inning rally, the 2016 NLDS saw it all. With the Cubs losing 5-2 and looking at a potential must-win Game 5 scenario, Bryant started a ninth-inning rally with a single, followed by a Rizzo walk and Zobrist RBI double. Willson Contreras singled to tie the game and Baez rocketed one up the middle to complete the comeback. Chapman slammed the door in the bottom half of the inning, sending the Cubs to the NLCS for the second year in a row.

3. Jake Arrieta two no-hitters

In 2015 during Arrieta’s historic season in which he closed out the second half with a 0.75 ERA, his crowning achievement came when facing the Dodgers. He secured his first of two no-hitters after beating LA 2-0. His second came just 11 starts after his first, dominating Cincinnati in a game in which the Cubs offense also unloaded, beating the Reds 16-0.

2. The Kris Bryant game

On June 27, 2016, Bryant had a historic game which still goes down as one of the best offensive displays of all time to this day. The eventual NL MVP launched three home runs and added a pair of doubles while driving in six in the process. Bryant became the first player ever in the Modern Era to deliver three home runs and two doubles in one game at the plate.

1. Kris Bryant wins MVP

After winning Rookie of the Year in 2015, Bryant went on to win MVP in 2016 after slashing .292/.385/.554 with 39 home runs and 102 runs batted in. The Cubs slugger also earned his second consecutive All-Star nod. By the end of 2016, Bryant was on top of the baseball world, especially after the team erased a title drought that had spanned more than a century.