Fun postseason broadcasting quirk could harken back to the beloved 1984 Cubs

The 1984 Chicago Cubs were a touch before my time. I wasn't born until 1991 - so my first Cubs heartbreak came in 2003 in the most dramatic fashion possible: the NLCS Game 6 meltdown and subsequent loss in Game 7 to end any hopes of a World Series appearance.

But for generations of Cubs fans, 1984 is the year that - even now - stands the test of time. The first postseason-bound Cubs team in nearly four decades, the Jim Frey-led and Dallas Green-assembled roster won 96 games, good for first place in the National League East.

The postseason looked very different back then. Just four teams, two from the AL and two from the NL, advanced to play in October. That year, the Cubs and San Diego Padres represented the Senior Circuit and on the other side of the bracket were the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. I don't need to tell you just how that Cubs-Padres series played out. Even those of us who weren't around for it are aware.

Cubs-Padres matchup brings back memories of the 1984 season

To bring it full circle, the Cubs and Padres are almost certain to meet next week in the Wild Card Series. The main question left now is whether that series is played at Petco Park or Wrigley Field. Regardless, we could have a tie to the '84 Cubs in the form of the network that broadcasts the three-game tilt.

As pointed out by the Chicago Sun-Times, ESPN carries the broadcast rights to all four Wild Card Series matchups - and one of the networks they'll utilize is ABC, the very same one that broadcast the Cubs-Padres matchup more than 40 years ago.

It's worth reminding Cubs fans who've somewhat begrudgingly come to adopt Marquee Sports Network in recent years that they won't find any of the team's postseason games there. The playoffs are broadcast nationally - and once the full schedule is released this weekend, we'll make sure to let you know where to find the Cubs (and the rest of the field) if you're looking to tune in.