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3 critical members of the 2003 Cubs you probably forgot about

There was a lot more to this team than Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.

By Jake Misener |
/ Jonathan Daniel/GettyImages
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This week marks the 20th anniversary of the infamous 2003 NLCS, marred for Cubs fans by memories of an ill-fated foul ball and an error by Alex Gonzalez that led to the team's complete unraveling in Game 6.

Looking back at that season now is a lot easier with the 2016 World Series championship in tow. But there's a lot more to talk about than Steve Bartman, Moises Alou and the Cubs' two-headed monster of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior atop the rotation. Here are 3 guys who played key roles for that team who deserve a little more appreciation after all these years.

3 critical members of the 2003 Cubs you probably forgot about - #3: Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton, known for his time with the Cleveland Indians in the 1990s, came to the Cubs at the trade deadline in 2003, giving Dusty Baker a table-setter atop the order for the stretch run. The speedy outfielder was everything the team hoped for, hitting 13 doubles, swiping a dozen bags and batting .327 in 56 games.

He brought that same reliability to the postseason, especially in the NLCS against the Marlins, when he slashed hit .323 with a .382 on-base percentage in the seven-game series. The fact he had played for Baker the prior year with the Giants, advancing to the World Series before falling to the Angels, surely helped - as the bright lights of the postseason seemed to have little effect on the veteran.

3 critical members of the 2003 Cubs you probably forgot about - #2: Matt Clement

Boy, talk about being overshadowed. Now, don't get me wrong. Matt Clement was a far cry from the likes of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the two arms everyone believed would help carry the Cubs back to the promised land. But to have a chance to play deep into October, teams need pitching depth and that's what Clement delivered for Baker and Chicago all season long.

The right-hander surpassed 200 innings, something that was fairly common 20 years ago but is a rarity in today's game (only 5 pitchers in MLB accomplished that feat in 2023), making 32 starts and winning 14 games with a 4.11 ERA. The 28-year-old was never anything flashy, but was a solid contributor not just in 2003, but for all of his three years with the Cubs.

From 2002-2004, Clement made 94 starts, racking up 587 2/3 innings of 3.80 ERA ball. After struggling in a lone NLDS start against Atlanta in 2003, he bounced back with a quality start in Game 4 opposite Dontrelle Willis, pulling the Cubs to within one win of the pennant.

3 critical members of the 2003 Cubs you probably forgot about - #1: Mark Grudzielanek

If you're a spelling buff and looking to make someone question their knowledge of the English language, Mark Grudzielanek is right up there with Jeff Samardzija as far as difficulty goes. While the latter is certainly remembered more by Cubs fans, the former was a key cog on the 2003 Cubs.

Grudzielanek came to the Cubs on the heels of the 2002 season along with Eric Karros in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team's primary second baseman during that unforgettable 2003 campaign, Grudzielanek was actually the team's second-most valuable position player in terms of bWAR, bested only by slugging outfielder Sammy Sosa.

The veteran infielder hit .314 with 38 doubles on the year, but his bat went cold in the postseason. He batted just .150 in the Division Series and .200 in the NLCS. But over the course of the season, he was a staple in the Cubs infield, turning in one of the best seasons of his 15-year MLB career.

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