3 critical members of the 2003 Cubs you probably forgot about

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.