Fragile (or not)
Happy 65th Birthday Lou Piniella!
I put together some historical perspecitve on how solid or fragile things can be now that the 2008 Cubs are 83-50 (+33) and have the best record in baseball.
The 1984 Cubs finished in first place at 96-65 (+31) and their high water mark was 90-58 (+32) on Sept. 15th.
Go, Dernier, Sandberg and Sutcliffe, Go.
They lost in the NLCS to San Diego, 3-2.
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The 1969 Cubs won their 5th in a row and were 84-52 (+32) on Sept 2nd. They had just beaten the Cincy Reds after an 8-2 win, still holding a 5 game lead over the Mets.
This was the high water mark for the season.
Go Williams, Santo and Banks, Go.
They proceeded to lose 8 in a row and 11-12.
They became one of the most remembered teams not to go to postseason competition.
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The last time the Cubs had a team that was above +33 games over .500 was 1945.
The 1945 Cubs were 83-50 on Sept 9th. They finished in 1st place at 98-56 (+42).
Go Phil Cavaretta and Hank Borowy, Go.
They lost to the Tigers in the WS, 4-3. The franchise' last appearance in the WS.
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The 1935 Cubs finished at 100-54 (+46), they were 83-52 on Sept 7th.
They had a 21 game winning streak in September including winning 21 of their last 23 games.
Go Gabby Hartnet and Charlie Root, Go.
They lost in the WS to the Tigers 4-2.
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The high water mark for the 1932 Cubs was 89-60 (+29) on Sept. 20.
Go Lon Warneke and Kiki Cuyler, Go.
They lost in the WS to the Yankees 4-0.
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The 1918 Cubs were 84-44 (+40) before losing the last game of that season.
Go Hippo Vaughn, Go.
They lost to Babe Ruth's Redsox in the World Series, 4-2.
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The 1910 Cubs were 104-50 (+54) at season end to win the NL pennant.
Go King Cole, Go.
They lost to the Philadelphia A's in the WS, 4-1.
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The 1908 Cubs were 99-55 (+44) for the season...including the Merkel tie game.
They were 83-51 on Sept. 13th.
Go Tinker to Evers to Chance, Go.
They beat the Tigers in the World Series, 4-1.
Paradise Lost?
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The 1907 Cubs were 106-42 (+64) on Oct. 4th, at their high water mark with 4 games left in the season.
Go Heinie Zimmerman, Go.
They won the World Series, beating the Tigers 4-0-1.
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The 1906 Cubs were 116-36 (+80) at season finish. This is the franchise benchmark and the 116 wins was tied by Lou Piniella's Seattle Mariners in 2001 (116-46) although that team's high mark was "only" +71.
Go Mordecai Brown, Go.
They lost in the WS, 4-2 to the Chicago junior circuit franchise.
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