On April 2, 2007, the Tribune Company announces that they will sell the Chicago Cubs at the conclusion of the season. The Tribune Co. had purchased the franchise for $20.5 million in 1981. Analysts predict that the company can fetch as much as $600 million for the team, which hasn’t won a World Series since 1918.
On June 10, 2005 For the first time in nearly 90 years, the Red Sox play the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The two teams which have had the fates influenced by curses last met in the 1918 World Series, won by Boston behind the solid pitching of Babe Ruth. The Cubs beat the Red Sox‚…
In the first matchup between 300-game winners in almost 18 years, Greg Maddux outduels Roger Clemens in the Chicago Cubs’ 3 – 2 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The last such showdown occurred in 1987 when Don Sutton of the California Angels defeated Steve Carlton of the Minnesota Twins. Maddux earns his first win of season and 306th of his career, allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings.
2005 – The Cubs trade reliever Kyle Farnsworth (4-5, 4.73) and a player to be named to the Tigers in exchange for pitcher Roberto Novoa (1-1, 5.09) and minor leaguers Scott Moore and Bo Flowers. Farnsworth’s inconsistency out of the bullpen last season made him very unpopular with the Wrigley Field fans.
The trade that sent Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles from the Chicago Cubs is finalized after Commissioner Bud Selig approves the deal and the slugger passes his physical. Chicago receives second baseman Jerry Hairston, Jr. and two minor leaguers, then signs Jeromy Burnitz as a free agent to replace Sosa in right field.
2004 – After refusing a $60 million, four-year contract extension from the Boston Red Sox the previous winter, Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, the team he was traded to in 2004, for $8 million. The All-Star shortstop, who is coming off an injury-plagued season, can increase the value of the contract up to $11 million with bonus incentives based on performance and playing time.
The long-anticipated trade of Nomar Garciaparra is finally accomplished as the Red Sox shortstop is traded to the Cubs in a four-team deal which includes the Twins and Expos. Chicago first acquires shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Expos for shortstop Alex Gonzalez, relief pitcher Francis Beltran and minor leaguer Brendan Harris. They then pry 1B Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins for minor league southpaw Justin Jones. Finally, Chicago flips its two new acquisitions to the Bosox for Garciaparra, prospect Matt Murton and cash.
In one of the most remarkable at-bats in big league history, Alex Cora fouls off 14 consecutive pitches and then hits the 18th thrown to him by the Cubs’ Matt Clement over the right-field fence for a two-run home run which doubles LA’s lead to 4-0. The Dodger Stadium crowd cheered each foul ball, watching the increasing total displayed on the scoreboard.
With hundreds of onlookers, including a man covered in ivy, singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, the foul ball made famous by Steve Bartman in the 2003 NLCS playoffs is blown up at Harry Caray’s restaurant in Chicago. The infamous ball’s demise is executed by Cubs’ die-hard fan Michael Lantieri, an Oscar Award winner who has worked on similar special effects in the movies Jurassic Park and Back to the Future.
test On October 14, 2003, At Wrigley Field, three walks, three singles, three doubles, an error, and one ball grabbed by a fan- Steve Bartman – lead to a stunning 8-3 loss for the Cubs in Game Six of the NLCS against the Florida Marlins. With Chicago leading 3-0 in the eighth inning at Wrigley…