In late 1998, the Cubs were chasing a playoff spot for the very first time in nearly a years, all versus the background of Kerry Woods breakout rookie season, Sammy Sosa and the crowning achievement chase, and an overall actually appealing Cubs lineup.
One other young player breaking out that year was an outfielder named Brant Brown. If you remember him, it isnt since he struck.291/.348/.501 (120 wRC+) that year, but rather due to the fact that of among the most infamous plays in recent Cubs memory.
A regular fly ball with 2 outs in the 9th inning, the bases filled, and the Cubs up 2 runs … becomes a walk-off:
If you do not desire to leave things on a down note, Ive got two positive things for you: (1) the Brown trade netted the Cubs Jon Lieber, who was excellent for them over 4 years; and (2) Brown ultimately became a coach, worked his method up, entered the Dodgers company a few years earlier, and is now their hitting coach. How about that?
Simply do not let him demonstrate any outfield drills …
Obviously the Cubs went on to make it through a Game 163 versus the Giants and still make the playoffs, however at the time of the drop, it felt like Brown had simply lost the Cubs season. If you require that context.), (Listen to Ron Santos popular reaction.
The worst part of the tale is that Brown was traded to the Pirates that offseason, and his profession ended from there. He was brutal at the plate for the Pirates in 1999, was traded to the Marlins for a brutal half-season in 2000, and then in fact came back to the Cubs in trade for another brutal half season to end up out 2000. Which was it.
