By By STEVE MORRISON / Dowagiac Daily News
Here we go again! Cubs fever in the fall. How many times has your heart been broken at this time of year? Whether you're a "Baby-Boomer", or a baby, you just can't resist the occasional temptation of hope that the Chicago Cubs have give us, on a sporadic basis, to hope that this is "THE YEAR".
Start with 1969. "The Million Dollar Infield" – Ron Santo on third, Don Kessinger at shortstop, Glenn Beckert manning second, and "Mr. Cub', Ernie Banks, on first.
Let's not leave out "Sweet – Swinging' Billy Williams in left field and staff ace Fergie Jenkins, both future Hall-of- Famers. Reliever Dick Selma was the toast of the town, blowing kisses to the bikini-clad female "Bleacher Bums" while building his own fan club.
The darling Cubs had a nine game lead in August, but the hated New York Mets blew them out in September to reach and win the World Series, discarding the heavily- favored Baltimore Orioles from the title in the process. It was a collapse from which many Cubs fans found it hard to recover.
It took 15 years for the Cubs to reach close to the pinnacle of success again, 1984. The Cubs picked up Rick Sutcliffe in an early-season trade with the Cleveland Indians. Sutcliffe's 16-1 Cy Young effort helped the Cubs win the East. with a power-hitting line-up that featured Ron Cey, Leon Durham, Keith Moreland, Jody Davis, and "Ryno'…Ryne Sandberg, the record-setting second baseman. Sandberg almost willed the Northsiders into the playoffs with his remarkable performance on June 23rd. Sandberg homered twice that day off of Bruce Sutter, the former Cub closer, to set up a 12-11 win in 11 innings.
That victory seemed to inspire the team to an unyielding ascent to the playoffs.
Then, on a fateful Saturday night, Steve Garvey was "Live' as he ruined their season with a homer to tie the National League playoffs between the Cubs and the San Diego Padres at two games apiece.
The Cubs had bullied the Padres in the first two games in Chicago, winning the first one 13-1.The next day Leon "Bull" Durham let a sure double-pay ball snake through his legs. The Cubs blew the lead in the game, and the playoffs.
Fast-forward to 1989. Led by surprising rookies Jerome Walton (Rookie-of the Year), Dwight Smith, Sandberg, Andre Dawson and "Amazing" Grace, (Mark at first base), the Cubs secured another opportunity to satisfy the hungry Chicago fans for a chance at the ultimate crown.
With solid front-line pitching Greg Maddux (19-12), Mike Bielecki (18-7), Scott Sanderson (11-9), and a rejuvenated Sutcliffe (16-11) the Cubbies appeared ready to cash in their winning chips again.
WRONG! The San Francisco Giants crushed the Clark and Addison street gang again. Spurred by Will Clark's .650 hitting and the Giants' solid bullpen, the Cubs fell in five games in the series.
Try 1998.
After a single wild-card victory over the Giants, sparked by little-known outfielder Matt Mieske's homer and Rod Beck's "behind the back' save the Cubs had another chance. Just like poker…Can't hold 'em; fold 'em.
Should we really dwell on the 2003 avalanche? If you're a true Cubbies Blue supporter, regardless of your age, the memories are all too painfully reminiscient.
The "Bartman Ball", Alex Gonzales double-play-blowing error, and a Mark Prior (Where's he today?) meltdown, the longest-suffering supporters of a major league team were denied again.
So you may wonder why all of this history is important. The only reason that some of us consider the failures of the past as important is because they seem to be factors that will disable Lou Piniella's 2007 squad from achieving the long-sought goal of the Cubs.
Ninety-nine years since it's last World series victor
This year's post-season entrant has yet to perform one pitch, one play, one swing. There are a lot of thirsty Cubs fans out there, but there are just as many desires of the players to bring a title to Chicago.
Forget the Billy Goat Curse, Ignore the past results…They're only history; and now the new history is for the making and taking. Go Cubs, go!