Eleven years ago, the Chicago Cubs were on their way to what would have been their first World Series appearance since 1945. They were leading the NLCS 3 games to 2 and had a 3 run lead in the 8th inning of Game 6. They needed just 5 more outs to clinch the National League pennant and they had their ace Mark Prior on the mound.
Unfortunately for the Cubs and their fans, a World Series appearance was not to be that year because Cubs left fielder Moises Alou inexplicably missed an easy popup in foul territory in what should have been the 2nd out of the inning. This created a snowball effect and the team fell apart, giving up 8 runs total in the inning before eventually losing the game and the series. Looking back, I still cannot believe he did not catch that ball. I mean he had it. It was right there. Maybe he mistimed his jump or maybe he took his eye off the ball for a brief moment. Whatever the case, players and fans of that 2003 Cubs team still look back on that missed popup as a symbol of what could have been.
Apparently the people who ran the Cubs’ clubhouse at Wrigley Field back in 2003 thought victory was a foregone conclusion prior to Alou’s gaffe, because on Tuesday we learned that they put World Series hats in each player’s locker. Former Cubs 1st baseman Eric Karros kept his and showed it off during the Fox broadcast of the NLCS.
Oh Eric, why must you bring up that painful memory for Cubs fans and Moises Alou again? Haven’t they been through enough?
