1998 Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves NLDS Highlights

[@Mark-xl1ze]

Sportscenter highlights were so much better back then especially without the annoying music they would play in the background.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

That legendary Braves pitching rotation completely decimated the Cubs lineup in this series.

[@jcod82us]

Something about Rich Eisen impersonating Skip Caray gets me laughing 😆

[@cdelano81]

Not since 1930 had an MLB team boasted 5 pitchers who won fifteen games or more. That's the 1998 Atlanta Braves, where Smoltz, Maddux, GLavine, Denny Neagle and young Kevin Millwood all won 15 or more. Overall, the Braves won a club record 106 games en route to their 7th straight playoff appearance. In contrast, the Chicago Cubs struggled to the finish line, having to squeak into the playoffs via a Wild Card after beating the Giants in a playoff. The talented and well-rested Braves took charge at Turner Field in Game 1. Michael Tucker's 2nd inning HR and Ryan Klesko's grand slam in the 7th inning were the keys to a 7-1 triumph as John Smoltz raised his playoff record to 11-3. Sammy Sosa had two hits in the game for the exhausted Cubs. In Game 2, Glavine and 19-game winner Kevin Tapani dueled to standoff. The Cubs led, 1-0, in the bottom of the 9th, and Tapani was two outs away from evening the series. But Javy Lopez drilled a pitch into the bleachers to tie the game. Then, in the 10th, with Walt Weiss on second, Chipper Jones drilled one to left that just landed fair. Weiss scored, and the Braves won, 2-1. Onto Wrigley Field for Game 3, where Greg Maddux continued to shut down his former club with 7 shutout frames. Returning from a late season injury, Kerry Wood pitched 6 gutsy innings, allowing only one run. But the Braves put the Cubs away in the 8th on an Eddie Perez grand slam. The final score was 6-2, as the Braves ended the Cubs--and Sammy Sosa's wonderful--season. Sosa went 2-for-11 in the series. As for Atlanta, onto their 7th straight NLCS.

[@hmhm856]

that game 2 changed everything for Cubs. Its like the magical season was coming to an end. They had Trachsel ready for game 4, and Tapani on game 5 on short rest.

[@cdelano81]

@@hmhm856 True. ANd the Braves would counter w/Denny Neagle for Game 4, and if it somehow went to Game 5, John Smoltz at home.

[@hmhm856]

@@cdelano81 Neagle was NOT winning in Wrigley, and Atlanta was gonna have all the pressure in game 5 at home.

[@jeffyeaple6679]

11 of Atlantas 15 total runs in this series were off Home Runs including 2 grand slams

[@thomastripp9002]

Not that it’s anything of importance, but on Game 3, NBC aired its first game at Wrigley Field since Games 1 and 2 of the 1989 NLCS

[@hmhm856]

MLB postseason games on NBC with Bob Costas were just awesome. He and Joe Morgan made a great duo. I think 99 or 2000 is the last time NBC would cover baseball games.

[@Mark-xl1ze]

@@hmhm856 2000 to be exact.

[@Official_Kings_Versus]

@@hmhm856 2000

[@redmustangredmustang]

The Cubs just weren't good enough yet to compete with the Braves. It wasn't until 5 years later that the Cubs actually would get past the Braves and their first postseason series win since 1908.

[@hmhm856]

that game 2 changed everything for Cubs. I can just imagine going back to Wrigley with series tied at 1, Wrigley Field and Magical Cubs 98 ride. Shame it didnt happen. Seriously Cubs, if you gonna get swept, let my beloved Mets get the wild card.

[@davidmatheny1993]

That zinger at the very end though: "Why can't the Cubs get pitchers like Greg Maddux?" Lol. Also, I love that some teams are willing to stick with a slugger hitting under .200 when Smoltz was able to hit .196 in a season with probably a HR or two.

[@kentdavies1988]

The outside 6 inches off the plate strike in the 90s was unreal. We need robot balls and strikes ASAP

[@ludvigborga3676]

If I need my house painted, I'm hiring Glavine.

[@hmhm856]

3:11 that was an incredible high pop-up. It lasted 8 seconds in the air from the moment Sammy hit it

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

“Javy Lopez- HAVE YOU SEEN MY BASEBALL?!”

[@hmhm856]

0:25 What is it with Cubs shortstops making an error in postseason games that leads to a big inning?

[@hmhm856]

Oh wow, so Odalis Perez was with the Braves in 1998. I always thought that his first season was in 1999, and then he got injured in 1999 and missed like half the season, and he missed all of 2000 with injury, and then he was a full time Braves starting pitcher in 2001. No wonder I didnt noticed him in 1998; he was a September call up and was a bullpen pitcher in September. Im surprised the Braves put him in the postseason roster in 1998. He won game 2 against the Cubs After 2001 season, Odalis Perez and Brian Jordan got traded to the Dodgers for Gary Sheffield.

[@SmoothCriminal12]

That year's roster also happened to include two other pitchers you didn't know played in Atlanta; Bruce Chen and 44 year old Dennis Martinez.

[@hmhm856]

Cubs have been swept alot in their postseason history (as of the end of the 2023 season): 1932 World Series against Yankees 1938 World Series against Yankees 1998 Division Series against Braves 2007 Division Series against Arizona 2008 Division Series against Dodgers 2015 NLCS against Mets 2018 Wild Card game against Rockies (although this was only one game) 2020 Wild Card series in Rona-Shortened-season against Marlins (2-0)

[@Mark-xl1ze]

The Cubs would return the favor, five years later.

[@tbewin1z143]

Yeah, but not in as dominant a fashion!!!

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

Would the Giants have fared any better vs ATL?

[@hmhm856]

with Bonds postseason nightmare, I doubt Giants would have won. And Atlanta didnt begin to choke on division series until like 2000.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

In 1998, no. Four years later, yes.

[@tbewin1z143]

Yeah but the Braves outscored the Giants overall in the series, so it wasn't as dominant a win for the Giants as you think!!!

[@hmhm856]

Geesh, the Braves had two grand slams in these 3 games = Klesco in game 1 at 2:10 and Eddie Perez in game 3 at 7:35

[@staceybryant1475]

Is it just me or were the playoffs more exciting back then???

[@guyfromGA]

Wayyy more. Because they were played at prime time mostly

[@nostalgiaman6816]

@@guyfromGAand no cell phones

[@hmhm856]

Cubs, STOP TRYING TO STEAL BASES!!! JUST STOP IT!!!! Cubs were horrendous in base-stealing this series And in game 2, WHAT THE HECK WAS THE CUBS RUNNER on first base thinking in the top of the 10th inning of a tie game trying to steal second on with one out and a runner on third!!!!????? Javy Lopez was just clutch in this series, both defensively and offensively

[@DCSk8er529]

He probably thought he was trying a sacrifice steal to get the runner on third home. Runner at third might have missed the sign or something. But he should've went. It would be worth a try.

[@logalogalog]

The Cubs front office probably ruined Kerry Wood by starting him in that game.

[@hmhm856]

No. Sadly, Kerry Wood was gonna break no matter what.

[@KingJaymo2k11]

02:23....😂😂😂😂we miss u, Stu

[@sherreysavage9528]

During my very turbulent time!!!