Top 5 moments from the Chicago Cubs in 2020
Lester is one of the top lefties during his time (Matt Marton - USA Today Sports)

Top 5 moments from the Chicago Cubs in 2020


by - Staff Writer -

Here is the continuation of our Top 10 moments of the 2020 season for the Chicago Cubs.

Here are the top five moments:

No. 5 -- Jon Lester's emotional presser: It is still entirely possible that Lester could return to the Cubs in 2021, but if he does not, the way his Cubs tenure ended was worth documenting. Lester was the spark that lit the flame in returning the Cubs to prominence, and the city recognizes him for that. He was phenomenal for the Cubs during his contract and knew the end of the road might be coming down the stretch of the season. Lester talked about the fans and city and how his teammates embraced him was genuinely touching, and potentially a hint that this Cubs' current era might be over.

No. 4 -- Bryzzo Chain Gang: This one is a pair of moments that revolve around two gold chains and high socks for good luck. Most of the Cubs offensive players had undergone massive offensive slumps this year. Particularly, power slumps struck both Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, particularly hard. Rizzo broke out of his with a few bombs against Cleveland and rocked two gold chains that earned him the nickname, Tony Two Chains. A few weeks later, as Kris Bryant returned from multiple injuries and needed to find his power stroke, Rizzo passed along the chains, and Bryant delivered a grand slam — and then the quote of the year to the media: "I. Don't. Give—A. Sh--" In reference to the criticism he often receives.

No. 3 -- Willy's bat flip: The 2020 Cubs chirped, they cheered, they had swagger, and Willson Contreras made sure they flipped their bats. In an absolute beatdown of the White Sox in the regular season's final games, the Cubs teed off with six homers. The most memorable was Contreras' first of the night, a missile to right. But it's not remembered for how high or far it went, but rather because Willson's bat flip went as high as the ball, pissing off purists and setting a new standard for how high bats can be flipped.

No. 2 -- Comeback v Brewers: In September, the Cubs had gone through an up and down week, with the Brewers trying to make one of their patented September pushes for the playoffs. On Friday night, game one saw the Cubs lose a heartbreaker 1-0 in extra innings. The next day the Cubs were held scoreless through 8 innings — meaning they were held scoreless by their division rival Brewers for 17 straight innings. Now, staring at a series loss, Josh Hader came in out of the bullpen to nail down the game and damage the Cubs' morale and playoff hopes. Somehow, Javier Baez singled, then Rizzo singled, and then the left-handed Jason Heyward delivered one on the most improbable homers against the dominant lefty Hader. Heyward crushed a two-strike pitch into the seats to give the Cubs the lead. The next batter, Ildemargo Vargas, hit a home run as well to provide the Cubs with a two run cushion and a 4-2 lead.

No. 1 -- Alec Mills no-hitter: The only thing that could top what happened in that comeback is what happened the very next day. The Cubs absolutely thumped the Brewers by the score of 12-0. But the real story that day was not the offense or Mitch Trubisky leading a comeback against the Lions but rather Alec Mills, the Cubs' preseason sixth starter throwing a no-hitter. The college walk-on with Hendricks type stuff stifled the Brewers and threw the Cubs' 16th no-hitter. The 28-year-old got choked up talking about his journey and his teammates' postgame — delivering not only the most historic but the best moment of the 2020 season.

Think we missed any? Let us know below!

Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to Anthony Pasquale: Email | Comment
Post your comments!