From Bryant-to-Rizzo to the Ryne Sandberg Game: Best moments in Cubs history

CHICAGO -- When a franchise has been around as long as the Cubs and has a history full of iconic achievements and legendary players, it is a tall task to zero in on a defining list of the greatest moments for the ballclub. That will not stop us from trying.

What follows are the author’s picks for the 10 best moments in Cubs history, focusing on individual feats (some symbolizing larger achievements). There will undoubtedly be some recency bias here, but there was an effort to include multiple franchise greats from multiple eras.

Your list might very well look different than this one, but that’s what makes these exercises fun. So here it goes, my Top 10 moments in Cubs history:

1. Bryant to Rizzo
Of course, the top moment in Cubs history has to be the final out of the 2016 World Series, a triumph that ended Chicago’s 108-year championship drought. The game included a lengthy list of incredible moments that created a fitting conclusion to one of the great World Series contests in baseball history.

The back-and-forth drama that stretched seven games -- and required a 10th inning in the final chapter -- culminated in one last dose of tension. Utility man Michael Martinez chopped a pitch to third baseman Kris Bryant, who gloved the ball, but slipped every so slightly on the throw. No matter. First baseman Anthony Rizzo snared the relay, threw his arms skyward and the celebration a century in the making was on.

2. The Ryne Sandberg Game
On the 40th anniversary of Sandberg’s iconic performance -- a day that included the unveiling of a statue of the Hall of Fame second baseman outside Wrigley Field -- broadcasting icon Bob Costas said, “The game was legendary almost right away.” Sandberg’s career took flight and the Cubs began to shake off the “lovable losers” label.

On June 23, 1984, Sandberg put on an historic show against the rival Cardinals in front of a national audience for the NBC Game of the Week. Sandberg finished with seven RBIs and five hits, including a pair of game-tying home runs (one in the ninth and another in the 10th) off Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter, igniting a 12-11 win in 11 innings.

3. Slammin’ Sammy hits 61 and 62
Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa went toe-to-toe with Mark McGwire in the summer of 1998, when they captivated the baseball world with the pursuit of Rogers Maris’ single-season home run record of 61 in ‘61. After Sosa belted 20 in the month of June, he had 33 to McGwire’s 37 entering July, setting up a furious second half. McGwire ended with 70, while Sosa reached 66 and won the National League MVP.

McGwire reached No. 61 on Sept. 7 and then launched his 62nd blast one day later. And on Sept. 13, Sosa caught up. The Cubs’ all-time home run king crushed a two-run homer in the fifth off Milwaukee’s Bronson Patrick for No. 61 and then a solo shot off Eric Plunk in the ninth to send the Friendly Confines into a frenzy.

4. Kid K racks up 20 strikeouts
In only his fifth career start, a 20-year-old Kerry Wood fashioned one of the single greatest pitching performances in history. Facing the Astros on May 6, 1998, the kid from Texas used his overpowering fastball and otherworldly curveball to pile up 20 strikeouts in a nearly flawless (one hit, no walks, 29 batters faced) game for the ages.

At the time, Wood joined Roger Clemens (1986 and ‘96) as the only pitchers to strike out 20 in a nine-inning game. Randy Johnson (2001) and Max Scherzer (2016) have since joined the list. Wood’s Game Score of 105 remains the highest for any nine-inning game. The six behind his outing are either no-hitters or perfect games.

On the strength of that all-time performance and a strong rookie campaign, Wood went on to win the NL Rookie of the Year in 1998.

5. Arrieta’s Wild Card shutout
Jake Arrieta authored an all-time great performance in 2015, picking up the NL Cy Young Award for a showing (22 wins, 1.77 ERA) that included an incredible finish. Over his final 20 regular-season outings, Arrieta went 16-1 with a 0.86 ERA. The righty was 11-0 with a 0.41 ERA in his last dozen turns for the North Siders. He was the clear choice to start a NL Wild Card Game on Oct. 7 in Pittsburgh.

In an intimidating environment, all Arrieta did was spin a shutout with 11 strikeouts and no walks en route to a 4-0 win. He was also hit by a pitch in the seventh, leading to a benches-clearing episode. Unfazed, Arrieta stole second base and then continued his dominant outing when back on the hill. It was a legendary performance that announced the Cubs’ arrival that October.

6. Mr. Cub joins 500 club
On May 12, 1970, a 39-year-old Ernie Banks -- playing in his 18th season with the Cubs -- became the ninth player in MLB history to reach 500 career home runs. It was a long-awaited milestone for Banks, who broke the color barrier for the franchise, won two MVPs and was on his way to the Hall of Fame. It seemed fitting that Banks -- known for his sunny personality -- connected for his historic homer when the clouds finally broke after a rainstorm.

7. Zobrist delivers in Game 7
In the top of the 10th inning in Cleveland, Ben Zobrist delivered the hit in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series that would change the course of Cubs history. The veteran infielder sent a cutter from Cleveland’s Bryan Shaw up the third-base line, past a diving José Ramírez and into left for a go-ahead double. Zobrist jumped and punched at the air at second base. Rizzo wore a look of shock as he stood on third. The Cubs had their lead, and the title drought was about to end in champagne.

8. Montero’s Wrigley-shaking slam
On Oct. 15, 2016, when the Cubs hosted the Dodgers for Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, the North Siders saw a 3-0 lead squandered the eighth. Manager Joe Maddon turned to veteran catcher Miguel Montero as a pinch-hitter with two outs and the score knotted, 3-3. Montero launched a grand slam into the raucous bleachers to blow the game wide open. Wrigley was quaking like it hadn’t in decades and Chicago had set a tone for its first pennant-clinching series since 1945.

9. Williams’ Opening Day walk-off
It was a battle of aces on Opening Day in 1971 with Fergie Jenkins on the mound for the Cubs, opposite Cardinals great Bob Gibson. They locked horns into the 10th inning, refusing to relinquish the ball to any relievers. Finally, Sweet Swingin’ Billy Williams brought an end to an epic duel, belting a walk-off homer against Gibson to propel the Cubs to a 2-1 victory.

10. Homer in the Gloamin’
A half-century before lights were installed atop Wrigley Field, Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett delivered one of the greatest home runs in Cubs history. On Sept. 28, 1938, Chicago hosted Pittsburgh while a half-game behind the Pirates for the NL pennant. In the bottom of the ninth, Hartnett drilled a walk-off homer to deliver a 6-5 victory as the skies were darkening. A mob scene ensued on the field and the Cubs were on a path to the World Series.