For The First Time In 4,397 Days – Cards/Cubs Means Something

Since 1945, the Cubs have made the postseason 6 times (’84/’89/’98/’03/’07/’08). Barring an implosion never before seen in professional baseball, they’ll make that 7 times in 2015.

I went back and looked at the final standings for all 6 seasons mentioned above to see just how close the Cardinals ended up to the Cubs as a proxy for how much meaningful baseball these two teams have played late in the season since WWII.

• 1984 – 12.5 games back of 1st place Cubs
• 1989 – 7.0 games back of 1st place Cubs
• 1998 – 6.5 games back of Cubs | 19.0 back of Astros (1st place)
• 2003 – 3.o games back of 1st place Cubs
• 2007 – 7.0 games back of 1st place Cubs
• 2008 – 11.5 games back of 1st place Cubs

In all but 1 season, the Cardinals were more than 6.5 games in arrears of the Cubs in the final standings, meaning they probably didn’t play much meaningful baseball in September. But in 2003, it was pretty tight.

From September 1st thru September 4th of 2003, the Cards and Cubs played 5 games in Wrigley Field which turned out to be the turning point of the season for both clubs. The Cubs won 4/5 and without any head to head games left, the Cardinals were never able to regain the ground they lost.

So if you want to get technical – September 4th 2003 was pretty much the last meaningful September game that has occurred between the Cardinals and Cubs.

That’s 4,397 days.

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This afternoon the Cardinals and Cubs will meet for the 1st of a 3 game series in Wrigley Field. The Cardinals are coming off a sweep of the Brewers, while the Cubs have just won 3 in a row in Pittsburgh.

Trailing the Cardinals by 7 games, there’s little hope of the Cubs catching the Cardinals in the NL Central standings – even with a sweep. But only 2 games behind the reeling Pirates, the Cubs CAN overtake the Pirates for 2nd place, putting a 1 game Wild Card playoff inside the friendly confines.

The Cardinals on the other hand, are still not clear of these same Pirates for the NL Central crown. Just like an ex-lover can have a big impact on a new relationship without being directly involved… the Bucs will be on everyone’s mind this weekend in Chicago.

In short: for the first time in nearly 4,400 days, the Cubs and Cardinals will play games in September that matter.

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I see the Cubs because I live in Chicago. But if the Cardinals are on during the same time, I’m watching the Cards.

So I asked a Cubs fan what do Cardinals fans need to know about this 2015 team.

They never give up. Never give away a game. They keep fighting.

Sound familiar, Cardinals Nation?

The Cardinals and Cubs are cut from a similar cloth. Teams that have transparent weaknesses, but refuse to let those weaknesses keep them from winning games.

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So we’ve got 2 bullheaded teams that refuse to lose. Stakes on the line. And Friday afternoon baseball in early fall at Wrigley Field.

Cards.

Cubs.

With something to play for?

It doesn’t get better than this.

Photo: YouTube