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Flashback #70: Cubs Hire Lou Piniella (2006)

As of 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary on January 3rd, the station has begun to reveal (in chronological order) the Top 100 Chicago Sports Stories that have occurred since they first went on the air 20 years ago. Once all 100 of these "flashbacks" have been revealed, fans will be able to vote for which stories they believe are the most significant in the 20 year history of The Score. To see all of the Flashbacks that The Score has posted so far, please visit 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary page.

October 17, 2006 - Cubs hire Lou Piniella

With Dusty Baker out as Cubs manager following a disappointing 2006 season in which the team finished last in the NL Central with a record of 66-96, the Cubs announced the hiring of Lou Piniella as the club's new skipper.

The 63-year-old Piniella, who worked as an analyst for FOX Sports during the 2006 playoffs, sat out the 2006 campaign after negotiating out of the final year of a three-year contract with the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Piniella jumped at the chance to manage the Cubs, agreeing to a three-year deal worth a reported $9 million.

At his introductory press conference, Piniella appealed to the Cubs fan by saying: "Long-suffering Cubs fans, they've got great, great passion. I saw that this summer, first-hand, here in the broadcast booth here and we're going to win here.

"We're going to work hard to put a good team together on the field and when we go to spring training, we're going to work hard and get this thing moving in the right direction."

The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary »

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