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Flashback #75: Cubs Win NL Central (2007)

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.

September 28, 2007 - Cubs win NL Central in 2007

From worst to first -- that's exactly what the Cubs did during the 2007 season.

Chicago finished the 2006 season in dead last in the National League Central Division. In 2007, however, it was a much different story.

The Cubs had a rather aggressive offseason coming into 2007, as the club was determined to defeat the 2006 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

They started by signing new manager Lou Piniella to a three-year deal. With their skipper in place, the team signed Mark DeRosa to a three-year, $13 million contract. And two days after that signing, the Cubs traded for Neal Cotts from the White Sox in exchange for David Aardsma and Carlos Vasquez.

Next, the Cubs made the largest signing in franchise history when they inked Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year contract worth $136 million.

With their lineup bolstered, the Cubs looked poised to make a strong start to the season. Reality, however, told a different tale as the Cubs started the first two months of the season with a record of 22-29.

In June, the Cubs began to creep closer to .500 as they finished the month with a record of 39-40, 7 1/2 games out of first place in the NL Central.

After finishing the month of July with a record of 17-9 , the team entered August locked in a first-place tie with the Brewers.

The Cubs and Brewers would go back and forth for the remaining two months of the season.

Going into the last week of the season, the Cubs won ten of twelve games and had a three game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. However, the Cubs dropped three in a row to the Florida Marlins, a team that the Cubs did not win a single game against during the whole season. Meanwhile, the Brewers lost two out of three, hurting their chance at taking over the top of the division. On September 28, thanks to a Cubs 6-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds and a Brewers 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, the Cubs clinched the N.L. Central division.

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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