2003 Chicago Cubs season

The 2003 Chicago Cubs season was the 132nd season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 128th in the National League and the 88th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Dusty Baker in his first year in Chicago. The Cubs went 88–74 during the 2003 season and won the National League Central for the first time since the division's formation in 1994, and the team's first division title since its 1989 NL East title. In the NLDS, the Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves three games to two for their first postseason series win since 1908. The Cubs lost to the Florida Marlins four games to three in the NLCS.

2003 Chicago Cubs
National League Central Champions
League	National League
Division	Central
Ballpark	Wrigley Field
City	Chicago
Record	88–74 (.543)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	Tribune Company
General managers	Jim Hendry
Managers	Dusty Baker
Television	FSN Chicago Superstation WGN WCIU-TV (Chip Caray, Steve Stone)
Radio	WGN (Pat Hughes, Ron Santo)
Stats	ESPN.com Baseball Reference
← 2002 Seasons 2004 →

Previous season

The Cubs were coming off of a poor year in 2002, finishing 67–95 in fifth place in the NL Central and costing manager Don Baylor his job. The Cubs hired Dusty Baker, fresh off his World Series appearance with the San Francisco Giants, to replace Baylor.

Offseason

• December 4, 2002: Todd Hundley and Chad Hermansen were traded by the Cubs to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mark Grudzielanek and Eric Karros.^[1]
• January 13, 2003: Midre Cummings was signed as a free agent with the Cubs.^[2]
• January 13, 2003: Aaron Small was signed as a free agent with the Cubs.^[3]
• March 4, 2003: Trenidad Hubbard was signed as a free agent with the Cubs.^[4]
• March 29, 2003: Aaron Small was released by the Cubs.^[3]

Regular season

Summary

The team's success can be attributed first and foremost to its starting rotation, which featured Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Matt Clement, each of whom won at least 13 games. The pitching staff as a whole led the National League in strikeouts with 1,404, over 100 more than any other team. While not nearly as dominant in hitting, the Cubs' lineup was bolstered by acquisitions at what was a very active trade deadline, including Aramis Ramírez, Randall Simon, and Kenny Lofton.

The team started slow but finished September with a 19–8 record to win the NL Central. As the division winner with the third best record, the Cubs faced the Atlanta Braves who had finished the season in a tie for the best record in the majors in a best of five games format. The Cubs won the first game of the series and the teams alternated wins leading to a game 5 at Turner Field to determine the series winner. The Cubs won the game 5–1.

The series win, their first since 1908, resulted in a matchup against the Florida Marlins for the right to go to the World Series. The Marlins won the first game in Chicago, but the Cubs won the next three to take a three games to one lead. Florida won game five as the series shifted back to Chicago for games six and seven. With Mark Prior on the mound, the Cubs took a 3–1 lead into the 8th inning before a series of errors led to an 8-run inning for the Marlins. The win forced a game seven with Kerry Wood on the mound for the Cubs. In a high-scoring affair that included a Kerry Wood home run, the Marlins shocked the Cubs 9–6 to deny the Cubs a trip to their first World Series since 1945.

The 2003 season brought a great deal of national attention to the Cubs, both positive and negative. On one hand, their surprising regular season run to first place in the NL Central, and the excellent performances of their top three pitchers, all of whom were age 26 or younger, seemed to suggest that the Cubs would be contenders for the foreseeable future. At the same time, however, the Cubs' squandering of the 3–1 series lead in the NLCS, and the manner in which it occurred, seemed to reaffirm the perceptions of the Cubs as "lovable losers" and a cursed franchise.

Season standings

National League Central

• v
• t
• e

NL Central

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Chicago Cubs	88	74	.543	—	44‍–‍37	44‍–‍37
Houston Astros	87	75	.537	1	48‍–‍33	39‍–‍42
St. Louis Cardinals	85	77	.525	3	48‍–‍33	37‍–‍44
Pittsburgh Pirates	75	87	.463	13	39‍–‍42	36‍–‍45
Cincinnati Reds	69	93	.426	19	35‍–‍46	34‍–‍47
Milwaukee Brewers	68	94	.420	20	31‍–‍50	37‍–‍44

Record vs. opponents

2003 National League record v t e Source:
Team	AZ	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LA	MIL	MTL	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL	AL
Arizona	—	2–5	2–4	7–2	10–9	2–5	5–1	10–9	3–3	4–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	9–10	5–14	3–3	11–4
Atlanta	5–2	—	4–2	3–3	6–0	9–10	5–1	4–2	4–2	12–7	11–8	9–10	7–2	6–1	2–4	4–2	10–5
Chicago	4–2	2–4	—	10–7	3–3	4–2	9–7	2–4	10–6	3–3	5–1	1–5	10–8	4–2	4–2	8–9	9–9
Cincinnati	2–7	3–3	7–10	—	4–2	2–4	5–12	2–4	8–10	2–4	2–4	5–4	5–11	3–3	3–3	9–7	7–5
Colorado	9–10	0–6	3–3	2–4	—	4–2	2–4	7–12	5–1	3–4	2–5	2–4	3–6	12–7	7–12	4–2	9–6
Florida	5–2	10–9	2–4	4–2	2–4	—	1–5	2–5	7–2	13–6	12–7	13–6	2–4	5–1	1–5	3–3	9–6
Houston	1–5	1–5	7–9	12–5	4–2	5–1	—	4–2	9–8	3–3	2–4	2–4	10–6	3–3	2–4	11–7	11–7
Los Angeles	9–10	2–4	4–2	4–2	12–7	5–2	2–4	—	4–2	4–2	3–3	2–5	5–1	8–11	6–13	4–2	11–7
Milwaukee	3–3	2–4	6–10	10–8	1–5	2–7	8–9	2–4	—	0–6	6–3	4–2	10–7	5–1	1–5	3–13	5–7
Montreal	2–4	7–12	3–3	4–2	4–3	6–13	3–3	2–4	6–0	—	14–5	8–11	3–3	4–2	7–0	1–5	9–9
New York	2–4	8–11	1–5	4–2	5–2	7–12	4–2	3–3	3–6	5–14	—	7–12	4–2	3–3	4–2	1–5	5–10
Philadelphia	2–4	10–9	5–1	4–5	4–2	6–13	4–2	5–2	2–4	11–8	12–7	—	2–4	4–3	3–3	4–2	8–7
Pittsburgh	3–3	2–7	8–10	11–5	6–3	4–2	6–10	1–5	7–10	3–3	2–4	4–2	—	4–2	2–4	7–10	5–7
San Diego	10–9	1–6	2–4	3–3	7–12	1–5	3–3	11–8	1–5	2–4	3–3	3–4	2–4	—	5–14	2–4	8–10
San Francisco	14–5	4–2	2–4	3–3	12–7	5–1	4–2	13–6	5–1	0–7	2–4	3–3	4–2	14–5	—	5–1	10–8
St. Louis	3–3	2–4	9–8	7–9	2–4	3–3	7–11	2–4	13–3	5–1	5–1	2–4	10–7	4–2	1–5	—	10–8

Transactions

• April 21, 2003: Trenidad Hubbard was purchased by the Cubs from Oaxaca (Mexican League).^[4]
• May 9, 2003: Alan Benes was sent to the Texas Rangers by the Cubs as part of a conditional deal.^[5]
• June 3, 2003: Sam Fuld was drafted by the Cubs in the 24th round of the 2003 amateur draft, but did not sign.^[6]
• June 3, 2003: Tim Lincecum was drafted by the Cubs in the 48th round of the 2003 amateur draft, but did not sign.^[7]
• June 20, 2003: Mark Bellhorn was traded by the Cubs to the Colorado Rockies for José Hernández.^[8]
• July 23, 2003: Kenny Lofton and Aramis Ramírez were traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with cash to the Cubs for a player to be named later, José Hernández, and Matt Bruback. The Cubs sent Bobby Hill (August 15, 2003) to the Pirates to complete the trade.
• August 17, 2003: Randall Simon was traded by the Pirates to the Cubs for Ray Sadler.^[9]

Roster

2003 Chicago Cubs
Roster
Pitchers 57 Antonio Alfonseca 35 Alan Benes 48 Joe Borowski 30 Matt Clement 51 Juan Cruz 55 Shawn Estes 44 Kyle Farnsworth 31 Mark Guthrie 52 Sergio Mitre 50 Phil Norton 22 Mark Prior 37 Mike Remlinger 62 Félix Sánchez 43 Dave Veres 40 Todd Wellemeyer 34 Kerry Wood 38 Carlos Zambrano		Catchers  9 Paul Bako 27 Damian Miller 29 Josh Paul Infielders 28 Mark Bellhorn 19 Hee-Seop Choi  8 Alex Gonzalez 11 Mark Grudzielanek 29 Lenny Harris 15 José Hernández 17 Bobby Hill 32 Eric Karros 7,6 Ramón Martínez  1 Augie Ojeda 15,16 Aramis Ramírez 35 Randall Simon  5 Tony Womack		Outfielders 18 Moisés Alou  4 Doug Glanville 5,24 Tom Goodwin 45 Trenidad Hubbard 28 David Kelton  1,7 Kenny Lofton 25 Troy O'Leary 20 Corey Patterson 21 Sammy Sosa		Manager 12 Dusty Baker Coaches  2 Gene Clines (first base) 15 Sonny Jackson (special asst)  3 Wendell Kim (third base) 59 Juan Lopez (bullpen) 36 Gary Matthews (hitting) 46 Dick Pole (bench) 41 Larry Rothschild (pitching)

Game log

2003 Game Log: 88–74
March: 1–0 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 1 March 31 @ Mets 15–2 Wood (1–0) Glavine (0–1) 53,586 1–0
April: 14–12 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 2 April 2 @ Mets 4–1 Leiter (1–0) Clement (0–1) Benítez (1) 20,594 1–1 3 April 3 @ Mets 6–3 Prior (1–0) Trachsel (0–1) 17,244 2–1 4 April 4 @ Reds 10–9 Williamson (1–0) Veres (0–1) 29,048 2–2 5 April 5 @ Reds 9–7 Zambrano (1–0) Haynes (0–2) Borowski (1) 28,908 3–2 6 April 6 @ Reds 5–4 White (1–0) Guthrie (0–1) Williamson (1) 24,023 3–3 – April 7 Expos Postponed (snow) Rescheduled for April 8 7 April 8 Expos 6–1 Clement (1–1) Day (1–1) 29,138 4–3 8 April 9 Expos 3–0 Prior (2–0) Vázquez (1–1) 29,966 5–3 9 April 10 Expos 7–1 Armas (2–1) Estes (0–1) 30,225 5–4 10 April 11 Pirates 3–2 D'Amico (1–1) Zambrano (1–1) Williams (5) 33,605 5–5 11 April 12 Pirates 4–0 Wood (2–0) Benson (2–1) Borowski (2) 35,226 6–5 12 April 13 Pirates 4–3 Farnsworth (1–0) Boehringer (0–1) Borowski (3) 29,558 7–5 13 April 14 Reds 11–3 Anderson (1–1) Prior (2–1) Riedling (1) 37,528 7–6 14 April 15 Reds 11–1 Estes (1–1) Graves (0–2) 31,642 8–6 15 April 16 Reds 10–4 Zambrano (2–1) Wilson (0–1) 27,388 9–6 16 April 17 Reds 16–3 Wood (3–0) Haynes (0–4) Benes (1) 29,672 10–6 17 April 18 @ Pirates 7–2 Clement (2–1) Benson (2–2) 15,037 11–6 18 April 19 @ Pirates 6–1 (10) Prior (3–1) Sauerbeck (0–1) 31,518 12–6 19 April 20 @ Pirates 8–2 Torres (2–0) Estes (1–2) 14,854 12–7 20 April 22 Padres 7–2 Zambrano (3–1) Lawrence (2–2) 35,185 13–7 21 April 23 Padres 2–0 Eaton (1–1) Wood (3–1) Herges (1) 35,768 13–8 22 April 24 Padres 2–1 Pérez (1–2) Clement (2–2) Wright (2) 35,673 13–9 23 April 25 @ Rockies 11–7 Prior (4–1) Cruz (3–1) 32,162 14–9 24 April 26 @ Rockies 8–5 Chacón (4–0) Estes (1–3) Jiménez (5) 35,604 14–10 25 April 27 @ Rockies 6–3 Oliver (1–2) Zambrano (3–2) Jiménez (6) 35,070 14–11 26 April 29 @ Giants 4–2 Wood (4–1) Rueter (2–1) Borowski (4) 39,839 15–11 27 April 30 @ Giants 5–0 Schmidt (3–0) Clement (2–3) 40,124 15–12
May: 14–12 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 28 May 1 @ Giants 5–1 (10) Cruz (1–0) Worrell (1–1) 41,524 16–12 29 May 2 Rockies 7–4 Estes (2–3) Chacón (4–1) Borowski (5) 29,236 17–12 30 May 3 Rockies 6–4 Speier (2–0) Guthrie (0–2) Jiménez (7) 38,332 17–13 31 May 4 Rockies 5–4 (10) Borowski (1–0) Reed (2–1) 37,223 18–13 32 May 5 Brewers 5–3 Sheets (3–3) Clement (2–4) DeJean (6) 35,304 18–14 33 May 6 Brewers 9–6 Leskanic (2–0) Cruz (1–1) DeJean (7) 34,240 18–15 34 May 7 Brewers 2–1 Estes (3–3) Rusch (1–6) Borowski (6) 37,574 19–15 35 May 9 Cardinals 6–3 Morris (4–2) Zambrano (3–3) Fassero (1) 38,531 19–16 36 May 10 Cardinals 3–2 (10) Remlinger (1–0) Eldred (2–1) 38,106 20–16 – May 11 Cardinals Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 2 37 May 12 @ Brewers 11–5 Prior (5–1) Rusch (1–7) 19,106 21–16 38 May 13 @ Brewers 7–2 Estes (4–3) Quevedo (0–1) 18,454 22–16 39 May 14 @ Brewers 6–1 Zambrano (4–3) Kinney (2–3) 27,566 23–16 40 May 15 @ Brewers 4–2 (17) Farnsworth (2–0) Kieschnick (0–1) Wellemeyer (1) 31,624 24–16 41 May 16 @ Cardinals 7–4 Williams (5–0) Clement (2–5) Eldred (2) 42,589 24–17 42 May 17 @ Cardinals 2–1 Remlinger (2–0) Kline (1–4) Borowski (7) 45,385 25–17 43 May 18 @ Cardinals 6–3 Hermanson (1–1) Cruz (1–2) Eldred (3) 45,773 25–18 44 May 19 @ Cardinals 2–0 Morris (5–3) Zambrano (4–4) 46,734 25–19 – May 20 @ Pirates Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 19 45 May 21 @ Pirates 5–2 D'Amico (4–4) Wood (4–2) Williams (13) 35,086 25–20 46 May 22 @ Pirates 3–2 Remlinger (3–0) Sauerbeck (0–4) Borowski (8) 14,544 26–20 47 May 23 @ Astros 7–5 Linebrink (1–1) Prior (5–2) Wagner (13) 29,660 26–21 48 May 24 @ Astros 3–2 Estes (5–3) Redding (3–4) Borowski (9) 37,839 27–21 49 May 25 @ Astros 7–3 Zambrano (5–4) Miller (2–6) 37,565 28–21 50 May 26 Pirates 10–0 Fogg (2–2) Wood (4–3) 40,225 28–22 51 May 27 Pirates 9–4 Benson (5–5) Clement (2–6) 35,961 28–23 52 May 28 Pirates 5–4 Prior (6–2) D'Amico (4–5) Borowski (10) 32,406 29–23 53 May 30 Astros 9–1 Miller (3–6) Estes (5–4) 36,687 29–24 54 May 31 Astros 1–0 (16) Wellemeyer (1–0) Stone (4–1) 37,719 30–24
June: 12–15 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 55 June 1 Astros 9–3 Robertson (4–3) Wood (4–4) 37,787 30–25 56 June 3 Devil Rays 3–2 Remlinger (4–0) Levine (2–2) 32,210 31–25 57 June 4 Devil Rays 5–2 Zambrano (2–3) Estes (5–5) 33,317 31–26 58 June 5 Devil Rays 8–1 Clement (3–6) Brazelton (1–5) 28,713 32–26 59 June 6 Yankees 5–3 Wells (8–2) Zambrano (5–5) Rivera (5) 39,359 32–27 60 June 7 Yankees 5–2 Wood (5–4) Clemens (6–4) 39,363 33–27 61 June 8 Yankees 8–7 Prior (7–2) Pettitte (5–6) Borowski (11) 39,341 34–27 62 June 10 @ Orioles 4–0 Estes (6–5) Hentgen (1–4) 32,484 35–27 63 June 11 @ Orioles 7–6 Clement (4–6) Daal (4–7) Borowski (12) 28,013 36–27 64 June 12 @ Orioles 6–1 Helling (4–4) Zambrano (5–6) Driskill (1) 30,557 36–28 65 June 13 @ Blue Jays 5–1 Escobar (4–3) Wood (5–5) 23,018 36–29 66 June 14 @ Blue Jays 4–2 Prior (8–2) Davis (3–4) Borowski (13) 33,167 37–29 67 June 15 @ Blue Jays 5–4 (10) López (1–1) Guthrie (0–3) 34,221 37–30 68 June 16 @ Reds 4–3 Clement (5–6) Anderson (1–3) Borowski (14) 28,669 38–30 69 June 17 @ Reds 2–1 (10) Williamson (4–2) Remlinger (4–1) 28,999 38–31 70 June 18 @ Reds 4–1 Wood (6–5) Haynes (1–6) 39,053 39–31 71 June 19 @ Reds 3–1 Wilson (5–4) Prior (8–3) Williamson (17) 41,692 39–32 72 June 20 White Sox 12–3 Garland (5–6) Estes (6–6) 39,080 39–33 73 June 21 White Sox 7–6 Buehrle (4–10) Clement (5–7) Koch (10) 38,938 39–34 74 June 22 White Sox 2–1 Zambrano (6–6) Marte (2–1) Borowski (15) 38,223 40–34 75 June 24 Brewers 9–1 Wood (7–5) Quevedo (1–4) 40,389 41–34 76 June 25 Brewers 12–6 (10) Vizcaíno (2–3) Wellemeyer (1–1) 38,357 41–35 77 June 26 Brewers 5–3 Estrella (2–0) Borowski (1–1) DeJean (16) 39,711 41–36 78 June 27 @ White Sox 4–3 Koch (3–4) Alfonseca (0–1) 45,147 41–37 79 June 28 @ White Sox 7–6 Koch (4–4) Cruz (1–3) 45,440 41–38 80 June 29 @ White Sox 5–2 Wood (8–5) Loaiza (11–3) 44,858 42–38 81 June 30 @ Phillies 4–3 Padilla (7–7) Estes (6–7) Mesa (18) 23,323 42–39
July: 12–14 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 82 July 1 @ Phillies 4–3 Adams (1–2) Remlinger (4–2) 25,307 42–40 83 July 2 @ Phillies 1–0 Farnsworth (3–0) Wendell (1–2) Borowski (16) 23,591 43–40 84 July 3 @ Phillies 12–2 Myers (8–6) Zambrano (6–7) 57,326 43–41 85 July 4 Cardinals 11–8 Tomko (5–5) Wood (8–6) 39,756 43–42 86 July 5 Cardinals 6–5 Remlinger (5–2) Fassero (1–4) 38,953 44–42 87 July 6 Cardinals 4–1 Williams (11–3) Prior (8–4) Isringhausen (3) 37,713 44–43 88 July 7 Marlins 6–3 Clement (6–7) Beckett (3–4) Borowski (17) 38,662 45–43 89 July 8 Marlins 4–3 Bump (2–0) Remlinger (5–3) Looper (16) 33,227 45–44 90 July 9 Marlins 5–1 Wood (9–6) Pavano (6–10) 33,054 46–44 91 July 10 Braves 13–3 Maddux (7–8) Estes (6–8) 38,756 46–45 92 July 11 Braves 9–5 Hampton (5–5) Prior (8–5) 39,334 46–46 93 July 12 Braves 7–3 Clement (7–7) Ramírez (8–3) 39,980 47–46 94 July 13 Braves 7–2 Reynolds (7–4) Zambrano (6–8) 39,832 47–47 95 July 18 @ Marlins 6–0 Redman (8–4) Clement (7–8) 26,174 47–48 96 July 19 @ Marlins 1–0 Wood (10–6) Penny (8–7) 30,432 48–48 97 July 20 @ Marlins 16–2 Zambrano (7–8) Willis (9–2) 25,574 49–48 98 July 21 @ Braves 15–6 Veres (1–1) Reynolds (7–5) 39,950 50–48 99 July 22 @ Braves 8–4 Maddux (9–8) Mitre (0–1) 39,226 50–49 100 July 23 Phillies 3–0 Wolf (11–5) Clement (7–9) 40,377 50–50 101 July 24 Phillies 14–6 Padilla (9–8) Wood (10–7) 40,266 50–51 102 July 25 @ Astros 5–3 Zambrano (8–8) Dotel (6–4) Borowski (18) 43,013 51–51 103 July 26 @ Astros 3–1 Redding (7–9) Cruz (1–4) Wagner (31) 42,679 51–52 104 July 27 @ Astros 5–3 Estes (7–8) Robertson (10–4) Borowski (19) 42,422 52–52 105 July 29 Giants 3–0 Clement (8–9) Moss (9–7) 40,221 53–52 106 July 30 Giants 6–3 Schmidt (11–4) Wood (10–8) 39,973 53–53 107 July 31 Giants 9–4 Zambrano (9–8) Brower (7–3) 39,422 54–53
August: 15–13 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 108 August 1 D-backs 4–3 (14) Alfonseca (1–1) Oropesa (2–2) 38,738 55–53 109 August 2 D-backs 4–3 Villarreal (7–4) Borowski (1–2) Mantei (12) 40,304 55–54 110 August 3 D-backs 2–1 Clement (9–9) Villarreal (7–5) Veres (1) 39,473 56–54 111 August 5 @ Padres 3–0 Prior (9–5) Lawrence (5–14) Borowski (20) 30,932 57–54 112 August 6 @ Padres 3–2 Wood (11–8) Eaton (6–8) Borowski (21) 29,265 58–54 113 August 7 @ Padres 9–3 Zambrano (10–8) Jarvis (4–4) 27,673 59–54 114 August 8 @ Dodgers 3–1 Ashby (3–9) Estes (7–9) Gagné (31) 52,911 59–55 115 August 9 @ Dodgers 6–1 Álvarez (2–1) Clement (9–10) 54,181 59–56 116 August 10 @ Dodgers 3–1 Prior (10–5) Brown (11–6) 51,729 60–56 117 August 11 Astros 3–1 Miller (9–10) Wood (11–9) Wagner (34) 39,889 60–57 118 August 12 Astros 3–0 Zambrano (11–8) Redding (8–10) 39,751 61–57 119 August 13 Astros 6–4 Guthrie (1–3) Robertson (11–6) Borowski (22) 39,631 62–57 120 August 14 Astros 7–1 Clement (10–10) Fernandez (1–2) 39,769 63–57 121 August 15 Dodgers 2–1 Prior (11–5) Kida (0–1) 40,188 64–57 122 August 16 Dodgers 10–5 Pérez (9–9) Remlinger (5–4) 40,032 64–58 123 August 17 Dodgers 3–0 Nomo (14–9) Zambrano (11–9) Gagné (41) 40,124 64–59 124 August 19 @ Astros 12–8 Miceli (2–3) Clement (10–11) 32,707 64–60 125 August 20 @ Astros 6–0 Prior (12–5) Fernandez (1–3) 32,810 65–60 126 August 21 @ Astros 9–3 Villone (5–2) Wood (11–10) 29,555 65–60 127 August 22 @ D-backs 4–1 Zambrano (12–9) Schilling (7–7) 39,612 66–61 128 August 23 @ D-backs 13–2 Batista (8–7) Estes (7–10) 40,820 66–62 129 August 24 @ D-backs 5–3 Clement (11–11) Randolph (7–1) Borowski (23) 40,129 67–62 130 August 26 @ Cardinals 7–4 Prior (13–5) Stephenson (7–13) 36,563 68–62 131 August 27 @ Cardinals 4–2 Kline (5–5) Farnsworth (3–1) Isringhausen (15) 32,667 68–63 132 August 28 @ Cardinals 3–2 DeJean (5–7) Remlinger (5–5) 37,370 68–64 133 August 29 Brewers 4–2 Clement (12–11) Sheets (10–11) 38,215 69–64 134 August 30 Brewers 9–5 Kinney (10–9) Estes (7–11) 39,805 69–65 135 August 31 Brewers 2–0 Davis (6–6) Cruz (1–5) Kolb (14) 38,946 69–66
September: 19–8 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Box 136 September 1 Cardinals 7–0 Prior (14–5) Williams (14–7) 38,410 70–66 137 September 2 Cardinals 4–2 (15) Guthrie (2–3) Fassero (1–7) 31,990 71–66 138 September 2 Cardinals 2–0 Morris (9–6) Wood (11–11) Isringhausen (17) 39,290 71–67 139 September 3 Cardinals 8–7 Borowski (2–2) Williams (14–8) 32,710 72–67 140 September 4 Cardinals 7–6 Remlinger (6–5) DeJean (5–8) Borowski (24) 35,129 73–67 141 September 5 @ Brewers 4–2 Cruz (2–5) Sheets (10–12) Borowski (25) 42,909 74–67 142 September 6 @ Brewers 8–4 Prior (15–5) Kinney (10–10) 46,218 75–67 143 September 7 @ Brewers 9–2 Wood (12–11) Davis (6–7) 42,127 76–67 144 September 9 @ Expos 4–3 Zambrano (13–9) Day (7–7) Borowski (26) 15,632 77–67 145 September 10 @ Expos 8–4 Ayala (9–3) Farnsworth (3–2) 18,002 77–68 146 September 11 @ Expos 3–2 Ohka (9–12) Prior (15–6) Eischen (1) 12,559 77–69 147 September 12 Reds 7–6 Alfonseca (2–1) Randall (2–2) Borowski (27) 38,219 78–69 148 September 13 Reds 9–6 Alfonseca (3–1) Belisle (1–1) Borowski (28) 39,983 79–69 149 September 14 Reds 1–0 Riedling (2–3) Zambrano (13–10) Reitsma (9) 38,827 79–70 150 September 15 Mets 4–1 Clement (13–11) Griffiths (1–3) Borowski (29) 38,698 80–70 151 September 16 Mets 3–2 Prior (16–6) Seo (8–12) Borowski (30) 39,534 81–70 152 September 17 Mets 2–0 Wood (13–11) Leiter (14–9) 38,482 82–70 153 September 19 @ Pirates 10–9 Veres (2–1) Figueroa (2–1) Borowski (31) 83–70 154 September 19 @ Pirates 10–6 Torres (6–5) Cruz (2–6) 16,248 83–71 155 September 20 @ Pirates 8–2 Vogelsong (2–1) Clement (13–12) 32,869 83–72 156 September 21 @ Pirates 4–1 Prior (17–6) Pérez (4–10) Borowski (32) 21,497 84–72 157 September 23 @ Reds 6–0 Wood (14–11) Randall (2–4) 26,124 85–72 158 September 24 @ Reds 8–0 Estes (8–11) Hall (0–2) 27,021 86–72 159 September 25 @ Reds 9–7 Van Poppel (3–1) Zambrano (13–11) Reitsma (12) 36,963 86–73 – September 26 Pirates Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 27 160 September 27 Pirates 4–2 Prior (18–6) Fogg (10–9) Borowski (33) 87–73 161 September 27 Pirates 7–2 Clement (14–12) Vogelsong (2–2) 40,121 88–73 162 September 28 Pirates 3–2 Wells (10–9) Cruz (2–7) Tavárez (11) 39,940 88–74

Player stats

Batting

Source^[10]

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage; SB = Stolen bases

Player	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	SB
Moises Alou	151	565	83	158	35	1	22	91	.280	.357	.462	3
Paul Bako	70	188	19	43	13	3	0	17	.229	.311	.330	0
Mark Bellhorn	51	139	15	29	7	1	2	22	.209	.341	.317	3
Alan Benes	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
Hee-Seop Choi	80	202	31	44	17	0	8	28	.218	.350	.421	1
Matt Clement	32	62	3	9	2	0	0	3	.145	.159	.177	0
Juan Cruz	25	12	1	3	0	1	0	1	.250	.250	.417	0
Shawn Estes	30	39	4	7	1	0	1	3	.179	.214	.282	0
Kyle Farnsworth	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
Doug Glanville	28	51	2	12	0	0	1	2	.235	.259	.294	0
Alex Gonzalez	152	536	71	122	37	0	20	59	.228	.295	.406	3
Tom Goodwin	87	171	26	49	10	0	1	12	.287	.328	.363	19
Mark Grudzielanek	121	481	73	151	38	1	3	38	.314	.366	.416	6
Mark Guthrie	65	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
Lenny Harris	75	131	11	24	3	0	1	7	.183	.255	.229	1
José Hernández	23	69	6	13	3	1	2	9	.188	.222	.348	0
Bobby Hill	5	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.250	.400	.250	0
Trent Hubbard	10	16	2	4	1	0	0	2	.250	.429	.313	1
Eric Karros	114	336	37	96	16	1	12	40	.286	.340	.446	1
David Kelton	10	12	1	2	1	0	0	1	.167	.167	.250	0
Kenny Lofton	56	208	39	68	13	4	3	20	.327	.381	.471	12
Ramón Martínez	108	293	30	83	16	1	3	34	.283	.333	.375	0
Damian Miller	114	352	34	82	19	1	9	36	.233	.310	.369	1
Sergio Mitre	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500	0
Troy O'Leary	93	174	18	38	9	0	5	28	.218	.275	.356	3
Augie Ojeda	12	25	2	3	0	0	0	0	.120	.185	.120	0
Corey Patterson	83	329	49	98	17	7	13	55	.298	.329	.511	16
Josh Paul	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
Mark Prior	32	72	6	18	4	0	1	6	.250	.270	.347	0
Aramis Ramírez	63	232	31	60	7	1	15	39	.259	.314	.491	1
Mike Remlinger	73	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	0
Randall Simon	33	103	13	29	3	0	6	21	.282	.318	.485	0
Sammy Sosa	137	517	99	144	22	0	40	103	.279	.358	.553	0
Todd Wellemeyer	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.500	.000	0
Tony Womack	21	51	4	12	2	1	0	2	.235	.250	.314	2
Kerry Wood	32	61	4	10	1	0	2	6	.164	.177	.279	0
Carlos Zambrano	32	75	9	18	5	0	2	6	.240	.250	.387	0
Team Totals	162	5519	724	1431	302	24	172	691	.259	.323	.416	73

Pitching

Source^[10]

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Antonio Alfonseca	3	1	5.83	60	0	0	66.1	76	43	43	27	51
Alan Benes	0	0	2.16	3	0	1	8.1	8	2	2	6	9
Joe Borowski	2	2	2.63	68	0	33	68.1	53	23	20	19	66
Matt Clement	14	12	4.11	32	32	0	201.2	169	100	92	79	171
Juan Cruz	2	7	6.05	25	6	0	61.0	66	44	41	28	65
Shawn Estes	8	11	5.73	29	28	0	152.1	182	113	97	83	103
Kyle Farnsworth	3	2	3.30	77	0	0	76.1	53	31	28	36	92
Mark Guthrie	2	3	2.74	65	0	0	42.2	40	14	13	22	24
Sergio Mitre	0	1	8.31	3	2	0	8.2	15	8	8	4	3
Phil Norton	0	0	5.40	4	0	0	3.1	2	2	2	3	0
Mark Prior	18	6	2.43	30	30	0	211.1	183	67	57	50	245
Mike Remlinger	6	5	3.65	73	0	0	69.0	54	30	28	39	83
Félix Sánchez	0	0	10.80	3	0	0	1.2	2	2	2	3	2
Dave Veres	2	1	4.68	31	0	1	32.2	36	17	17	5	26
Todd Wellemeyer	1	1	6.51	15	0	1	27.2	25	22	20	19	30
Kerry Wood	14	11	3.20	32	32	0	211.0	152	77	75	100	266
Carlos Zambrano	13	11	3.11	32	32	0	214.0	188	88	74	94	168
Team Totals	88	74	3.83	162	162	36	1456.1	1304	683	619	617	1404

Postseason

2003 NLDS

Main article: 2003 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs

Game 1 – Chicago 4, Atlanta 2

Game 2 – Atlanta 5, Chicago 3

Game 3 – Chicago 3, Atlanta 1

Game 4 – Atlanta 6, Chicago 4

Game 5 – Chicago 5, Atlanta 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	5	9	0
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	1
WP: Kerry Wood (2–0)   LP: Mike Hampton (0–1) Home runs: CHC: Alex S. Gonzalez (1), Aramis Ramírez (1) ATL: None

For the first time since October 14. 1908, the Cubs had won a postseason series, doing so at Turner Field in Atlanta.

2003 NLCS

Main article: 2003 National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 7: Wrigley Field, Chicago

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Florida	0	0	5	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	1	9	14	1
Chicago	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	8	11	1
WP: Ugueth Urbina (1-0)   LP: Mark Guthrie (0-1)   Sv: Braden Looper (1) Home runs: Fla: I. Rodríguez (1), M. Cabrera (1), J. Encarnación (1), M. Lowell (1) ChC: M. Alou (1), A. Gonzalez (1), S. Sosa (1)

Game 2

October 8: Wrigley Field, Chicago

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Florida	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	9	1
Chicago	2	3	3	0	3	1	0	0	X	12	16	1
WP: Mark Prior (1-0)   LP: Brad Penny (0-1) Home runs: Fla: D. Lee (1), M. Cabrera (2) ChC: S. Sosa (2), A. Ramírez (1), A. Gonzalez 2 (3)

Game 3

October 10: Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Chicago	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	5	12	0
Florida	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	4	10	0
WP: Joe Borowski (1-0)   LP: Michael Tejera (0-1)   Sv: Mike Remlinger (1) Home runs: ChC: Randall Simon (1) Fla: None

Game 4

October 11: Pro Player Stadium, Miami

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago	4	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	8	8	0
Florida	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	3	9	0
WP: Matt Clement (1-0)   LP: Dontrelle Willis (0-1) Home runs: ChC: Aramis Ramírez (2) Fla: None

Game 5

October 12: Pro Player Stadium, Miami

With the Marlins facing elimination, Josh Beckett kept them alive by dominating the Cubs, holding them to just two hits and one walk as part of his standout 2003 postseason. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer. Iván Rodríguez and Jeff Conine homered in the seventh and eighth innings respectively. Even with the loss, the Cubs looked good going back home with their two aces, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood ready to start Games 6 and 7.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Florida	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	1	X	4	8	0
WP: Josh Beckett (1-0)   LP: Carlos Zambrano (0-1) Home runs: ChC: None Fla: Mike Lowell (2), Iván Rodríguez (2), Jeff Conine (1)

Game 6

October 14: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

The Cubs were 5 outs from reaching the World Series and 5 wins away from winning the World Series in 2003

The Cubs held a 3–0 lead going into the top of the eighth inning in Game 6 and, after Mike Mordecai hit a high pop fly to left field for the first out of the inning, had only two outs left in the inning—leaving the team a mere 5 outs away from their first World Series berth since 1945.

Prior had retired the last eight hitters and had allowed only three hits up to that point. Center fielder Juan Pierre (who was later traded to the Cubs) then hit a double off Prior.

On the eighth pitch of his at bat, Luis Castillo hit a high foul ball toward the left field wall. Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou headed toward the stands to catch the ball for the potential second out. As Alou reached for the ball, Cubs fan Steve Bartman, along with others near the area, did the same. The ball bounced off Bartman's hand and into the stands. Though the Cubs pleaded for a call of fan interference, the umpire ruled that the ball had left the field of play and was therefore up for grabs. Alou initially said that he would not have made the catch, though he later denied making the statement, saying that if he had, it was only to make Bartman feel better.^[11]

As a result, Castillo remained an active batter at home plate. On the next pitch, Prior walked Castillo on a wild pitch that got away from catcher Paul Bako, also allowing Pierre to advance to third base.

Next, Iván Rodríguez hit an 0-2 pitch hard into left field, singling and scoring Pierre. Miguel Cabrera then hit a ground ball toward Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez that could have ended the inning on a double play. Gonzalez, who led all NL shortstops in fielding percentage, closed his glove a little too early and the ball landed in the dirt, allowing Cabrera to get on base, loading the bases. On the next pitch, Derrek Lee (a future Cubs' All-Star) drilled a double into left field, scoring Castillo and Rodríguez to tie the game at 3-3.

Prior was then taken out of the game and replaced by Kyle Farnsworth, who intentionally walked Mike Lowell to load the bases. Jeff Conine then hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the second out of the inning, allowing Cabrera to score from third and the other runners to each advance one base. This gave the Marlins their first lead of the night. Farnsworth intentionally walked Todd Hollandsworth (another future Cub) to once again load the bases.

The Marlins now having batted around the order, Farnsworth faced Mike Mordecai, who was looking to make up for his earlier out. This time, Mordecai prevailed, hitting a bases-clearing double to left-center field, allowing Lee, Lowell and Hollandsworth to score and making it a 7-3 Marlins lead.

Farnsworth was then taken out of the game and replaced by Mike Remlinger, who gave up a single to Pierre to score Mordecai from second base. Finally, Luis Castillo hit a high pop fly ball to shallow right field for the third out.

The Marlins' lead held, forcing a final Game 7.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Florida	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	8	9	0
Chicago	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	10	2
WP: Chad Fox (1-0)   LP: Mark Prior (1-1)

Game 7

October 15: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

The Marlins got off to a quick 3–0 lead in the first inning against Cubs pitching ace Kerry Wood, who hadn't lost at Wrigley Field in nearly six weeks. The Cubs responded by tying the ball game 3–3 in the second inning, which featured a two-run home run by Wood. Moisés Alou's two-run home run the following inning put Chicago up 5–3, but the lead wouldn't last. In the fifth inning, Florida capitalized on a pair of walks and scored three runs to go on top 6–5, a lead they would not relinquish. The Marlins added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to expand their lead to 9–5. Cubs pinch-hitter Troy O'Leary hit a home run the bottom of the seventh, making the score 9–6. After the Cubs were retired in order in the eighth inning, Florida closer Ugueth Urbina hit Aramis Ramírez with a pitch to lead off the ninth inning and proceeded to retire the following three batters, giving the Marlins their second National League pennant in their eleven-year existence.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Florida	3	0	0	0	3	1	2	0	0	9	12	0
Chicago	0	3	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	6	9	0
WP: Brad Penny (1-1)   LP: Kerry Wood (0-1)   Sv: Ugueth Urbina (1) Home runs: Fla: Miguel Cabrera (3) ChC: Kerry Wood (1), Moisés Alou (2), Troy O'Leary (1)

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Iowa Cubs	Pacific Coast League	Mike Quade
AA	West Tenn Diamond Jaxx	Southern League	Bobby Dickerson
A	Daytona Cubs	Florida State League	Rick Kranitz
A	Lansing Lugnuts	Midwest League	Julio Garcia
A-Short Season	Boise Hawks	Northwest League	Steve McFarland
Rookie	AZL Cubs	Arizona League	Carmelo Martínez

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Lansing^[12]

References

1. Todd Hundley Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
2. "Midre Cummings Stats".
3. "Aaron Small Stats".
4. "Trent Hubbard Stats".
5. "Alan Benes Stats".
6. "Sam Fuld Stats".
7. Tim Lincecum Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
8. "Mark Bellhorn Stats".
9. Randall Simon Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
10. "2003 Chicago Cubs Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
11. "Report: Alou says he would have caught Bartman ball". ESPN.com. ESPN. June 3, 2008.
12. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

• 2003 Chicago Cubs team at Baseball-Reference
• Game Logs:

1st Half: Chicago Cubs Game Log on ESPN.com

2nd Half: Chicago Cubs Game Log on ESPN.com

• Batting Statistics:

All Position Hitting Stats^{[dead link]} on Cubs.com