The last 10 years of Cubs baseball will go down in history and will forever be known as the best stretch ever.
This run started off pretty bad for the Cubbies, but things ultimately got a ton better as the decade went on.
Now that the Cubs are heading into another rebuild, it’s important to take a look back at the five most important players during that run.
There is actually a long list of players to choose from, but these five had the biggest impact.
5. Starlin Castro
It’s a shame that Starlin Castro didn’t get to be around for the World Series title in 2016, because he deserved that honor.
Castro and Anthony Rizzo were the leaders of some bad Cubs teams, but the shortstop always showed up to play each day.
It was common for Castro to end the season with over 200 hits, and he was also known for playing in all 162 games.
There were some defensive issues at times, but Castro should get more credit for keeping the Cubs relevant prior to 2015.
4. Jon Lester
Things changed when Jon Lester signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent, and he immediately set the tone for the franchise.
Lester was a postseason hero for the Cubs during his time in Chicago, and it was his attitude that mattered most.
The Cubs didn’t even get Lester in his prime, but the lefthander figured out a way to get outs in Chicago.
His signing will go down as one of the biggest moments in Cubs history, and his performance has made him a Cubs legend.
3. Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Rizzo’s leadership was arguably more important to the Cubs than anything he accomplished on the field.
That’s not to say Rizzo didn’t have some big moments as he was a consistent offensive presence while being a Gold Glove first baseman.
Rizzo was beloved in Chicago for his charity work and he knew how to lead a young team looking for an elusive title.
Injuries started to plague Rizzo during the end of his Cubs tenure, but he always gave the team everything that he had.
2. Kyle Hendricks
Most Cubs fans would argue that Jon Lester was the best pitcher for the Cubs over the last 10 years, and an argument can be made.
Lester did always come up big in the playoffs, but he wasn’t always dominant during the regular season.
Kyle Hendricks “The Professor,” has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball since arrived in MLB, and his stats speak for themselves.
Hendricks also started the NLCS clinching game and delivered an unbelievable performance on the mound in Game 7 of the World Series.
1. Kris Bryant
The first four names on the list could all be moved around a bit, but there is no argument about which player should be in the top spot.
Kris Bryant was the MVP in 2016 and also won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2015.
There was so much hype surrounding Bryant before he made his debut, and it’s crazy to think that he was actually better than advertised.
That was the case though, and Bryant should be remembered as one of the best players to ever wear the Cubs uniform.
