The Top 20 Cub HR Of All Time - #12 Aramis Ramirez 6/29/2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2008 8:40 AM CST in Baseball Stories

I don't think I have to write too much about this one, because all of us remember it well. Aramis' walkoff completed a 6-5 comeback win over the Brewers, coming back from a 5-0 deficit in the first inning, and was probably the signature moment of the 2007 season.

Here's what I wrote about it at the time.

Courtesy of BCB reader John M, here's a diary that contains three broadcast calls of the HR -- Len Kasper's from TV, Pat & Ron from WGN radio, and Bob Uecker's from WTMJ in Milwaukee.

Those calls ought to warm you up on a snowy day in the Midwest.

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Here is a link to pictures from that day

I was at that game and met Al for the first time. Excellent day. I was worried after the first few innings but they pulled it out in grand fashion.

Pictures

"Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?"

by Jettero2112 on Feb 1, 2008 8:43 AM CST reply actions

I was...

wondering when this one would show on the list. Truly one of the best highlight games of 07...

You ARE freaking out MAN!

by crw89 on Feb 1, 2008 9:17 AM CST reply actions

great day

I was at this gmae with my wife and her girl friend. When it started 5-0 I went and sat by myself. By the end of the game, I was getting a piggy back ride from a man whose name I did not even know. Very fun day.

by gocubsgo22 on Feb 1, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions

I suppose it's easy to say now looking back

But this was a bit of a turning point for both teams.

I know the Cubs had won 6 in a row before that, but this game and the Rockies game earlier in the week (scoring 2 in the ninth after giving up 6) showed that the Cubs weren't out of any game.

And, even though the Brewers won the next day, I think this game is when the doubt started to creep in.

And listening to those calls never gets old.

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 1, 2008 9:41 AM CST reply actions

Sweet!!

Thanks for that! We let us 17 year old son drive down from Wis. Rapids(first time alone), and he called me at work seconds after the blast. He was with his Brewer fan/buddy, and what I remember most was my son kept using the word amazing, over, and over again!

by acdc89 on Feb 1, 2008 9:42 AM CST reply actions

Santo's Call

Hearing Santo's reaction certainly warms up an otherwise cold and snowy day. Makes me think of sun, fun, hope and dreams. Almost as entertaining is Uecker's call. Funny how both ex-players knew instantly that the game was over. I think that this call and the one earlier in the same week against the Rockies made Len Kaspar one of us. Thanks, Al.

by Southside Steve on Feb 1, 2008 10:02 AM CST reply actions

Favorite Game

I live in MD and was actually home for the week visiting my aunt. I don't get to see too many Cubs games anymore but got to watch this one and I was so pissed throughout the whole game and my dad left and stopped watching because he was pissed.

Me being the Cub fan I am, I never stopped watching and I ran upstairs to tell my Dad that the Cubs were threatining and he came back down. When Aram hit the homer, I couldn't even tell you how pumped I was. We went to the Boys club carnival later that night and even the bands playing were talking about this homer. This was the highlight of my vacation by far.

"You rub snot on the ball?" Ricky Vaughn

by McRipper on Feb 1, 2008 10:17 AM CST reply actions

I still have this game on my DVR..

...I have watched the 9th many times.

I had got home in the 7th inning, turned the game on during a confernece call. You can imagine how many times I had to mute my phone.

You never forget these moments.

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Feb 1, 2008 10:36 AM CST reply actions

Goosebumps

it was funny listening to Len Kasper describe his feelings about that call during the WGN TV panel at the Cubs Convention.

"Hello again, everybody. It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball."- Harry Caray

by TkGoUWGB on Feb 1, 2008 11:22 AM CST reply actions

Fun times

I left work early to catch the end of the game, I was watching it laying in bed. I remember right when he hit it I jumped out of bed and was screaming and jumping around by myself...weird, yes.

by slocs55 on Feb 1, 2008 11:35 AM CST reply actions

A Great Memory

Ah yes... I was folding laundry in the bed room when Aramis jacked that ball out of the park. I was screaming and my wife thought I was nuts.

I tried to watch this clip on Cubs.com, but I'm having no luck getting it to play. Not sure if it's cause I'm on a Mac or not...

by digitalbenjamin on Feb 1, 2008 11:50 AM CST reply actions

It was a..............

.........."no doubter" from the minute it left the bat. Cordero just put his head down and walked off.

It landed a few rows in front of me. I just recall jumping up and down and the crowd going absolutely wild.

by tville on Feb 1, 2008 11:55 AM CST reply actions

Does anyone know...

Where I can find the video clip of Len and Bob's call? It's no longer on youtube.

by GoCubsGo11 on Feb 1, 2008 11:58 AM CST reply actions

Go to...

Cubs.com. Under "Top Plays Archive" or something like that, it's one of the highlights for the day. I watch that clip fairly often, it keeps me going during the off-season...

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Feb 2, 2008 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

See the post by Gavin below...

... for the link.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 2, 2008 9:58 AM CST up reply actions

ARam's grand slam in game four of the '03

NLCS. Far bigger, far more important, but I guess less memorable since it was way back there four and a half years ago and it didn't happen at Wrigley Field? Neither season ended a success so...

Anyway, I was at both and the grand slam had realistic visions of the World Series dancing in our heads. This game, while thrilling for a regular season game, moved the team a game closer to the Milwaukee Brewers in a watered down NL Central.

I guess this is how things like Cal Ripken's consecutive games streak ends up beating out Bobby Thomson's homer and DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak in fan voting for greatest moments in baseball. What is most recent is remembered best.

by TR on Feb 1, 2008 12:22 PM CST reply actions

This one...

... you could argue is more meaningful because it was a walkoff, won a game that appeared lost, and was the signature moment of an entire season.

The GS in the NLCS? Big, sure. Won a game, yes. Ultimately, they lost the series. I was at the game in Miami, too. Yes, I had the same WS visions that you did.

Has nothing to do with how recent it was.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2008 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

And...

...there are eleven more to be listed.

You would rather sit on your couch and watch a [Cubs] game than go out to a movie with your awesome girlfriend. / Absolutely correct.

by mastodon on Feb 1, 2008 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

downer much?

what a negative nancy ....

by dkowal22 on Feb 1, 2008 12:28 PM CST reply actions

Anyone who wants to watch this

It's linked near the top of this page.

GOATBUSTERS! - I ain't afraid of no goat!

by gjdow on Feb 1, 2008 12:31 PM CST reply actions

i was there too...

being from FL i get to make 1-2 trips a year up there and this was one of them

i had surprised my father with tickets, airfare, and hotel for his birthday gift

sitting there down 5-0 in the 1st inning with Rich Hill laboring, the place was DEAD

the whole game the energy had kind of been sapped from the stadium after everyone was so amped to start the big weekend series

then we got a few back in the 4th, squeezed one through in the 7th... but still you didnt feel like we were going to pull it out

and then all of the sudden like a gun shot Rami lined the 1st pitch he saw into the LF bleachers and chaos broke out

I don't get to go to many Chicago sporting events with my dad since we both live in South Florida... but to be able to see this game and the Super Bowl in the same year was an AMAZING experience

nothing will ever compare to how i felt after the Hester kick return, but this came awfully damn close

by DartmouthCubsFan on Feb 1, 2008 1:05 PM CST reply actions

Fabulous!

That't the most appropriate word I can come up with to describe it. I was screaming and jumping around like a mad woman in my living room. Good thing the AC was on. The neighbors may have thought I was being murdered! My W flag flew extra proudly that day :-D

"The only way to prove that you're a good sport is to lose." ~ Ernie Banks

by love the ivy on Feb 1, 2008 1:41 PM CST reply actions

driving home

listening to pat and ron on mlb radio through my cell phone. I was in the middle of an intersection when ARAM smacked the ball out of the park. It was amazing. However, i think game 3 of the series against Atlanta was the turning point of the season. The grand slam by Mark DeRosa in the first was critical because this was the game following Lou's ejection. Of course, being from the south m/b i'm biased because I despise the braves.

by karlh78 on Feb 1, 2008 2:23 PM CST reply actions

Agreed

That ATL game was THE turning point for the Cubs, but 6/29 was a key, too. Had they lost, it could have looked like they gained momentum and made up ground until they played the supposed "big boys". 6.5 out looks a lot better than 8.5 out.

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 1, 2008 3:35 PM CST up reply actions

Here is...

... a video shot by someone sitting in the lower boxes behind the plate:

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2008 2:30 PM CST reply actions

Don't have access to YouTube at work...

...but there's a vid there taken from the left-center bleachers of it. Crowd converses as Ramirez walks to the plate, ding, place goes wild.

Oh, and I was here at work during this game watching the box score update while taking it on the chin from all the Cards fans here (in St Louis). After a lifetime of waiting the thing finally refreshes and my heart's suddenly in my throat. Ramazing.

You would rather sit on your couch and watch a [Cubs] game than go out to a movie with your awesome girlfriend. / Absolutely correct.

by mastodon on Feb 1, 2008 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

I was kind of in the same boat

I was in a library (in Wisconsin, being derided by Brewers fans) keeping tabs on gameday. As soon as I saw "In play run(s) scored" my sister called IMMEDIATELY screaming into her phone. I grabbed everything I had and bolted out of the library to get to my car so I could listen to the rest of the broadcast on WGN.

Those calls are still amazing, especially Uecker's.

by morgane on Feb 1, 2008 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

I love watching

this video. Not because of the great camera work, but because it helps me remember just how it feels to be in the stands when something that awesome happens. Wrigley literally vibrates. Love it, love it, love it!

"The only way to prove that you're a good sport is to lose." ~ Ernie Banks

by love the ivy on Feb 1, 2008 5:16 PM CST up reply actions

I think...

... the fact that the camera shakes and can't keep steady and shows the crowd as well as the field, and the camera operator yelling, "YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH", captures the moment perfectly.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2008 7:29 PM CST up reply actions

I was in my cubicle at work...

...listening to the 'GN broadcast on Gameday Audio, hoping, praying for those one of those rare baseball miracles -- the walk-off home run. Actually, I think I was just hoping for a hit...or a walk...or anything to extend the inning. When I heard Pat Hughes' call ("...drives one in the air!!!"), I bolted upright out of my ergonomic chair, extended both arms, clenched my fists, closed my eyes and let out a silent scream of utter bliss.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Feb 1, 2008 4:27 PM CST reply actions

I was having lunch...

at a sports bar in LA. I remember leaping out of my seat and yelling "THAT'S GONE!" the moment that Aram made contact, followed by a "F--- YEAAAH!" when it landed in the seats. Apparently I was the only Cub fan in the place because everyone turned to look at me. I smiled, apologized to the waitress and quietly sat back down. One of my most vivid memories of last summer.

by joekun on Feb 2, 2008 12:16 AM CST reply actions

D-Lee's HRs

He had a couple memorable ones in 2007. Early in the year against the sox- the pinch-hit salami at wrigley after being out for about a week with a 'neck' injury, cubs were up 7-6 in the 8th after a come from behind rally. That slam was awesome and sealed the win.

early september, cubs down by a run in the 8th against the stros, D-Lee hit a 2-run shot to LF with 2 outs off Chad Qualls for the GW HR and they held on.

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Feb 2, 2008 1:49 AM CST reply actions

Aramis' HR against milwaukee

wow, I've watched and listened to that 50 times. never gets old. I like all 3 calls. For some reason I like Uecker's the best. It was a turning point in the season.

a two-game swing. I'm not sure the cubs would have gone on to win the division if not for that. instead of 8.5 games out, the cubs were suddenly 6.5 out, and got back to .500 at 39-39.

Lost in the mayhem was Rod Beck's funeral, which was held the day before.

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Feb 2, 2008 1:56 AM CST reply actions