Long before the 2015 Chicago Cubs reached the National League Championship Series, former skipper Lou Piniella led this club to back-to-back N.L. Central titles from 2007 to 2008.
Despite taking the division from the St. Louis Cardinals, both postseason runs were cut short as the Cubs were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers during the National League Division Series. And then the regular season awards were handed out.
Emerging as the 2008 N.L. Rookie of the Year was Chicago’s 318th overall pick from the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, catcher Geovany Soto.