Let’s get something straight here; as a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, I will tell you right now that the final out of the 2016 World Series will always be the best “call” in my book. That was the defining moment of my life as a Northsider, and something that will stay with me for all of eternity.

It was a special moment for Cubs fans, and the city of Chicago as a whole. It was a moment that will NEVER be topped, and there is nothing that you can say or do that will change my mind. BUT, putting 2016 aside……there was another memorable “call” in Cubs lore that sent goosebumps up and down my spine.

That call happened 7-years ago TO THIS DAY, and it can be explained in just four words…….”SANTA MARIA, WALKOFF SLAM!!!!!”

7 years ago today, the Cubs were down to their last strike until David Bote hit a walk-off GRAND SLAM 🤯pic.twitter.com/V1e01k5jdz

— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) August 12, 2025

David Bote, who spent six years in Chicago between 2018 and 2024, was brought into this game as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth of a 3-0 game. Prior to his entrance, former Cubs’ great Cole Hamels had completed a stellar 7-inning outing where he only gave one run to the Washington Nationals. But in the top of the ninth, former Cubs’ reliever Brandon Kintzler would give up a two-run single to Ryan Zimmerman, making the deficit for the home team almost insurmountable.

It seemed like all was lost. But after an infield single by Jason Heyward, and Contreras and Almora being hit by pitches…..the time had come. The bases were chock-full of Cubbie-Blue pinstripes, and all we needed was one hit. All we needed was one blast, by the product of Longmont, Colorado.

Then, with 2 outs and a 2-2 count……David Bote launched an absolute NUKE to the suites in center field. He came off the bench in one of the biggest moments of his career, and play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian left baseball fans speechless with a perfectly timed “SANTA MARIA!”

It was like an exclamation point on an already beautiful moment. David Bote, and August 12th, will forever be known as the “SANTA MARIA” game in my eyes. It was an entertaining way to end an entertaining game, and it was one of those small moments that I (as a baseball fan) can look back on and say; “Wow! That was something, wasn’t it?”

Hopefully this team can have some moments like this to end THIS season. But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.