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7 ways world has changed since Cubs last one-game playoff

Cubs fans have been through this before - a single game that decides whether the longtime-losing team gets to move on to a full playoff series. That's what will happen Wednesday night when they play the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh for the right to play the St. Louis Cardinals in the next round.

Last time, the year was 1998, when the Cubs played a one-game tiebreaker against the San Francisco Giants to advance to the National League Division Series.

That wasn't that long ago.

Or was it?

In 1998 ...

Kris Bryant was 6 years old.

The Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant was born in 1992, just six years before the Cubs' last one-game playoff. Associated Press File Photo

If the Cubs' star third baseman watched that fateful game in 1998, he had to stay up way past his bedtime to do it.

Sinking ship. End of the world.

"Titanic" was named best picture at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony. Associated Press File Photo

At the Academy Awards ceremony in 1998, “Titanic” won best picture. The second-best box office movie of 1998 was “Armageddon.”

Sammy Sosa hit 66 home runs.

Sammy Sosa made home-run history in 1998. Daily Herald File Photo

Back before baseball fans were as savvy about steroid use, the Cubs slugger was in a memorable duel with the Cardinals' Mark McGwire in a history-making home run race.

Jim Edgar was Illinois governor.

Jim Edgar was finishing his second term as Illinois governor in 1998. Associated Press File Photo

George Ryan would be elected a month after the one-game playoff to succeed Edgar and serve his only scandal-plagued term as governor.

The Bears were terrible.

Dave Wannstedt's Bears were a few losses into an eventual 4-12 season in October 1998. Associated Press file photo

The Bears were a few losses into an eventual 4-12 season in October 1998. Head coach Dave Wannstedt would later lose his job.

Clinton was impeached.

Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998. Associated Press File Photo

In December 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached in an inquiry led by the late Rep. Henry Hyde of Wood Dale.

Look it up.

Google was incorporated in California in 1998. Associated Press File Photo

Google incorporated in California in 1998, giving new Cubs fans a way to find out about their team's narrow playoff history.

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