Aramis Ramirez stepped up to the plate for the Cubs and delivered a walk-off win over the Brewers in 2007. Tune-in as 2000’s Week continues Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network.

June 29, 2007: Ramirez’s walk-off homer

In a season that had the Cubs playing under .500 often during their first 80 games, this game helped turn around the season for newly named manager Lou Piniella and his club. Piniella was brought in to replace Dusty Baker after a very poor 2006 season.

The Cubs had parted ways with long time team president Andy MacPhail after a 12-year run. John McDonough was named team president in that offseason and worked with VP of business Crane Kenney and GM Jim Hendry to sign superstar outfielder Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $126 million deal. 

This game featured left-handed pitcher Rich Hill against rookie Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo. The North Siders were riding the waves of a six-game winning streak when the first-place Brewers came to town. Hill surrendered 5 runs in the 1st inning that included a three-run homer from Kevin Mench. After Hill left the game in the 4th, the bullpen put up 6 innings of shutout ball.

That helps set the stage for a 9th-inning come-from-behind walk-off win. Trailing 5-3 in the 9th, Francisco Cordero entered the game. He got Ryan Theriot on a pop up to the second base. Both Soriano and Mike Fontenot singled. With men on second and third, Derrek Lee hit a sac fly to deep right field.

Enter Ramirez. Down 5-4, he jumped on the first pitch and drove a breaking ball into the right-field bleachers for an improbable walk-off home run and a raucous reception by his teammates at home plate.

Fun facts of 2007

• On the very day of the Ramirez walk-off, the first iPhone was first released
• Of course, the most famous person in America was Apple creator Steve Jobs
• The minimum wage was $5.85 per hour.
• Time magazine’s person of the year was Vladimir Putin.

Click here to see the full schedule of 2000’s Week, presented by Prevagen on Marquee Sports Network.

Bruce Levine contributed to this article.