In case you haven't heard, the Cubs beat the Cardinals Saturday to clinch the NL Central. Not only will this be the first time in a century that the Cubs have reached the post-season in consecutive years, according to WGN Radio, it is also the earliest date on which the Cubs have ever secured a post-season berth.

Here is how the last five Cub teams to reach the post-season got there:

2007
On September 28, the Cubs beat the Reds, 6-0, in Cincinnati to go three games up on the Brewers with two to play. The Cubs finished 85-77, two games ahead of Milwaukee.

2003
On September 27, the Cubs beat the Pirates 7-2 in the first game of a doubleheader with the Pirates to go three games up on the Astros with two to play. (The Cubs won the second game of the DH as well, 4-2.) The Cubs finished 88-73, two games ahead of Houston.

1998
On September 28, the Cubs beat the Giants, 5-3, in a one-game Wild Card playoff at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished 90-73 (including the one-game playoff), which was 12 1/2 games worse than Houston, who won the Central, but one, very important game better than the Giants.

1989
On September 26, the Cubs beat the Expos (remember them?), 3-2, in Montreal, to go five games up on the Cardinals in the National League East with four games to play. The Cubs finished 93-69, six games ahead of the Mets, who slid past St. Louis into second.

1984
On September 24, the Cubs beat the Pirates, 4-1, in Pittsburgh to go 6 1/2 games up on the Mets with six to play. The Cubs finished 95-65, 6 1/2 games ahead of New York.