1984 Chicago Cubs season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1984 Chicago Cubs
National League East Champs
Major league affiliations
Location
1984 Information
Owner(s) Tribune Company
Manager(s) Jim Frey
Local television WGN-TV/Superstation WGN
(Harry Caray, Steve Stone)
Local radio WGN
(Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Milo Hamilton)
Stats ESPN.com

BB-reference

The Chicago Cubs' 1984 season was the 109th season for the Cubs. The team finished with a record of 96-65 in first place of the National League Eastern Division. Chicago was managed by Jim Frey and the general manager was Dallas Green. The Cubs played at Wrigley Field, and their postseason appearance in this season was their first since 1945.

The Cubs pitching staff included 1984 Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe, and the lineup included 1984 Baseball Most Valuable Player Award winner and future Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg. Frey was awarded Manager of the Year for the National League for leading the Cubs to 96 victories. The Cubs were defeated in the 1984 National League Championship Series by the San Diego Padres three games to two.

Contents

[edit] Spring Training

The Cubs began their third season under the control of the Tribune Company and Dallas Green in Mesa, Arizona in Feb. 1984. The previous year, the Cubs had fired manager Lee Elia during a 71-91 campaign, but the Cubs showed flashes of being competitive. As late as July 4, the Cubs were within a game of first place. After the 1983 season, general manager Green hired Jim Frey, the former Kansas City Royals manager who was Green's adversary during the 1980 World Series. The Cubs opened camp with only a few new players. Richie Hebner, the former Pittsburgh Pirate, was signed as a free agent. The Cubs also made a three-way deal with San Diego and Montreal, sending Craig Lefferts and Carmelo Martínez to the Padres, and getting Scott Sanderson from the Expos. The Cubs struggled in Cactus League action, so Green began to rebuild the team before it left Mesa. Green began by controversially releasing future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, who was just 12 games shy of winning 300 games. Jenkins' release ended the right-hander's second stint with the Cubs, and effectively, his career. Green's biggest move of the spring came on March 26, when he sent journeyman reliever Bill Campbell and catcher Mike Diaz to Philadelphia for pitcher Porfi Altamirano and outfielders Gary Matthews and Bobby Dernier.

[edit] Regular Season

The Cubs rebuilt the starting pitching staff through a series of trades by Dallas Green after a disappointing 1983 season where they went 71-91. Green had been brought to the Cubs by the Tribune company which purchased the team in 1981. Before the season started, Green dealt Carmelo Martínez, Craig Lefferts, and Fritzie Connally to acquire right-hander Scott Sanderson[1]. On May 25, the Cubs traded Bill Buckner to the Boston Red Sox for righty Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley[2]. Finally on June 13, Mel Hall, Joe Carter, Don Schulze, and Darryl Banks were sent to the Cleveland Indians for starter Rick Sutcliffe, George Frazier, and Ron Hassey[3]. The acquisition of these three starters solidified the rotation for the year.

The Cubs opened up the season going 12-8 in April, and were tied for first place with the New York Mets and a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. The race stayed tight through the first half of the season, with the Cubs and Phillies tied at 42-34 on June 30, with the Mets trailing by just one and a half games. The second half of the season was different, with the Cubs posting a 54-31 record, with the Mets trailing, and the Phillies slumping back to a .500 record[4].

A key game during the season occurred on June 23 at Wrigley, with the Cubs facing the rival St. Louis Cardinals on the nationally televised "game of the week". The Cardinals led throughout the game, and led 9-8 going into the bottom of the ninth with future hall-of-fame closer Bruce Sutter on the mound. 24 year-old second baseman Ryne Sandberg led off the ninth with a solo home run into the left-field bleachers, tying the game at nine[5]. The following inning, St. Louis regained the lead, and Sutter stayed in the game attempting to close out the win. After the first two batters were retired, Bob Dernier walked, bringing up Sandberg again. He promptly hit another game-tying home run into the left-field bleachers, sending the Wrigley fans into a frenzy[5]. The Cardinals did not score in the top of the 11th, but the Cubs loaded the bases on three walks, then rookie Dave Owen singled in the winning run[6]. Ryne Sandberg had 7 RBI in the game. On September 3, 1984, Rick Sutcliffe had 15 strikeouts in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Cubs ended their playoff drought on September 24 at Three Rivers Stadium in front of just over 5,000 fans[7]. Rick Sutcliffe threw a two-hit complete game for his sixteenth straight victory, and the Cubs won the National League East[7].

[edit] Opening Day Starters


[edit] Season Standings

National League
Rank Club Wins Losses Win %   GB
East Division
1st Chicago Cubs   96 65 .596    --
2nd New York Mets   90 72 .556   6.5
3rd St. Louis Cardinals   84 78 .519 12.5
4th Philadelphia Phillies   81 81 .500 15.5
5th Montréal Expos   78 83 .484 18.0
6th Pittsburgh Pirates   75 87 .463 21.5
West Division
1st San Diego Padres   92 70 .568    --
2nd Atlanta Braves   80 82 .494 12.0
2nd Houston Astros   80 82 .494 12.0
4th Los Angeles Dodgers   79 83 .488 13.0
5th Cincinnati Reds   70 92 .432 22.0
6th San Francisco Giants   66 96 .407 26.0

[edit] Notable Transactions

  • May 25, 1984: Dennis Eckersley was traded by the Boston Red Sox with Mike Brumley to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Buckner.
  • June 13, 1984: Rick Sutcliffe was traded by the Cleveland Indians with George Frazier and Ron Hassey to the Chicago Cubs for Mel Hall, Joe Carter, Don Schulze, and Darryl Banks (minors).

[edit] Roster

1984 Chicago Cubs roster
view • talk • edit
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

[edit] Game Log

1984 Game Log
April (12-8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info
1 April 3 @ Giants 5 - 3 Ruthven (1-0) M. Davis (0-1) Smith (1) 52,700 1-0 Opening Day
2 April 5 @ Giants 11 - 7 Rainey (1-0) Krukow (0-1) Smith (2) 8,460 2-0
3 April 6 @ Padres 3 - 2 Monge (1-0) Smith (0-1) 15,835 2-1
4 April 7 @ Padres 7 - 6 Dravecky (1-0) Trout (0-1) Gossage (2) 27,799 2-2
5 April 8 @ Padres 8 - 5 Smith (1-1) Thurmond (0-1) 24,285 3-2
6 April 9 @ Dodgers 4 - 2 Reuss (1-0) Rainey (1-1) Niedenfuer (1) 33,284 3-3
7 April 11 @ Dodgers 2 - 1 Honeycutt (1-0) Sanderson (0-1) 38,466 3-4
8 April 13 Mets 11 - 2 Trout (1-1) Gooden (1-1) 33,436 4-4
9 April 14 Mets 5 - 2 Ruthven (2-0) Leary (1-1) Smith (3) 15,789 5-4
10 April 18 Cardinals 5 - 0 Andujar (2-1) Rainey (1-2) 0 5-5
11 April 18 Cardinals 6 - 1 Sanderson (1-1) LaPoint (1-2) 5,816 6-5
12 April 19 Cardinals 6 - 1 Trout (2-1) Cox (2-1) 8,086 7-5
13 April 20 Pirates 5 - 4 Stoddard (1-0) Tekulve (0-1) 22,049 8-5
14 April 21 Pirates 8 - 5 DeLeon (1-0) Noles (0-1) Robinson (3) 21,936 8-6
15 April 23 @ Cardinals 6 - 2 Sanderson (2-1) LaPoint (1-3) 12,468 9-6
16 April 24 @ Cardinals 3 - 2 Stoddard (2-0) Sutter (0-1) Smith (4) 19,639 10-6
17 April 25 @ Cardinals 7 - 5 Lahti (1-1) Ruthven (2-1) Sutter (5) 24,978 10-7
18 April 27 @ Pirates 3 - 2 Rhoden (2-2) Rainey (1-3) Tekulve (2) 9,057 10-8
19 April 28 @ Pirates 7 - 1 Sanderson (3-1) McWilliams (0-3) 17,317 11-8
20 April 29 @ Pirates 2 - 1 Trout (3-1) Candelaria (3-2) Smith (5) 13,397 12-8
May (15-12)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info
21 May 1 @ Mets 8 - 1 Gooden (2-1) Ruthven (2-2) 13,906 12-9
22 May 2 @ Mets 4 - 3 Lynch (3-0) Smith (1-2) 11,059 12-10
23 May 4 Padres 7 - 6 Smith (2-2) Monge (2-1) 6,533 13-10
24 May 5 Padres 6 - 5 Brusstar (1-0) Lefferts (0-1) 28,441 14-10
25 May 6 Padres 8 - 5 Show (5-1) Ruthven (2-3) 31,700 14-11
26 May 7 Giants 10 - 7 Rainey (2-3) M. Davis (0-4) Stoddard (1) 6,002 15-11
27 May 8 Giants 12 - 11 Smith (3-2) Minton (1-2) 4,645 16-11
28 May 9 Dodgers 7 - 0 Sanderson (4-1) Hooton (0-1) Bordi (1) 7,908 17-11
29 May 10 Dodgers 5 - 1 Welch (3-3) Trout (3-2) 15,747 17-12
30 May 11 @ Astros 3 - 1 Ryan (3-2) Ruthven (2-4) DiPino (5) 16,829 17-13
31 May 12 @ Astros 5 - 4 Noles (1-1) DiPino (1-2) Smith (6) 20,737 18-13
32 May 13 @ Astros 1 - 0 Madden (1-1) Reuschel (0-1) Ruhle (2) 13,405 18-14
33 May 15 @ Reds 6 - 3 Noles (2-1) Pastore (2-3) Stoddard (2) 13,074 19-14
34 May 16 @ Reds 10 - 4 Trout (4-2) Russell (2-4) 12,899 20-14
35 May 17 @ Reds 5 - 3 Soto (6-1) Ruthven (2-5) 18,974 20-15
36 May 18 Astros 7 - 6 Stoddard (3-0) Smith (0-1) 16,812 21-15
37 May 19 Astros 5 - 4 Reuschel (1-1) Dawley (2-3) Smith (7) 34,122 22-15
38 May 20 Astros 10 - 3 Bordi (1-0) M. Scott (2-2) 27,503 23-15
39 May 23 Braves 3 - 1 Trout (5-2) McMurtry (3-5) Smith (8) 15,860 24-15
40 May 24 Braves 10 - 7 Rainey (3-3) Perez (3-1) Brusstar (1) 0 25-15
41 May 24 Braves 7 - 5 Reuschel (2-1) Falcone (2-5) Bordi (2) 24,551 26-15
42 May 25 Reds 3 - 0 Hume (3-4) Noles (2-2) Power (1) 11,266 26-16
43 May 26 Reds 7 - 6 Scherrer (1-0) Trout (5-3) Power (2) 31,556 26-17
44 May 27 Reds 4 - 3 Berenyi (2-5) Eckersley (0-1) 38,060 26-18
45 May 29 @ Braves 7 - 4 Perez (4-1) Brusstar (1-1) Forster (3) 15,156 26-19
46 May 30 @ Braves 6 - 2 Trout (6-3) Barker (4-5) Smith (9) 16,660 27-19
47 May 31 @ Phillies 10 - 2 Hudson (6-3) Rainey (3-4) 25,044 27-20
June (15-14)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info
48 June 1 @ Phillies 12 - 3 Reuschel (3-1) Bystrom (2-2) 30,076 28-20
49 June 2 @ Phillies 3 - 2 Holland (4-2) Smith (3-3) 40,102 28-21
50 June 3 @ Phillies 11 - 2 Trout (7-3) K. Gross (1-1) Brusstar (2) 30,278 29-21
51 June 5 @ Expos 3 - 2 Rainey (4-4) Smith (5-5) Smith (10) 25,810 30-21
52 June 6 @ Expos 8 - 1 Gullickson (2-5) Reuschel (3-2) 15,686 30-22
53 June 7 @ Expos 2 - 1 Lea (10-2) Eckersley (0-2) 14,976 30-23
54 June 8 @ Cardinals 5 - 4 Lahti (2-1) Stoddard (3-1) Sutter (14) 38,457 30-24
55 June 9 @ Cardinals 5 - 0 Bordi (2-0) Stuper (2-3) 48,869 31-24
56 June 10 @ Cardinals 2 - 0 Rainey (5-4) Andujar (10-5) Smith (11) 43,035 32-24
87 June 11 Expos 2 - 1 James (2-3) Smith (3-4) 21,231 32-25
58 June 12 Expos 11 - 4 Eckersley (1-2) Lea (10-3) 22,512 33-25
59 June 13 Expos 7 - 4 Stoddard (4-1) Lucas (0-1) Smith (12) 22,388 34-25
60 June 14 Phillies 11 - 2 Carlton (4-3) Bordi (2-1) 23,373 34-26
61 June 15 Phillies 5 - 2 Hudson (7-4) Rainey (5-5) Holland (14) 27,489 34-27
32 June 16 Phillies 8 - 2 Bystrom (3-3) Reuschel (3-3) 40,723 34-28
63 June 17 Phillies 9 - 7 K. Gross (3-2) Eckersley (1-3) Holland (15) 36,882 34-29
64 June 19 @ Pirates 4 - 3 Sutcliffe (1-0) Tudor (4-4) Smith (13) 9,377 35-29
65 June 20 @ Pirates 5 - 1 DeLeon (4-4) Rainey (5-6) 7,767 35-30
66 June 21 @ Pirates 8 - 6 Rhoden (5-5) Eckersley (1-4) Tekulve (6) 8,267 35-31
67 June 22 Cardinals 9 - 3 Reuschel (4-3) Stuper (2-5) Smith (14) 33,723 36-31
68 June 23 Cardinals 12 - 11 Smith (4-4) Rucker (1-1) 38,079 37-31 The Sandberg Game
69 June 24 Cardinals 5 - 0 Sutcliffe (2-0) Horton (3-1) 39,494 38-31
70 June 25 Pirates 3 - 0 DeLeon (5-4) Rainey (5-7) 19,036 38-32
71 June 26 Pirates 9 - 0 Rhoden (6-5) Eckersley (1-5) 0 38-33
72 June 26 Pirates 9 - 8 Bordi (3-1) McWilliams (4-6) Smith (15) 28,369 39-33
73 June 27 Pirates 8 - 7 Stoddard (5-1) Scurry (1-4) 37,055 40-33
74 June 28 @ Dodgers 5 - 3 Trout (8-3) Pena (8-4) Stoddard (3) 37,659 41-33
75 June 29 @ Dodgers 7 - 1 Hershiser (3-3) Sutcliffe (2-1) 43,700 41-34
76 June 30 @ Dodgers 14 - 4 Frazier (1-0) Howell (0-1) Stoddard (4) 47,991 42-34
July (18-10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info
77 July 1 @ Dodgers 4 - 3 Eckersley (2-5) Valenzuela (8-9) Brusstar (3) 47,460 43-34
78 July 2 @ Padres 5 - 1 Dravecky (5-4) Reuschel (4-4) 13,444 43-35
79 July 3 @ Padres 3 - 2 Trout (9-3) Thurmond (5-4) Stoddard (5) 20,287 44-35
80 July 4 @ Padres 2 - 1 Sutcliffe (3-1) Show (8-6) Smith (16) 52,134 45-35
81 July 5 @ Giants 9 - 3 Sanderson (5-1) Laskey (4-8) Bordi (3) 6,854 46-35
82 July 6 @ Giants 5 - 4 Stoddard (6-1) Minton (1-6) Smith (17) 11,071 47-35
83 July 7 @ Giants 7 - 2 Krukow (5-7) Reuschel (4-5) 16,662 47-36
84 July 8 @ Giants 6 - 3 Sutcliffe (4-1) M. Davis (3-8) Smith (18) 22,223 48-36
85 July 12 Dodgers 3 - 2 Stoddard (7-1) Niedenfuer (1-5) 33,129 49-36
86 July 13 Dodgers 7 - 5 Sutcliffe (5-1) Welch (6-10) Smith (19) 33,915 50-36
87 July 14 Dodgers 8 - 0 Hershiser (5-3) Sanderson (5-2) 39,396 50-37
88 July 15 Dodgers 4 - 1 Eckersley (3-5) Valenzuela (8-10) Smith (20) 39,574 51-37
89 July 16 Padres 4 - 0 Thurmond (6-5) Ruthven (2-6) 23,642 51-38
90 July 17 Padres 6 - 5 Show (10-6) Trout (9-4) Gossage (16) 29,499 51-39
91 July 18 Padres 4 - 1 Sutcliffe (6-1) Whitson (10-5) 27,471 52-39
92 July 19 Giants 6 - 4 Frazier (2-0) M. Davis (3-10) Stoddard (6) 22,523 53-39
93 July 20 Giants 3 - 2 Robinson (5-11) Eckersley (3-6) Minton (10) 27,259 53-40
94 July 21 Giants 4 - 3 Bordi (4-1) Minton (1-7) 37,527 54-40
95 July 22 Giants 11 - 5 Krukow (7-8) Trout (9-5) 37,096 54-41
96 July 23 @ Phillies 3 - 2 Sutcliffe (7-1) Rawley (3-2) Smith (21) 32,243 55-41
97 July 24 @ Phillies 3 - 2 Koosman (12-7) Stoddard (7-2) Holland (22) 37,063 55-42
98 July 25 @ Phillies 9 - 4 Eckersley (4-6) Hudson (8-8) 45,183 56-42
99 July 27 @ Mets 2 - 1 Gooden (9-6) Ruthven (2-7) Orosco (21) 51,102 56-43
100 July 28 @ Mets 11 - 4 Smith (5-4) Sisk (1-3) 37,518 57-43
101 July 29 @ Mets 3 - 0 Trout (10-5) Terrell (8-8) 0 58-43
102 July 29 @ Mets 5 - 1 Sanderson (6-2) Berenyi (7-11) 50,443 59-43
103 July 30 Phillies 3 - 2 Eckersley (5-6) Hudson (8-9) Smith (22) 29,425 60-43
104 July 31 Phillies 2 - 1 Holland (5-5) Stoddard (7-3) Campbell (1) 30,175 60-44
August (20-10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info
105 August 1 Phillies 5 - 4 Smith (6-4) Holland (5-6) 32,900 61-44
106 August 2 Expos 3 - 2 Sutcliffe (8-1) Smith (9-9) Smith (23) 22,485 62-44
107 August 3 Expos 6 - 5 Reardon (4-4) Stoddard (7-4) 28,483 62-45
108 August 4 Expos 4 - 1 Eckersley (6-6) Schatzeder (4-3) Frazier (1) 38,306 63-45
109 August 5 Expos 4 - 3 Reuschel (5-5) Grapenthin (0-1) Smith (24) 35,142 64-45
110 August 6 Mets 9 - 3 Ruthven (3-7) Gooden (9-8) 31,793 65-45
111 August 7 Mets 8 - 6 Sutcliffe (9-1) Darling (10-5) Frazier (2) 0 66-45
112 August 7 Mets 8 - 4 Stoddard (8-4) Lynch (8-7) Smith (25) 39,271 67-45
113 August 8 Mets 7 - 6 Smith (7-4) Gardner (1-1) Stoddard (7) 37,292 68-45
114 August 9 @ Expos 1 - 0 Schatzeder (5-3) Frazier (2-1) 20,227 68-46
115 August 10 @ Expos 2 - 1 James (5-4) Stoddard (8-5) 21,566 68-47
116 August 11 @ Expos 2 - 1 Smith (8-4) Lea (14-8) 30,494 69-47
117 August 12 @ Expos 7 - 3 Sutcliffe (10-1) Rogers (3-12) 28,464 70-47
118 August 13 @ Astros 2 - 1 Dawley (7-4) Sanderson (6-3) 14,793 70-48
119 August 14 @ Astros 7 - 6 Solano (1-2) Frazier (2-2) DiPino (10) 18,756 70-49
120 August 15 @ Astros 6 - 2 Knepper (12-8) Eckersley (6-7) DiPino (11) 19,999 70-50
121 August 17 @ Reds 6 - 4 Soto (13-6) Ruthven (3-8) 35,038 70-51
122 August 18 @ Reds 13 - 11 Sutcliffe (11-1) Robinson (0-1) Smith (26) 32,256 71-51
123 August 19 @ Reds 9 - 6 Frazier (3-2) Russell (5-14) 38,404 72-51
124 August 20 Astros 6 - 1 Trout (11-5) Knepper (12-9) 26,967 73-51
125 August 21 Astros 11 - 5 Eckersley (7-7) M. Scott (5-11) 29,184 74-51
126 August 22 Astros 8 - 3 Ryan (11-7) Ruthven (3-9) 31,018 74-52
127 August 24 Braves 3 - 0 Sutcliffe (12-1) Camp (6-6) 35,496 75-52
128 August 25 Braves 3 - 2 Mahler (9-8) Sanderson (6-4) 36,614 75-53
129 August 26 Braves 5 - 0 Trout (12-5) Perez (11-6) 35,002 76-53
130 August 28 Reds 5 - 2 Eckersley (8-7) McGaffigan (3-6) Frazier (3) 0 77-53
131 August 28 Reds 5 - 2 Ruthven (4-9) Pastore (3-8) Bordi (4) 32,827 78-53
132 August 29 Reds 7 - 2 Sutcliffe (13-1) Russell (6-15) 26,425 79-53
133 August 30 @ Braves 8 - 3 Smith (9-4) Garber (2-4) 10,876 80-53
134 August 31 @ Braves 3 - 2 Moore (3-3) Smith (9-5) 19,396 80-54
September (16-11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info
135 September 1 @ Braves 4 - 1 Bordi (5-1) McMurtry (8-14) Smith (27) 28,821 81-54
136 September 2 @ Braves 4 - 2 Ruthven (5-9) Mahler (9-9) Smith (28) 26,106 82-54
137 September 3 @ Phillies 4 - 3 Frazier (4-2) Martin (1-2) Smith (29) 28,162 83-54
138 September 4 @ Phillies 7 - 2 Sanderson (7-4) Carlton (11-7) 25,054 84-54
139 September 5 @ Expos 3 - 1 Palmer (6-3) Trout (12-6) Grapenthin (2) 12,623 84-55
140 September 6 @ Expos 4 - 1 Frazier (5-2) Lea (15-10) Smith (30) 13,089 85-55
141 September 7 @ Mets 10 - 0 Gooden (15-8) Ruthven (5-10) 46,301 85-56
142 September 8 @ Mets 6 - 0 Sutcliffe (14-1) Terrell (10-11) 42,810 86-56
143 September 9 @ Mets 5 - 1 Darling (12-6) Frazier (5-3) 34,956 86-57
144 September 10 Phillies 3 - 2 Stoddard (9-5) Koosman (14-12) Smith (31) 26,083 87-57
145 September 11 Phillies 6 - 3 Hudson (9-10) Smith (9-6) Holland (29) 28,964 87-58
146 September 12 Expos 11 - 5 Stoddard (10-5) Smith (11-12) 20,976 88-58
147 September 14 Mets 7 - 1 Sutcliffe (15-1) Darling (12-7) 32,403 89-58
148 September 15 Mets 5 - 4 Sanderson (8-4) Fernandez (4-6) Smith (32) 38,653 90-58
149 September 16 Mets 9 - 3 Berenyi (12-13) Trout (12-7) 38,936 90-59
150 September 18 Pirates 6 - 2 Tudor (10-11) Eckersley (8-8) Robinson (9) 30,721 90-60
151 September 19 Pirates 11 - 6 McWilliams (11-10) Stoddard (10-6) Winn (1) 31,585 90-61
152 September 20 Pirates 7 - 6 Tekulve (3-9) Smith (9-7) Candelaria (1) 33,651 90-62
153 September 21 @ Cardinals 8 - 0 Kepshire (5-5) Sanderson (8-5) 36,847 90-63
154 September 23 @ Cardinals 8 - 1 Trout (13-7) Ownbey (0-3) 0 91-63
155 September 23 @ Cardinals 4 - 2 Eckersley (9-8) Andujar (19-14) Smith (33) 46,083 92-63
156 September 24 @ Pirates 4 - 1 Sutcliffe (16-1) McWilliams (11-11 5,472 93-63 Clinch NL East Title
157 September 25 @ Pirates 7 - 1 DeLeon (7-13) Patterson (0-1) 4,068 93-64
158 September 26 @ Pirates 5 - 2 Ruthven (6-10) Tunnell (1-7) 3,365 94-64
159 September 28 Cardinals 4 - 1 Andujar (20-14) Bordi (5-2) Sutter (45) 31,021 94-65
160 September 29 Cardinals 9 - 5 Eckersley (10-8) Cox (9-11) 33,954 95-65
161 September 30 Cardinals 2 - 1 Frazier (6-3) Sutter (5-7) 33,100 96-65

[edit] Player Stats

[edit] Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Ryne Sandberg 156 636 200 .314 19 84
Bob Dernier 143 536 149 .278 3 32
Jody Davis 150 523 134 .256 19 94
Ron Cey 146 505 121 .240 25 97
Keith Moreland 140 495 138 .279 16 80
Gary Matthews 147 491 143 .291 14 82
Leon Durham 137 473 132 .279 23 96
Larry Bowa 133 391 87 .223 0 17

[edit] Pitching

[edit] Starting Pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L ERA SO
Steve Trout 32 13 7 3.41 81
Dennis Eckersley 24 10 8 3.03 81
Rick Sutcliffe 20 16 1 2.69 155
Scott Sanderson 24 8 5 3.14 76
Dick Ruthven 23 6 10 5.04 55
Rick Reuschel 19 5 5 5.17 43
Chuck Rainey 17 5 7 4.28 45

[edit] Relief Pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; IP = Innings Pitched; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA IP SO
Lee Smith 69 9 7 33 3.65 101.0 86
Tim Stoddard 58 10 6 7 3.82 92.0 87
Warren Brusstar 41 1 1 3 3.11 63.2 36
George Frazier 37 6 3 3 4.10 63.2 58
Rich Bordi 31 5 2 4 3.46 83.1 41
Dickie Noles 21 2 2 0 5.15 50.2 14

[edit] Cultural Influences

Before the season began, Grammy-award winning artist Steve Goodman recorded the tune "Go Cubs Go" which was played as the lead-in music for the radio broadcast on WGN radio. Goodman, who died just days before the Cubs clinched the division, also recorded "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request." During the 2007 season, the song is played at Wrigley Field after victories[8].

[edit] NLCS

[edit] Game 1

October 2: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
San Diego 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Chicago 2 0 3 0 6 2 0 0 X 13 16 0
W: Rick Sutcliffe (1-0)   L: Eric Show (0-1)   S: none
HR: SD – none  CHC – Bob Dernier (1) Gary Matthews (2), Rick Sutcliffe (1), Ron Cey (1)
Pitchers: SD – Show, Harris (5), Booker (7)  CHC – Sutcliffe, Brusstar (8)
Attendance: 36,282

[edit] Game 2

October 3: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
San Diego 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 0
Chicago 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 x 4 8 1
W: Steve Trout (1-0)   L: Mark Thurmond (0-1)   S: Lee Smith (1)
HR: SD – none  CHC – none
Pitchers: SD – Thurmond, Hawkins (4), Dravecky (6), Lefferts (8)  CHC – Trout, Smith (9)
Attendance: 36,282

[edit] Game 3

October 4: Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chicago 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0
San Diego 0 0 0 0 3 4 0 0 x 7 11 0
W: Ed Whitson (1-0)   L: Dennis Eckersley (0-1)   S: none
HR: CHC – none  SD – Kevin McReynolds (1)
Pitchers: CHC – Eckersley, Frazier (6), Stoddard (8)  SD – Whitson, Gossage (9)
Attendance: 58,346

[edit] Game 4

October 6: Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chicago 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 5 8 1
San Diego 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 7 11 0
W: Craig Lefferts (1-0)   L: Lee Smith (0-1)   S: none
HR: CHC – Jody Davis (1), Leon Durham (1)  SD Steve Garvey (1)
Pitchers: CHC – Sanderson, Brusstar (5), Stoddard (7), Smith (8)  SD – Lollar, Hawkins (5), Dravecky (6), Gossage (8), Lefferts (9)
Attendance: 58,354

[edit] Game 5

October 7: Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chicago 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 1
San Diego 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 x 6 8 0
W: Craig Lefferts (2-0)   L: Rick Sutcliffe (1-1)   S: Goose Gossage (1)
HR: CHC – Leon Durham (2), Jody Davis (2)  SD – none
Pitchers: CHC – Sutcliffe, Trout (7), Brusstar (8)  SD – Show, Hawkins (2), Dravecky (4), Lefferts (6), Gossage (8)
Attendance: 58,359

As if to tease their fatalistic fans, the Cubs started out well in the final and deciding game of the series. Durham hit a two-run homer in the first and Davis added a solo homer in the second to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. With National League Cy Young Award winner and Game 1 victor Rick Sutcliffe pitching brilliantly, the Cubs maintained their lead until the bottom of the sixth. Then disaster struck in a way that left many Cubs fans muttering about curses and other storied collapses in the franchise's history.

Chicago's downfall began innocently enough, with San Diego getting two sacrifice flies in the sixth to cut the Cubs' lead to 3-2. But the Padres' seventh proved catastrophic for Chicago. Carmelo Martínez led off the inning with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Garry Templeton, and scored when Tim Flannery's grounder trickled through Durham's legs for a crucial error. Alan Wiggins singled Flannery to second, and Gwynn doubled both runners home to give the Padres a 5-3 lead. Garvey followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-3. Steve Trout then replaced Sutcliffe on the mound and got out of the inning unscathed.

The Cubs got three baserunners over the final two innings against Gossage but could not score, and San Diego took home its first National League pennant. The Padres would go on to lose the World Series to the dominant Detroit Tigers in five games.

[edit] Awards and Honors

All-Star Game

[edit] References

  1. ^ Scott Sanderson Bio,Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007.
  2. ^ Dennis Eckersley Bio,Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007.
  3. ^ Rick Sutcliffe Bio,Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007.
  4. ^ The Cubs's road to the NL East championship, month by month, Chicago Tribune, October 2, 1984
  5. ^ a b Mitchell, Fred, Cub Turning Point, Chicago Tribune, page 3, October 2, 1984
  6. ^ June 23 1984 Cubs Cardinals Boxscore, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007
  7. ^ a b Sept 24 1984 Cubs Pirates Boxscore, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007
  8. ^ Muskat, Carrie, Cubs Mailbag 8/13/07, MLB.com, Retrieved on August 13, 2007

[edit] External Sources

Preceded by
Philadelphia Phillies
1983		 NL East Championship Season
1984		 Succeeded by
St. Louis Cardinals
1985
v • d • e
Chicago Cubs
Based in Chicago, Illinois
The Franchise
Ballparks
Culture
Rivalries
Important Figures
Retired Numbers
10 • 14 • 23 • 26 • 42
Key Personnel
Owner: Tribune Company • General Manager: Jim Hendry • Manager: Lou Piniella
World Series
Championships (2)
National League
Championships (16)
1876 • 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1885 • 1886 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1910 • 1918 • 1929 • 1932 • 1935 • 1938 • 1945
Division
Championships
Eastern: 1984 • 1989 • Central: 2003 • 2007 • Wild Card: 1998
Minor League
Affiliates
Iowa Cubs (AAA) • Tennessee Smokies (AA) • Daytona Cubs (A) • Peoria Chiefs (A) • Boise Hawks (A) • Arizona League Cubs (Rookie) • VSL Cubs (Rookie)
Other Assets
v • d • e
1984 MLB season by team
AL East
AL West
NL East
Chicago • Montréal • New York • Philadelphia • Pittsburgh • St. Louis
NL West
1984 All-Star Game • 1984 World Series