1984 Chicago Cubs season

1984 Chicago Cubs
National League East Champs
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1876)
Eastern Division (since 1969)
Location
Wrigley Field (since 1916)
Chicago (since 1870)
Other information
Owner(s)	Tribune Company
General manager(s)	Dallas Green
Manager(s)	Jim Frey
Local television	WGN-TV/Superstation WGN (Harry Caray, Steve Stone, Milo Hamilton)
Local radio	WGN (Milo Hamilton, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Harry Caray)
Stats	ESPN.com BB-reference
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The 1984 Chicago Cubs season was the 113th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 109th in the National League and the 69th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs 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' 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 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.

Offseason

• January 17, 1984: Damon Berryhill was drafted by the Cubs in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft. Player signed June 2, 1984.
• March 26, 1984: Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz were traded by the Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for Porfi Altamirano, Gary Matthews and Bob Dernier.
• March 31, 1984: Alan Hargesheimer was traded by the Cubs to the Kansas City Royals for Don Werner and Derek Botelho.

Spring training

The Cubs began their third season under the control of the Tribune Company and Dallas Green in Mesa, Arizona in February 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 releasing Ferguson Jenkins, who was just 16 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 Bob Dernier.

Regular season

Season summary

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. On May 25, the Cubs traded Bill Buckner to the Boston Red Sox for righty Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley. 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. 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.

On May 27 against the Cincinnati Reds in Wrigley Field, third baseman Ron Cey hit what was originally ruled a home run down the left field line. Believing the ball had gone foul, Mario Soto and Reds manager Vern Rapp disputed the call, and during the argument, Soto shoved third base umpire Steve Rippley, who had made the call. After conferring, the umpires changed their decision and ruled it a foul ball, drawing a protest from the Cubs. However, for shoving Rippley, Soto was ejected, prompting him to charge the field and attack Cubs coach Don Zimmer, which triggered a ten-minute brawl. Four days later, National League president Chub Feeney suspended Mario Soto for five games. This game is also notable because Soto's opponent that day was Dennis Eckersley, who would go on to become a record-setting closer years later. "Eck", who was making his Cubs debut after being acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox (the Cubs traded Bill Buckner and got Eckersley and then-minor league middle infielder Mike Brumley), would take the loss that day.

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.

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 closer Bruce Sutter on the mound. Twenty-four-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. 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. 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. Ryne Sandberg had 7 RBI in the game. Henceforth, this game has become known as "The Sandberg 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, many of whom were Cubs fans. Rick Sutcliffe threw a two-hit complete game for his sixteenth straight victory, and the Cubs won the National League East.

Opening Day starters

• Larry Bowa
• Ron Cey
• Jody Davis
• Bob Dernier
• Leon Durham
• Gary Matthews
• Keith Moreland
• Dick Ruthven
• Ryne Sandberg

Season standings

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Chicago Cubs	96	65	0.596	—	51–29	45–36
New York Mets	90	72	0.556	6½	48–33	42–39
St. Louis Cardinals	84	78	0.519	12½	44–37	40–41
Philadelphia Phillies	81	81	0.500	15½	39–42	42–39
Montreal Expos	78	83	0.484	18	39–42	39–41
Pittsburgh Pirates	75	87	0.463	21½	41–40	34–47

Record vs. opponents

1984 National League Records Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	3–9	13–5	12–6	6–12	5–7	4–8	7–5	8–4	7–11	10–8	5–7
Chicago	9–3	—	7–5	6–6	7–5	10–7	12–6	9–9	8–10	6–6	9–3	13–5
Cincinnati	5–13	5–7	—	8–10	7–11	7–5	3–9	5–7	7–5	7–11	12–6	4–8
Houston	6–12	6–6	10–8	—	9–9	7–5	4–8	6–6	6–6	6–12	12–6	8–4
Los Angeles	12–6	5–7	7–11	9–9	—	6–6	3–9	3–9	4–8	10–8	10–8	6–6
Montreal	7–5	7–10	5–7	5–7	6–6	—	7–11	11–7	7–11	7–5	7–5	9–9
New York	8–4	6–12	9–3	8–4	9–3	11–7	—	10–8	12–6	6–6	4–8	7–11
Philadelphia	5-7	9–9	7–5	6–6	9–3	7–11	8–10	—	7–11	7–5	8–4	8–10
Pittsburgh	4–8	10–8	5–7	6–6	8–4	11–7	6–12	11–7	—	4–8	6–6	4–14
San Diego	11–7	6–6	11–7	12–6	8–10	5–7	6–6	5–7	8–4	—	13–5	7–5
San Francisco	8–10	3–9	6–12	6–12	8–10	5–7	8–4	4–8	6–6	5–13	—	7–5
St. Louis	7–5	5–13	8–4	4–8	6–6	9–9	11–7	10–8	14–4	5–7	5–7	—

Notable transactions

• May 25, 1984: Bill Buckner was traded by the Cubs to the Boston Red Sox for Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley.
• June 4, 1984: 1984 Major League Baseball Draft
  • Greg Maddux was drafted by the Cubs in the 2nd round. Player signed June 19, 1984.
• June 13, 1984: Mel Hall, Joe Carter, Don Schulze, and Darryl Banks (minors) were traded by the Cubs to the Cleveland Indians for Rick Sutcliffe, George Frazier and Ron Hassey.
• July 2, 1984: Dickie Noles was traded by the Cubs to the Texas Rangers for players to be named later. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Tim Henry (minors) and Jorge Gomez (minors) to the Cubs on December 11.

Roster

1984 Chicago Cubs
Roster
Pitchers 33 Porfi Altamirano 42 Rich Bordi 41 Warren Brusstar 43 Dennis Eckersley 39 George Frazier 37 Bill Johnson 38 Ron Meridith 48 Dickie Noles 52 Reggie Patterson 30 Chuck Rainey 47,48 Rick Reuschel 44 Dick Ruthven 24 Scott Sanderson 43 Don Schulze 46 Lee Smith 49 Tim Stoddard 40 Rick Sutcliffe 34 Steve Trout		Catchers  7 Jody Davis 15 Ron Hassey 16 Steve Lake Infielders  1 Larry Bowa 22 Bill Buckner 11 Ron Cey 10 Leon Durham 18 Richie Hebner 19 Dave Owen 17 Dan Rohn 23 Ryne Sandberg 29 Tom Veryzer		Outfielders 27 Thad Bosley 28 Henry Cotto 20 Bob Dernier 27 Mel Hall 22 Billy Hatcher 21 Jay Johnstone 12 Davey Lopes 36 Gary Matthews  6 Keith Moreland 25 Gary Woods		Manager  8 Jim Frey Coaches  5 Rubén Amaro  3 Billy Connors  9 Johnny Oates  2 John Vukovich  4 Don Zimmer

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Jody Davis	150	523	134	.256	19	94
1B	Leon Durham	137	473	132	.279	23	96
2B	Ryne Sandberg	156	636	200	.314	19	84
3B	Ron Cey	146	505	121	.240	25	97
SS	Larry Bowa	133	391	87	.223	0	17
LF	Gary Matthews	147	491	143	.291	14	82
CF	Bob Dernier	143	536	149	.278	3	32
RF	Keith Moreland	140	495	138	.279	16	80

Other batters

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
Richie Hebner	44	81	27	.333	2	8
Bill Buckner	21	43	9	.209	0	2

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Steve Trout	32	190	13	7	3.41	81
Dennis Eckersley	24	160.1	10	8	3.03	81
Rick Sutcliffe	20	150.1	16	1	2.69	155
Scott Sanderson	24	140.2	8	5	3.14	76
Dick Ruthven	23	126.2	6	10	5.04	55
Chuck Rainey	17	88.1	5	7	4.28	45
Don Schulze	1	3	0	0	12	2

Other pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Rick Reuschel	19	92.1	5	5	5.17	43
Rich Bordi	31	83.1	5	2	3.46	41

Relief pitchers

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

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Lee Smith	69	9	7	33	3.65	86
Tim Stoddard	58	10	6	7	3.82	87
Warren Brusstar	41	1	1	3	3.11	36
George Frazier	37	6	3	3	4.10	58
Dickie Noles	21	2	2	0	5.15	14
Porfi Altamirano	5	0	0	0	4.76	7

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 was played at Wrigley Field after victories.

The home games always began with the popular Van Halen song "Jump".

NLCS

Main article: 1984 National League Championship Series

A myth is that the Cubs were deprived of home-field advantage for the 1984 National League Championship Series (NLCS) because they could not host night games.

However, from 1969–1984, the LCS were five-game series played in a 2-3 format. The NL West and AL East champs hosted the first two games in odd years and the NL East and the AL West hosted the first two games in even years. Thus, no changes were made to the NLCS schedule due to Wrigley Field's lack of lights.

It is true that Major League Baseball announced in August 1984 that if the Cubs were to make the World Series, the first game would be moved to the American League park, to maximize the television revenues from night games. In 1984, the series was to be a seven-game series in a 2-3-2 format with the NL hosting the first two and last two games.

San Diego won the series, 3–2.

Game	Date	Score	Location	Time	Attendance
1	October 2	San Diego Padres – 0, Chicago Cubs – 13	Wrigley Field	2:49	36,282
2	October 3	San Diego Padres – 2, Chicago Cubs – 4	Wrigley Field	2:18	36,282
3	October 4	Chicago Cubs – 1, San Diego Padres – 7	Jack Murphy Stadium	2:19	58,346
4	October 6	Chicago Cubs – 5, San Diego Padres – 7	Jack Murphy Stadium	3:13	58,354
5	October 7	Chicago Cubs – 3, San Diego Padres – 6	Jack Murphy Stadium	2:41	58,359

Awards and honors

• Jim Frey, Associated Press Manager of the Year
• Ryne Sandberg – National League Most Valuable Player
• Rick Sutcliffe – National League Cy Young Award Winner

All-Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Iowa Cubs	American Association	Jim Napier
AA	Midland Cubs	Texas League	George Enright
A	Lodi Crushers	California League	Junior Kennedy
A	Quad Cities Cubs	Midwest League	Larry Cox
A-Short Season	Geneva Cubs	New York–Penn League	Tony Franklin
Rookie	Pikeville Cubs	Appalachian League	Jim Fairey

References

• 1984 Chicago Cubs
• 1984 Chicago Cubs on Baseball Almanac

External sources

• 1984 Batting and Pitching Statistics