1984 Chicago Cubs season

Major League Baseball club season March 2026 November 2013 Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs logo.svg 1984 National League East champions National League East Wrigley Field Chicago 96 65 y 1st Tribune Company Dallas Green Jim Frey WGN-TV/Superstation WGN(Harry Caray, Steve Stone, Milo Hamilton) WGN(Milo Hamilton, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Harry Caray) chc CHC 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 wins and 65 losses in first place of the National League East (the team's first winning season in 12 years). 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.https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/berryda01.shtml Damon Berryhill Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com 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.https://www.baseball-reference.com/d/diazmi01.shtml Mike Diaz Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com March 31, 1984: Alan Hargesheimer was traded by the Cubs to the Kansas City Royals for Don Werner and Derek Botelho.https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hargeal01.shtml Alan Hargesheimer Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com 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.Scott Sanderson Bio, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007. On May 25, the Cubs traded Bill Buckner to the Boston Red Sox for righty Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley.Dennis Eckersley Bio, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007. 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.Rick Sutcliffe Bio, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007. 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.https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/19/sports/sports-people-soto-faces-suspension.html SPORTS PEOPLE; Soto Faces Suspension The New York Times June 19, 1984 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.The Cubs's road to the NL East championship, month by month, Chicago Tribune, October 2, 1984 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.Mitchell, Fred, Cub Turning Point, Chicago Tribune, page 3, October 2, 1984 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.June 23, 1984 Cubs Cardinals Boxscore, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007 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.Sept 24 1984 Cubs Pirates Boxscore, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007 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 Chicago Cubs Record vs. opponents CHC Notable transactions May 25, 1984: Bill Buckner was traded by the Cubs to the Boston Red Sox for Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley.https://www.baseball-reference.com/e/eckerde01.shtml Dennis Eckersley Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com June 4, 1984: 1984 Major League Baseball draft Greg Maddux was drafted by the Cubs in the 2nd round. Player signed June 19, 1984.https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/maddugr01.shtml Greg Maddux Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com 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.https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sutclri01.shtml Rick Sutcliffe Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com 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.https://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nolesdi01.shtml Dickie Noles Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com 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 Game log background:#6E8B3D 1984 Game Log y background:#9EBD69; April (12-8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |1||April 3||@ Giants||5 – 3|| Ruthven (1–0) || M. Davis (0–1) || Smith (1) ||52,700||1-0||Opening Day |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |2||April 5||@ Giants||11 – 7|| Rainey (1–0) || Krukow (0–1) || Smith (2) ||8,460||2-0|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |3||April 6||@ Padres||3 – 2|| Monge (1–0) || Smith (0–1) || ||15,835||2-1|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |4||April 7||@ Padres||7 – 6|| Dravecky (1–0) || Trout (0–1) || Gossage (2) ||27,799||2-2|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |5||April 8||@ Padres||8 – 5|| Smith (1-1) || Thurmond (0–1) || ||24,285||3-2|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |6||April 9||@ Dodgers||4 – 2|| Reuss (1–0) || Rainey (1-1) || Niedenfuer (1) ||33,284||3-3|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |7||April 11||@ Dodgers||2 – 1|| Honeycutt (1–0) || Sanderson (0–1) || ||38,466||3-4|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |8||April 13|| Mets||11 – 2|| Trout (1-1) || Gooden (1-1) || ||33,436||4-4|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |9||April 14|| Mets||5 – 2|| Ruthven (2–0) || Leary (1-1) || Smith (3) ||15,789||5-4|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |10||April 18|| Cardinals||5 – 0|| Andújar (2–1) || Rainey (1–2) || ||0||5-5|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |11||April 18|| Cardinals||6 – 1|| Sanderson (1-1) || LaPoint (1–2) || ||5,816||6-5|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |12||April 19|| Cardinals||6 – 1|| Trout (2–1) || Cox (2–1) || ||8,086||7-5|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |13||April 20|| Pirates||5 – 4|| Stoddard (1–0) || Tekulve (0–1) || ||22,049||8-5|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |14||April 21|| Pirates||8 – 5|| DeLeon (1–0) || Noles (0–1) || Robinson (3) ||21,936||8-6|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |15||April 23||@ Cardinals||6 – 2|| Sanderson (2–1) || LaPoint (1–3) || ||12,468||9-6|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |16||April 24||@ Cardinals||3 – 2|| Stoddard (2–0) || Sutter (0–1) || Smith (4) ||19,639||10-6|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |17||April 25||@ Cardinals||7 – 5|| Lahti (1-1) || Ruthven (2–1) || Sutter (5) ||24,978||10-7|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |18||April 27||@ Pirates||3 – 2|| Rhoden (2-2) || Rainey (1–3) || Tekulve (2) ||9,057||10-8|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |19||April 28||@ Pirates||7 – 1|| Sanderson (3–1) || McWilliams (0–3) || ||17,317||11-8|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |20||April 29||@ Pirates||2 – 1|| Trout (3–1) || Candelaria (3–2) || Smith (5) ||13,397||12-8|| |- y background:#9EBD69; May (15-12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |21||May 1||@ Mets||8 – 1|| Gooden (2–1) || Ruthven (2-2) || ||13,906||12-9|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |22||May 2||@ Mets||4 – 3|| Lynch (3–0) || Smith (1–2) || ||11,059||12-10|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |23||May 4|| Padres||7 – 6|| Smith (2-2) || Monge (2–1) || ||6,533||13-10|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |24||May 5|| Padres||6 – 5|| Brusstar (1–0) || Lefferts (0–1) || ||28,441||14-10|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |25||May 6|| Padres||8 – 5|| Show (5–1) || Ruthven (2–3) || ||31,700||14-11|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |26||May 7|| Giants||10 – 7|| Rainey (2–3) || M. Davis (0–4) || Stoddard (1) ||6,002||15-11|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |27||May 8|| Giants||12 – 11|| Smith (3–2) || Minton (1–2) || ||4,645||16-11|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |28||May 9|| Dodgers||7 – 0|| Sanderson (4–1) || Hooton (0–1) || Bordi (1) ||7,908||17-11|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |29||May 10|| Dodgers||5 – 1|| Welch (3-3) || Trout (3–2) || ||15,747||17-12|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |30||May 11||@ Astros||3 – 1|| Ryan (3–2) || Ruthven (2–4) || DiPino (5) ||16,829||17-13|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |31||May 12||@ Astros||5 – 4|| Noles (1-1) || DiPino (1–2) || Smith (6) ||20,737||18-13|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |32||May 13||@ Astros||1 – 0|| Madden (1-1) || Reuschel (0–1) || Ruhle (2) ||13,405||18-14|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |33||May 15||@ Reds||6 – 3|| Noles (2–1) || Pastore (2–3) || Stoddard (2) ||13,074||19-14|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |34||May 16||@ Reds||10 – 4|| Trout (4–2) || Russell (2–4) || ||12,899||20-14|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |35||May 17||@ Reds||5 – 3|| Soto (6–1) || Ruthven (2–5) || ||18,974||20-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |36||May 18|| Astros||7 – 6|| Stoddard (3–0) || Smith (0–1) || ||16,812||21-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |37||May 19|| Astros||5 – 4|| Reuschel (1-1) || Dawley (2–3) || Smith (7) ||34,122||22-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |38||May 20|| Astros||10 – 3|| Bordi (1–0) || M. Scott (2-2) || ||27,503||23-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |39||May 23|| Braves||3 – 1|| Trout (5–2) || McMurtry (3–5) || Smith (8) ||15,860||24-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |40||May 24|| Braves||10 – 7|| Rainey (3-3) || Perez (3–1) || Brusstar (1) ||0||25-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |41||May 24|| Braves||7 – 5|| Reuschel (2–1) || Falcone (2–5) || Bordi (2) ||24,551||26-15|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |42||May 25|| Reds||3 – 0|| Hume (3–4) || Noles (2-2) || Power (1) ||11,266||26-16|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |43||May 26|| Reds||7 – 6|| Scherrer (1–0) || Trout (5–3) || Power (2) ||31,556||26-17|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |44||May 27|| Reds||4 – 3|| Berenyi (2–5) || Eckersley (0–1) || ||38,060||26-18|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |45||May 29||@ Braves||7 – 4|| Perez (4–1) || Brusstar (1-1) || Forster (3) ||15,156||26-19|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |46||May 30||@ Braves||6 – 2|| Trout (6–3) || Barker (4–5) || Smith (9) ||16,660||27-19|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |47||May 31||@ Phillies||10 – 2|| Hudson (6–3) || Rainey (3–4) || ||25,044||27-20|| |- y background:#9EBD69; June (15-14) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"48||June 1||@ Phillies||12 – 3|| Reuschel (3–1) || Bystrom (2-2) || ||30,076||28-20|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |49||June 2||@ Phillies||3 – 2|| Holland (4–2) || Smith (3-3) || ||40,102||28-21|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |50||June 3||@ Phillies||11 – 2|| Trout (7–3) || K. Gross (1-1) || Brusstar (2) ||30,278||29-21|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |51||June 5||@ Expos||3 – 2|| Rainey (4-4) || Smith (5-5) || Smith (10) ||25,810||30-21|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |52||June 6||@ Expos||8 – 1|| Gullickson (2–5) || Reuschel (3–2) || ||15,686||30-22|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |53||June 7||@ Expos||2 – 1|| Lea (10–2) || Eckersley (0–2) || ||14,976||30-23|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |54||June 8||@ Cardinals||5 – 4|| Lahti (2–1) || Stoddard (3–1) || Sutter (14) ||38,457||30-24|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |55||June 9||@ Cardinals||5 – 0|| Bordi (2–0) || Stuper (2–3) || ||48,869||31-24|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |56||June 10||@ Cardinals||2 – 0|| Rainey (5–4) || Andújar (10–5) || Smith (11) ||43,035||32-24|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |57||June 11|| Expos||2 – 1|| James (2–3) || Smith (3–4) || ||21,231||32-25|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |58||June 12|| Expos||11 – 4|| Eckersley (1–2) || Lea (10–3) || ||22,512||33-25|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |59||June 13|| Expos||7 – 4|| Stoddard (4–1) || Lucas (0–1) || Smith (12) ||22,388||34-25|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |60||June 14|| Phillies||11 – 2|| Carlton (4–3) || Bordi (2–1) || ||23,373||34-26|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |61||June 15|| Phillies||5 – 2|| Hudson (7–4) || Rainey (5-5) || Holland (14) ||27,489||34-27|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |62||June 16|| Phillies||8 – 2|| Bystrom (3-3) || Reuschel (3-3) || ||40,723||34-28|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |63||June 17|| Phillies||9 – 7|| K. Gross (3–2) || Eckersley (1–3) || Holland (15) ||36,882||34-29|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |64||June 19||@ Pirates||4 – 3|| Sutcliffe (1–0) || Tudor (4-4) || Smith (13) ||9,377||35-29|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |65||June 20||@ Pirates||5 – 1|| DeLeon (4-4) || Rainey (5–6) || ||7,767||35-30|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |66||June 21||@ Pirates||8 – 6|| Rhoden (5-5) || Eckersley (1–4) || Tekulve (6) ||8,267||35-31|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |67||June 22|| Cardinals||9 – 3|| Reuschel (4–3) || Stuper (2–5) || Smith (14) ||33,723||36-31|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |68||June 23|| Cardinals||12 – 11|| Smith (4-4) || Rucker (1-1) || ||38,079||37-31||The Sandberg Game |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |69||June 24|| Cardinals||5 – 0|| Sutcliffe (2–0) || Horton (3–1) || ||39,494||38-31|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |70||June 25|| Pirates||3 – 0|| DeLeon (5–4) || Rainey (5–7) || ||19,036||38-32|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |71||June 26|| Pirates||9 – 0|| Rhoden (6–5) || Eckersley (1–5) || ||0||38-33|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |72||June 26|| Pirates||9 – 8|| Bordi (3–1) || McWilliams (4–6) || Smith (15) ||28,369||39-33|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |73||June 27|| Pirates||8 – 7|| Stoddard (5–1) || Scurry (1–4) || ||37,055||40-33|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |74||June 28||@ Dodgers||5 – 3|| Trout (8–3) || Pena (8–4) || Stoddard (3) ||37,659||41-33|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |75||June 29||@ Dodgers||7 – 1|| Hershiser (3-3) || Sutcliffe (2–1) || ||43,700||41-34|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |76||June 30||@ Dodgers||14 – 4|| Frazier (1–0) || Howell (0–1) || Stoddard (4) ||47,991||42-34|| |- y background:#9EBD69; July (18-10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |77||July 1||@ Dodgers||4 – 3|| Eckersley (2–5) || Valenzuela (8–9) || Brusstar (3) ||47,460||43-34|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |78||July 2||@ Padres||5 – 1|| Dravecky (5–4) || Reuschel (4-4) || ||13,444||43-35|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |79||July 3||@ Padres||3 – 2|| Trout (9–3) || Thurmond (5–4) || Stoddard (5) ||20,287||44-35|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |80||July 4||@ Padres||2 – 1|| Sutcliffe (3–1) || Show (8–6) || Smith (16) ||52,134||45-35|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |81||July 5||@ Giants||9 – 3|| Sanderson (5–1) || Laskey (4–8) || Bordi (3) ||6,854||46-35|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |82||July 6||@ Giants||5 – 4|| Stoddard (6–1) || Minton (1–6) || Smith (17) ||11,071||47-35|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |83||July 7||@ Giants||7 – 2|| Krukow (5–7) || Reuschel (4–5) || ||16,662||47-36|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |84||July 8||@ Giants||6 – 3|| Sutcliffe (4–1) || M. Davis (3–8) || Smith (18) ||22,223||48-36|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |85||July 12|| Dodgers||3 – 2|| Stoddard (7–1) || Niedenfuer (1–5) || ||33,129||49-36|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |86||July 13|| Dodgers||7 – 5|| Sutcliffe (5–1) || Welch (6–10) || Smith (19) ||33,915||50-36|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |87||July 14|| Dodgers||8 – 0|| Hershiser (5–3) || Sanderson (5–2) || ||39,396||50-37|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |88||July 15|| Dodgers||4 – 1|| Eckersley (3–5) || Valenzuela (8–10) || Smith (20) ||39,574||51-37|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |89||July 16|| Padres||4 – 0|| Thurmond (6–5) || Ruthven (2–6) || ||23,642||51-38|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |90||July 17|| Padres||6 – 5|| Show (10–6) || Trout (9–4) || Gossage (16) ||29,499||51-39|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |91||July 18|| Padres||4 – 1|| Sutcliffe (6–1) || Whitson (10–5) || ||27,471||52-39|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |92||July 19|| Giants||6 – 4|| Frazier (2–0) || M. Davis (3–10) || Stoddard (6) ||22,523||53-39|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |93||July 20|| Giants||3 – 2|| Robinson (5–11) || Eckersley (3–6) || Minton (10) ||27,259||53-40|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |94||July 21|| Giants||4 – 3|| Bordi (4–1) || Minton (1–7) || ||37,527||54-40|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |95||July 22|| Giants||11 – 5|| Krukow (7–8) || Trout (9–5) || ||37,096||54-41|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |96||July 23||@ Phillies||3 – 2|| Sutcliffe (7–1) || Rawley (3–2) || Smith (21) ||32,243||55-41|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |97||July 24||@ Phillies||3 – 2|| Koosman (12–7) || Stoddard (7–2) || Holland (22) ||37,063||55-42|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |98||July 25||@ Phillies||9 – 4|| Eckersley (4–6) || Hudson (8-8) || ||45,183||56-42|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |99||July 27||@ Mets||2 – 1|| Gooden (9–6) || Ruthven (2–7) || Orosco (21) ||51,102||56-43|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |100||July 28||@ Mets||11 – 4|| Smith (5–4) || Sisk (1–3) || ||37,518||57-43|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |101||July 29||@ Mets||3 – 0|| Trout (10–5) || Terrell (8-8) || ||0||58-43|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |102||July 29||@ Mets||5 – 1|| Sanderson (6–2) || Berenyi (7–11) || ||50,443||59-43|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |103||July 30|| Phillies||3 – 2|| Eckersley (5–6) || Hudson (8–9) || Smith (22) ||29,425||60-43|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |104||July 31|| Phillies||2 – 1 (12)|| Holland (5-5) || Stoddard (7–3) || Campbell (1) ||30,175||60-44|| |- y background:#9EBD69; August (20-10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |105||August 1|| Phillies||5 – 4|| Smith (6–4) || Holland (5–6) || ||32,900||61-44|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |106||August 2|| Expos||3 – 2|| Sutcliffe (8–1) || Smith (9-9) || Smith (23) ||22,485||62-44|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |107||August 3|| Expos||6 – 5|| Reardon (4-4) || Stoddard (7–4) || ||28,483||62-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |108||August 4|| Expos||4 – 1|| Eckersley (6-6) || Schatzeder (4–3) || Frazier (1) ||38,306||63-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |109||August 5|| Expos||4 – 3|| Reuschel (5-5) || Grapenthin (0–1) || Smith (24) ||35,142||64-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |110||August 6|| Mets||9 – 3|| Ruthven (3–7) || Gooden (9–8) || ||31,793||65-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |111||August 7|| Mets||8 – 6|| Sutcliffe (9–1) || Darling (10–5) || Frazier (2) ||0||66-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |112||August 7|| Mets||8 – 4|| Stoddard (8–4) || Lynch (8–7) || Smith (25) ||39,271||67-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |113||August 8|| Mets||7 – 6|| Smith (7–4) || Gardner (1-1) || Stoddard (7) ||37,292||68-45|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |114||August 9||@ Expos||1 – 0|| Schatzeder (5–3) || Frazier (2–1) || ||20,227||68-46|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |115||August 10||@ Expos||2 – 1|| James (5–4) || Stoddard (8–5) || ||21,566||68-47|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |116||August 11||@ Expos||2 – 1|| Smith (8–4) || Lea (14–8) || ||30,494||69-47|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |117||August 12||@ Expos||7 – 3|| Sutcliffe (10–1) || Rogers (3–12) || ||28,464||70-47|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |118||August 13||@ Astros||2 – 1|| Dawley (7–4) || Sanderson (6–3) || ||14,793||70-48|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |119||August 14||@ Astros||7 – 6|| Solano (1–2) || Frazier (2-2) || DiPino (10) ||18,756||70-49|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |120||August 15||@ Astros||6 – 2|| Knepper (12–8) || Eckersley (6–7) || DiPino (11) ||19,999||70-50|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |121||August 17||@ Reds||6 – 4|| Soto (13–6) || Ruthven (3–8) || ||35,038||70-51|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |122||August 18||@ Reds||13 – 11|| Sutcliffe (11–1) || Robinson (0–1) || Smith (26) ||32,256||71-51|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |123||August 19||@ Reds||9 – 6|| Frazier (3–2) || Russell (5–14) || ||38,404||72-51|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |124||August 20|| Astros||6 – 1|| Trout (11–5) || Knepper (12–9) || ||26,967||73-51|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |125||August 21|| Astros||11 – 5|| Eckersley (7-7) || M. Scott (5–11) || ||29,184||74-51|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |126||August 22|| Astros||8 – 3|| Ryan (11–7) || Ruthven (3–9) || ||31,018||74-52|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |127||August 24|| Braves||3 – 0|| Sutcliffe (12–1) || Camp (6-6) || ||35,496||75-52|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |128||August 25|| Braves||3 – 2|| Mahler (9–8) || Sanderson (6–4) || ||36,614||75-53|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |129||August 26|| Braves||5 – 0|| Trout (12–5) || Perez (11–6) || ||35,002||76-53|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |130||August 28|| Reds||5 – 2|| Eckersley (8–7) || McGaffigan (3–6) || Frazier (3) ||0||77-53|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |131||August 28|| Reds||5 – 2|| Ruthven (4–9) || Pastore (3–8) || Bordi (4) ||32,827||78-53|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |132||August 29|| Reds||7 – 2|| Sutcliffe (13–1) || Russell (6–15) || ||26,425||79-53|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |133||August 30||@ Braves||8 – 3|| Smith (9–4) || Garber (2–4) || ||10,876||80-53|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |134||August 31||@ Braves||3 – 2|| Moore (3-3) || Smith (9–5) || ||19,396||80-54|| |- y background:#9EBD69; September (16-11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Other Info |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |135||September 1||@ Braves||4 – 1|| Bordi (5–1) || McMurtry (8–14) || Smith (27) ||28,821||81-54|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |136||September 2||@ Braves||4 – 2|| Ruthven (5–9) || Mahler (9-9) || Smith (28) ||26,106||82-54|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |137||September 3||@ Phillies||4 – 3 (12)|| Frazier (4–2) || Martin (1–2) || Smith (29) ||28,162||83-54|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |138||September 4||@ Phillies||7 – 2|| Sanderson (7–4) || Carlton (11–7) || ||25,054||84-54|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |139||September 5||@ Expos||3 – 1|| Palmer (6–3) || Trout (12–6) || Grapenthin (2) ||12,623||84-55|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |140||September 6||@ Expos||4 – 1|| Frazier (5–2) || Lea (15–10) || Smith (30) ||13,089||85-55|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |141||September 7||@ Mets||10 – 0|| Gooden (15–8) || Ruthven (5–10) || ||46,301||85-56|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |142||September 8||@ Mets||6 – 0|| Sutcliffe (14–1) || Terrell (10–11) || ||42,810||86-56|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |143||September 9||@ Mets||5 – 1|| Darling (12–6) || Frazier (5–3) || ||34,956||86-57|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |144||September 10|| Phillies||3 – 2|| Stoddard (9–5) || Koosman (14–12) || Smith (31) ||26,083||87-57|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |145||September 11|| Phillies||6 – 3|| Hudson (9–10) || Smith (9–6) || Holland (29) ||28,964||87-58|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |146||September 12|| Expos||11 – 5|| Stoddard (10–5) || Smith (11–12) || ||20,976||88-58|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |147||September 14|| Mets||7 – 1|| Sutcliffe (15–1) || Darling (12–7) || ||32,403||89-58|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |148||September 15|| Mets||5 – 4|| Sanderson (8–4) || Fernandez (4–6) || Smith (32) ||38,653||90-58|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |149||September 16|| Mets||9 – 3|| Berenyi (12–13) || Trout (12–7) || ||38,936||90-59|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |150||September 18|| Pirates||6 – 2|| Tudor (10–11) || Eckersley (8-8) || Robinson (9) ||30,721||90-60|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |151||September 19|| Pirates||11 – 6|| McWilliams (11–10) || Stoddard (10–6) || Winn (1) ||31,585||90-61|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |152||September 20|| Pirates||7 – 6|| Tekulve (3–9) || Smith (9–7) || Candelaria (1) ||33,651||90-62|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |153||September 21||@ Cardinals||8 – 0|| Kepshire (5-5) || Sanderson (8–5) || ||36,847||90-63|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |154||September 23||@ Cardinals||8 – 1|| Trout (13–7) || Ownbey (0–3) || ||0||91-63|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |155||September 23||@ Cardinals||4 – 2|| Eckersley (9–8) || Andújar (19–14) || Smith (33) ||46,083||92-63|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |156||September 24||@ Pirates||4 – 1|| Sutcliffe (16–1) || McWilliams (11-11) || ||5,472||93-63||Clinch NL East Title |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |157||September 25||@ Pirates||7 – 1|| DeLeon (7–13) || Patterson (0–1) || ||4,068||93-64|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |158||September 26||@ Pirates||5 – 2|| Ruthven (6–10) || Tunnell (1–7) || ||3,365||94-64|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |159||September 28|| Cardinals||4 – 1|| Andújar (20–14) || Bordi (5–2) || Sutter (45) ||31,021||94-65|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |160||September 29|| Cardinals||9 – 5|| Eckersley (10–8) || Cox (9–11) || ||33,954||95-65|| |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" |161||September 30|| Cardinals||2 – 1|| Frazier (6–3) || Sutter (5–7) || ||33,100||96-65|| |- 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 Jody Davis (baseball) 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 Mel Hall 48 150 42 .280 4 22 Henry Cotto 105 146 40 .274 0 8 Gary Woods Gary Woods (baseball) 87 98 23 .235 3 10 Thad Bosley 55 98 29 .296 2 14 Dave Owen Dave Owen (baseball) 47 93 18 .194 1 10 Richie Hebner 44 81 27 .333 2 8 Tom Veryzer 44 74 14 .189 0 4 Jay Johnstone 52 73 21 .288 0 3 Steve Lake 25 54 12 .222 2 7 Bill Buckner 21 43 9 .209 0 2 Ron Hassey 19 33 11 .333 2 5 Dan Rohn 25 31 4 .129 1 3 Davey Lopes 16 17 4 .235 0 0 Billy Hatcher 8 9 1 .111 0 0 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 32 190.0 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 Scott Sanderson (baseball) 24 140.2 8 5 3.14 76 Dick Ruthven 23 126.2 6 10 5.04 55 Chuck Rainey Chuck Rainey (baseball) 17 88.1 5 7 4.28 45 Don Schulze 1 3.0 0 0 12.00 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 Reggie Patterson 3 6.0 0 1 10.50 5 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 Lee Smith (baseball) 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 George Frazier (pitcher) 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 Bill Johnson Bill Johnson (pitcher) 4 0 0 0 1.69 3 Ron Meridith 3 0 0 0 3.38 4 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". Since the 2007 season, the song has been played at Wrigley Field after victories; the practice continues to this day.Muskat, Carrie, Cubs Mailbag 8/13/07, MLB.com, Retrieved on August 13, 2007 The home games always began with the popular Van Halen song "Jump". NLCS 1984 National League Championship Series A theory 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. There are accounts of MLB executives becoming frustrated throughout the 1984 MLB season and when it started to become clear in mid-August that the Cubs were very likely going to win the division, TV money was at stake. The networks then covering postseason games — NBC and ABC — could have lost millions if they had to cover those games at the then-lightless Wrigley Field on weekday afternoons. This was considered by MLB moguls to be important for the World Series and ultimately leads some to believe there may have been collusion leading to the Cubs losing three straight games to the San Diego Padres. However, from 1969 to 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.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/MISC/masterPS.htm The Post-Season Games Directory www.retrosheet.org 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.From http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080806&content_id=3267314&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc 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 Ryne Sandberg, second baseman (starter) Jody Davis, catcher (reserve) Farm system Minor League Baseball 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 Johnson Lloyd Wolff Miles The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball 2nd Durham, North Carolina Baseball America 1997 978-0-9637189-8-3 1984 Chicago Cubs at Baseball Reference 1984 Chicago Cubs on Baseball Almanac External sources 1984 Chicago Cubs stats at Baseball Reference 1984 Batting and Pitching Statistics Category:Chicago Cubs seasons Chicago Cubs season Category:National League East champion seasons Chicago