1984 Chicago Cubs

1984 Chicago Cubs / Franchise: Chicago Cubs / BR Team Page

Record: 96-65, Finished 1st in NL Eastern Division (1984 NL)

Clinched Division: September 24, 1984, At Pittsburgh Pirates

Managed by Jim Frey

Coaches: Ruben Amaro, Billy Connors, Johnny Oates, John Vukovich and Don Zimmer

Ballpark: Wrigley Field

History, Comments, Contributions

After finishing in fifth place in 1983, the 1984 Chicago Cubs made a surprising run to the NL East division title, led by new manager Jim Frey. Second baseman Ryne Sandberg hit .314 and scored 114 runs to win the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player Award. The pitching staff was led by Rick Sutcliffe, who was acquired from the Cleveland Indians in June. He went 16-1 with a 2.69 ERA after coming to the Cubs and won the 1984 National League Cy Young Award.

The Cubs met the San Diego Padres in their first postseason appearance in nearly 40 years. In the first game of the National League Championship Series, the Cubs hit five home runs (including one from Sutcliffe) to win 13-0. They also won Game 2 at home, but they then lost the next three games and the series to miss out on the World Series.

Five of the Cubs' everyday starters previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies, which was not that surprising considering Cubs General Manager Dallas Green previously managed the Phillies. Outfielder Keith Moreland (and reliever Dickie Noles) were acquired from Philadelphia in 1981 for pitcher Mike Krukow, and in 1982, the Cubs got Sandberg and shortstop Larry Bowa from them for shortstop Ivan DeJesus. Just before the season began, the Cubs made a trade with the Phillies to get outfielders Gary Matthews and Bob Dernier. In addition, pitchers Dick Ruthven and Warren Brusstar had played under Green in Philadelphia.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Jody Davis and Ryne Sandberg
• NL MVP: Ryne Sandberg
• NL Cy Young Award: Rick Sutcliffe
• NL Gold Glove: Bob Dernier (OF) and Ryne Sandberg (2B)
• NL Silver Slugger Award: Ryne Sandberg (2B)
• NL Manager of the Year Award: Jim Frey

Further Reading

• John Kuenster: Heartbreakers: Baseball's Most Agonizing Defeats, Ivan R. Dee Publishers, Chicago, IL, 2001. ISBN 978-1566634120

Newspaper

• Washington Post: "Cubs sew it with Sutcliffe, 4-1; win NL East title" Historicnewspapers.com, September 25, 1984

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NL Championship Series (3-2) Padres over Cubs

World Series (4-1) Tigers over Padres

AL Championship Series (3-0) Tigers over Royals