Sandberg Game

June 23, 1984 Chicago Cubs–St. Louis Cardinals game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
St. Louis Cardinals 1 6 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 11 13 1
Chicago Cubs 1 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 1 2 1 12 14 2
DateJune 23, 1984
VenueWrigley Field
CityChicago, Illinois
Managers
Attendance38,079
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersBob Costas and Tony Kubek
RadioWGN (CHC)
KMOX (STL)
Radio announcersMilo Hamilton, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, and Harry Caray
Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, and Dan Kelly

On June 23, 1984, the Chicago Cubs took on the St. Louis Cardinals in a Major League Baseball contest that saw Willie McGee hit for the cycle,[1] but Ryne Sandberg hit two home runs—in the ninth and tenth innings—to propel the Cubs to a 12–11 victory. The Cubs overcame deficits of 7–1, 9–3, and 11–9 as Sandberg hit a pair of game-tying home runs in late-inning action, both off ex-Cubs ace Bruce Sutter. NBC play-by-play announcer Bob Costas,[2] who called the game with Tony Kubek, is remembered for saying "Do you believe it?!" when Sandberg hit the second home run. The game is known as The Sandberg Game.[3][4][5]

After winning a Gold Glove Award in his first season at a new position (second base), Sandberg emerged with a breakout season in 1984, in which he batted .314 with 200 hits, 114 runs, 36 doubles, 19 Triples, 19 home runs, and 84 RBIs. Bob Dernier was the leadoff hitter and gold glove center fielder for the Cubs in 1984, while Sandberg batted second. The pair was dubbed "The Daily Double" by Cubs announcer Harry Caray.[6]

  1. ^ "Chicago Cubs 12, St. Louis Cardinals 11". Retrosheet. June 23, 1984.
  2. ^ "35 years later, 'The Sandberg Game' lives on". NBC Sports. June 22, 2019.
  3. ^ "The Sandberg Game". MLB.com. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  4. ^ Sandberg's ties the game twice, MLB, 2014-11-17, archived from the original on 2021-11-23, retrieved 2019-07-07
  5. ^ Muder, Craig. "'SANDBERG GAME' LAUNCHED CUBS' 1984 SEASON". baseballhall.org.
  6. ^ Synnes, Curt (2008-06-18). "Curt's Replays: Major Leagues can thank Helena for some big guns". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved 2008-07-14.