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Sandberg Game

Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:20:10 PM Wikipedia source

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, 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 closer Bruce Sutter. NBC play-by-play announcer Bob Costas, 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. 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.

Infobox

Date
June 23, 1984
Venue
Wrigley Field
City
Chicago, Illinois
Managers
mw- Whitey Herzog (STL)Jim Frey (CHC)
Attendance
38,079
Television
NBC
TV announcers
Bob Costas and Tony Kubek
Radio
WGN (CHC)KMOX (STL)
Radio announcers
Milo Hamilton, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, and Harry CarayJack Buck, Mike Shannon, and Dan Kelly

Tables

· Game › Linescore
St. Louis Cardinals (34–37)
St. Louis Cardinals (34–37)
Team
St. Louis Cardinals (34–37)
1
1
2
6
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
2
7
0
8
0
9
0
10
2
11
0
R
11
H
13
E
1
Chicago Cubs (37–31)
Chicago Cubs (37–31)
Team
Chicago Cubs (37–31)
1
1
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
2
6
5
7
0
8
0
9
1
10
2
11
1
R
12
H
14
E
2
WP: Lee Smith (4–4)   LP: Dave Rucker (1–1)Home runs:STL: Willie McGee (2)CHC: Ryne Sandberg 2 (8, 9)
WP: Lee Smith (4–4)   LP: Dave Rucker (1–1)Home runs:STL: Willie McGee (2)CHC: Ryne Sandberg 2 (8, 9)
Team
WP: Lee Smith (4–4)   LP: Dave Rucker (1–1)Home runs:STL: Willie McGee (2)CHC: Ryne Sandberg 2 (8, 9)
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
R
H
E
St. Louis Cardinals (34–37)
1
6
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
11
13
1
Chicago Cubs (37–31)
1
0
0
0
2
5
0
0
1
2
1
12
14
2
WP: Lee Smith (4–4) LP: Dave Rucker (1–1)Home runs:STL: Willie McGee (2)CHC: Ryne Sandberg 2 (8, 9)

References

  1. Retrosheet
    http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B06230CHN1984.htm
  2. NBC Sports
    https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/35-years-later-sandberg-game-lives
  3. MLB.com
    https://www.mlb.com/video/the-sandberg-game/c-13062881
  4. Sandberg's ties the game twice
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XEp_ElQThU
  5. baseballhall.org
    https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/sandberg-game-launches-cubs-in-1984
  6. "Curt's Replays: Major Leagues can thank Helena for some big guns"
    https://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/06/18/sports/local/100spl_080618_replays.txt
  7. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1984.shtml
  8. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/19/sports/sports-people-soto-faces-suspension.html
  9. The Cubs' road to the NL East championship, month by month, Chicago Tribune, October 2, 1984
  10. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198406230.shtml
  11. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-cub-turning-point/177798656/
  12. bleacherreport.com
    https://bleacherreport.com/articles/746344-june-23-1984-the-ryne-sandberg-game
  13. June 23, 1984 Cubs Cardinals Boxscore, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198406230.shtml
  14. Bleacher Nation
    https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2021/06/23/33-years-ago-today-number-23-gave-us-the-sandberg-game/
  15. Sept 24 1984 Cubs Pirates Boxscore, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2007
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT198409240.shtml
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