30 Years Ago Today

[Navel Lint]

Every fan of every team has a moment, or should I say, THE moment that defines their team for them.

For Yankee fans it could be Chambliss' HR in 1976 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6HGwoRrkY
Or Jeter's flip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApoJk9X7Vto

For Dodger fans it could be Gibson's HR http://youtu.be/0toCMwEBwLo
Or Koufax's Perfect Game http://youtu.be/9uozLFsEPu8

For me, a Cubs fan, my one moment happened 30 years ago today.

I've been to or seen on TV thousands of Cubs games in my life.
There have been team highs http://youtu.be/KuNGNEf4kvE ( 1984 Division Win)
and team lows http://youtu.be/hiTS2ZU4HzA (Garvey HR)
Great HR's http://youtu.be/7wDrw76ieTs (G Hill)
and Great Opening Days http://youtu.be/J_o4A4tCC0s (Fukudome)

But the one day and one moment (two really) that I always fall back on happened of Saturday June 23rd, 1984.

The Cubs were playing the Cardinals in Wrigley in a game that was broadcast on TV as the Game of the Week.
The Cubs won 12-11 in extra innings.
Willie McGee was 4 for 6 with a HR and 6 RBI
But this is the Sandberg Game.

Ryne Sandberg was 5 for 6 with 7 RBI. He hit two game tying HR's off HOF closer Bruce Sutter in the bottom of the 9th and 10th innings.

Here is the second HR http://youtu.be/4A2WGUrobS0
There were two outs and St Louis had a two run lead, Costas was giving the final credits when Sandberg tied it up. I love Sutter's instant reaction as the ball leaves Sandberg's bat.

Here is the longer version with Harry Caray's call. You can see the two HR's at 11:30 and 33:40 http://youtu.be/34mz7wQKTB0?t=11m20s

This game changed a lot of things for the Cubs and Sandberg.
The Cubs were a couple of games out of first place at the time, but this win was the game that made fans believers that Chicago could win. After that game, Wrigley became the place to be that summer and things haven't changed since.

After the game, St Louis manager Whitey Herzog called Sandberg "the greatest player I have ever seen".
From that point on and for the next 13 years, Sandberg was the face of the Cubs and he went on to complete his HOF career.

What's your moment?

[Edwards Kings]

Excellent!

They made a poem about mine...

"Listen my children and you shall hear
of the early October run that made Sid Bream's career!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgjIVvEQo_o

[Navel Lint]

Excellent!

They made a poem about mine...

"Listen my children and you shall hear
of the early October run that made Sid Bream's career!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgjIVvEQo_o

Great choice for Atlanta.

Obviously I wouldn't argue against anyone's personal moment....
For me, when I think of the Braves, the first thing that always pops into my head is Hank Aaron 715

http://youtu.be/4mr_AL17IEI

[COZ]

Every fan of every team has a moment, or should I say, THE moment that defines their team for them.

For Yankee fans it could be Chambliss' HR in 1976 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6HGwoRrkY
Or Jeter's flip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApoJk9X7Vto

For Dodger fans it could be Gibson's HR http://youtu.be/0toCMwEBwLo
Or Koufax's Perfect Game http://youtu.be/9uozLFsEPu8

For me, a Cubs fan, my one moment happened 30 years ago today.

I've been to or seen on TV thousands of Cubs games in my life.
There have been team highs http://youtu.be/KuNGNEf4kvE ( 1984 Division Win)
and team lows http://youtu.be/hiTS2ZU4HzA (Garvey HR)
Great HR's http://youtu.be/7wDrw76ieTs (G Hill)
and Great Opening Days http://youtu.be/J_o4A4tCC0s (Fukudome)

But the one day and one moment (two really) that I always fall back on happened of Saturday June 23rd, 1984.

The Cubs were playing the Cardinals in Wrigley in a game that was broadcast on TV as the Game of the Week.
The Cubs won 12-11 in extra innings.
Willie McGee was 4 for 6 with a HR and 6 RBI
But this is the Sandberg Game.

Ryne Sandberg was 5 for 6 with 7 RBI. He hit two game tying HR's off HOF closer Bruce Sutter in the bottom of the 9th and 10th innings.

Here is the second HR http://youtu.be/4A2WGUrobS0
There were two outs and St Louis had a two run lead, Costas was giving the final credits when Sandberg tied it up. I love Sutter's instant reaction as the ball leaves Sandberg's bat.

Here is the longer version with Harry Caray's call. You can see the two HR's at 11:30 and 33:40 http://youtu.be/34mz7wQKTB0?t=11m20s

This game changed a lot of things for the Cubs and Sandberg.
The Cubs were a couple of games out of first place at the time, but this win was the game that made fans believers that Chicago could win. After that game, Wrigley became the place to be that summer and things haven't changed since.

After the game, St Louis manager Whitey Herzog called Sandberg "the greatest player I have ever seen".
From that point on and for the next 13 years, Sandberg was the face of the Cubs and he went on to complete his HOF career.

What's your moment?

Nicely done, Russell. Awesome post. Was totally unaware of the 30 year anniversary of this, great memories for me as a 13-year-old kid. I can remember it like it was yesterday. For me, as a fellow Cub fan, this truly was a defining moment. To be followed later that season by having my heart broken when the Padres came back from down 2-0, to win the last three games and take the NL Championship Series.

COZ

[Glenneration X]

106 Years Ago

Hmmm... I wonder what happened that year.

[Edwards Kings]

106 Years Ago

Hmmm... I wonder what happened that year.

Dan Kenyon was born?

[Navel Lint]

106 Years Ago

Hmmm... I wonder what happened that year.

I know I look older than I am, but I'm not that old. I'll have to rely on the rumors of a past championship instead of my personal memory

[JEagle]

http://youtu.be/VogFY9L4I78

Dynasty changing homerun.