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 fireman Bruce Sutter.
[6] After over a dozen more subpar seasons, in 1981 the Cubs hired General Manager (GM) Dallas Green from the Philadelphia Phillies to turn around the franchise.
One of his early GM moves brought in a young Phillies minor-league third baseman (3B) named Ryne Sandberg, along with Larry Bowa for Iván DeJesús.
In December 1983 Scott Sanderson was acquired from the Montreal Expos in a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres for Carmelo Martínez.
Reliever Tim Stoddard (10–6 3.82, 7 saves) was acquired the same day for a minor leaguer; veteran pitcher Ferguson Jenkins was released.
The team's commitment to contend was complete when Green made another move on June 15 to shore up the starting rotation, due to injuries to Rick Reuschel (5–5) and Scott Sanderson.
Sutcliffe (5–5 with the Indians) immediately joined Sanderson (8–5 3.14), Eckersley (10–8 3.03), Steve Trout (13–7 3.41), Chuck Rainey (5-7 4.28) and Dick Ruthven (6–10 5.04) in the starting rotation.
[7] Reserve players Richie Hebner, Thad Bosley, Henry Cotto, Ron Hassey and Dave Owen produced exciting moments.
[citation needed] The bullpen depth of Rich Bordi, George Frazier, Warren Brusstar and Dickie Noles did their job in getting the game to Smith or Stoddard.
With strong defense – Dernier CF and Sandberg 2B both won the NL Gold Glove – solid pitching and clutch hitting, the Cubs were a well-balanced team.
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.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when the Cubs added two runs - Sandberg's groundout scored Jay Johnstone and Gary Matthews singled home Dernier.
Sutter was at the forefront of the emergence of relievers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, making six All-Star teams and winning (as a Cub) the Cy Young Award 1979.
Sandberg, not yet known for his power, slugged a home run into the left-field bleachers against the Cardinals' ace closer, tying the game at nine.
After the first two batters were retired, Dernier walked, bringing up Sandberg again in the tenth inning, facing a determined Sutter with one man on base.
Listen to this crowd, everybody's gone bananas!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 home Leon Durham with the winning run.
After Sandberg hit his second home run in the game (with two out in the bottom of the 10th to tie it 11–11), Costas cried "That's the real Roy Hobbs because this can't be happening!
[15] Rick Sutcliffe threw a two-hit complete game for his fourteenth straight victory, and the Cubs won the National League East.
The Padres were the winners of the Western Division with Steve Garvey, Tony Gwynn, Eric Show, Goose Gossage and Alan Wiggins.
He nearly became only the third player to collect 20 doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases in the same season, led the Cubs to the National League's Eastern Division title (their first championship of any kind since 1945), and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, the first by a Cub since Ernie Banks' back-to-back honors in 1958 and 1959.
ESPN replayed significant portions of the game prior to Sandberg's Hall of Fame induction in 2005, which show Sutter turning and shouting "Damn!"