On a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field, June 23, 1984, the Chicago Cubs trailed the rival St. Louis Cardinals 7-1 in a nationally televised NBC Game of the Week. What followed was one of the most electrifying individual performances in baseball history — a game forever known as “The Sandberg Game.”
Ryne Sandberg, then in just his third full major league season, went 5-for-6 with seven RBI. He delivered not one, but two game-tying home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter — a solo shot in the ninth inning to knot the score at 9-9, and a two-run blast in the tenth to tie it again at 11-11. The Cubs would go on to win 12-11 in 11 innings when pinch-hitter Dave Owen delivered an RBI single. NBC’s Bob Costas, calling the action with Tony Kubek, famously exclaimed, “Do you believe it?!” as Sandberg’s second homer sailed into the bleachers.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ on X (formerly Twitter): “Forty-two years ago today, the @Cubs secured a dramatic victory over the Cardinals in what would be soon be immortalized in history as “The Sandberg Game.” https://t.co/OrvYNy430J pic.twitter.com/SsUqxwR1iE / X”
Forty-two years ago today, the @Cubs secured a dramatic victory over the Cardinals in what would be soon be immortalized in history as “The Sandberg Game.” https://t.co/OrvYNy430J pic.twitter.com/SsUqxwR1iE
The Cardinals jumped out to a commanding lead early. Willie McGee, who hit for the cycle that day (the last visiting player to do so at Wrigley), drove in six runs and helped build the advantage. But the Cubs chipped away, exploding for five runs in the sixth inning. Sandberg was a catalyst throughout, contributing an RBI single and earlier damage that kept Chicago in striking distance.
Even after the Cubs pulled within range, the Cardinals pushed back to 11-9 in the top of the tenth. That’s when Sandberg stepped to the plate again against Sutter. With the game on the line and the Wrigley faithful roaring, he launched the second tying homer of the afternoon. The crowd of 38,079 erupted as the ball cleared the ivy-covered walls.
In the bottom of the eleventh, Chicago sealed the dramatic victory. Sandberg’s heroics weren’t just about power — his five hits, speed on the bases, and all-around excellence embodied the complete player he was becoming.
That afternoon proved to be the turning point. Sandberg went on to win the National League MVP Award in 1984, batting .314 with 200 hits, 114 runs scored (league-leading), 19 home runs, 19 triples, 36 doubles, and 84 RBI. His Gold Glove defense at second base rounded out one of the finest all-around seasons in Cubs history.
The win helped propel the Cubs to their first postseason appearance since 1945. They captured the NL East title before falling to the San Diego Padres in the NLCS. For a franchise long mired in futility, “The Sandberg Game” symbolized a new era of hope and competitiveness.
Sandberg was never one for flashy showmanship. Known for his understated demeanor and respect for the game, he let his play do the talking. Hall of Famer in 2005, “Ryno” remains a beloved figure in Chicago. In 2024, the Cubs unveiled a statue in his honor outside Wrigley Field, further cementing his place in franchise lore.
Forty-two years later, on this anniversary, fans across social media and baseball circles continue to share highlights, relive Costas’ call, and celebrate the moment. It wasn’t just a great game — it was the day a star was born in the friendly confines.
For Cardinals fans like those in St. Louis and around the Midwest, it remains a painful reminder of the razor-thin margins in one of baseball’s fiercest rivalries. But even rivals can appreciate greatness when they see it. Sandberg didn’t just beat the Cardinals that day; he announced to the entire baseball world that he belonged among the elite.
Respect the game. That was Ryne Sandberg’s motto, and on June 23, 1984, he showed exactly what that looks like.
