Ryne Sandberg Willie McGee epic game 1984

the Cubs Ryne Sandberg and the Cards Willie McGee have epic games on a Saturday afternoon at Wrigley.

[@kurtzimmerman1637]

Willie McGee was one hell of a ballplayer.

[@DaDitka]

Honestly, he was a close to borderline HoF player. Two batting titles, an MVP, a key player on three NL Pennant winners. I think if he had another three years like those he might have had some consideration. At the bare minimum, if I had a player of his quality on my team, you would not hear me complain for a moment.

[@user-pu2cj3no5f]

And a really humble wonderful guy, St. Louis hall of famer.

[@ericwicker3615]

This game made Ryne Sandberg a superstar.

[@drewb3665]

There's nothing like 1980s MLB. My favorite decade of Baseball ever.

[@jackson5116]

more small ball, and less prima donnas.

[@marpar3971]

when vince coleman was stealing over 100 bags !

[@ScottRGarcia123]

I agree. Some of the best players in baseball on the field at one time. Loved Sutter and Ozzy. Was that Buckner on the field right after the win?

[@williamkoscielniak820]

I was too young to watch baseball in the 80's but from what I know about it I love the small ball, base stealing, defense, bunts, etc. The game seemed very pure in that decade. Modern baseball is all about the long ball. Most batters either hit a home run, strikeout, or walk. And while I still love the game, I find that formula to be quite sad.

[@bigal1024]

The best.,. So underrated

[@ptduncan]

I miss NBC game of the week

[@mottthehoople684]

I have watched this clip numerous times....thanks fort posting...brings me back to a time when tickets were affordable, base stealing was an art, pre steroids, and the concept of team play was practiced. The athletes are stronger today but I believe the game quality back then was better.

[@TheFaithfulAtheist]

Nintariz my first game was, believe it or not, game 5 of the 1985 NLCS, when Ozzie hit that left-handed walk-off home run. I was seven, and immediately and forevermore a Cardinals fan.

[@OldTown1520]

@@TheFaithfulAtheist was that the homerun off Tom Niedenfuer that Ozzie Smith hit in 85'?

[@TheFaithfulAtheist]

@@OldTown1520 it was!

[@OldTown1520]

@@TheFaithfulAtheist dang, I remember that homerun like it was yesterday. It was awesome.

[@TheFaithfulAtheist]

@@OldTown1520 yeah Jack Clark owned him the next day too.

[@ronhaworth5471]

I'm 64 and a Cardinal fan since I played Little League for The Cards.Never get tired of watching them!!

[@TTJH1967]

June 23, 1984- The day Ryne Sandberg became my favorite second baseman. I'm envious of those who were in attendance that day. That game was epic!

[@text97]

To this day, Costas has said this is the best MLB regular-season game he’s ever seen.

[@fjccommish]

Compared to listening to Costas, watching grass grow is exciting.

[@andrewhoyle1521]

Completely agree, I wasn't alive but watching it on classic baseball tv was just fun as hell

[@robertschulz654]

He's correct

[@CubsWin2012]

@@fjccommish Whatever. He was a young guy and did the job like veteran pro.

[@jimbotc2000]

I sense a little bit of (a lot of) unwarranted sarcasm in your comment, fjvideo.

[@vincentcorpus5187]

I was 12 yrs old watching this game on Satudays game of the week. Great game!

[@larryg8379]

I was 12 at too! I will never forget this game.

[@JohnMegaton2062]

RYNO!!! That was the loudest I have ever heard Wrigley. What a game!

[@chitownref]

I love this game and watched it live at home, this was one of the few games we didn't go that year. I was 8 years old & we were so lucky being in Chicago back then because all of our games were on WGN,a lot of people didnt get every game on TV in those days in other markets.I still have this game on VHS tape.This was baseball b4 roids & divas.We would see Jody Davis drive up Irving Park to the expressway after the games in his jeep & many of the guys came into my dad's restaurant.Miss these days

[@candybanks8717]

I feel OLD. Can't believe this was 33 years ago!

[@cathyl2338]

I know. It’s crazy! Hard to believe

[@DaDitka]

It's 40 now! Lol

[@quitwhining1]

Sutter's reaction at 16:15 is priceless, he absolutely spits and throws a fit, the minute the ball leaves the bat he knows it is gone. The fact he pitched three innings that day also makes saves at that period so valuable, today guys come in the ninth with a three run lead, walks two guys and gets a save. Back then you came in the seventh and could throw thirty or forty pitches before earning a save.

[@mikestew76]

True indeed.

[@johndoe-bw8wx]

Love the blue and red away unis!

[@jgarrison1309]

Baseball is such a wonderful sport. And games like this make me appreciate it even more.

[@daniels4227]

Willie is my all-time favorite Cardinal. I was blessed enough to watch his first and last at bat in the majors

[@TheFaithfulAtheist]

Daniel S #51 should be retired, no question.

[@muzikdude1188]

Willie McGee was just hitting his stride at this time. The following season he hit .353 and won the NL batting title and league MVP award.

[@DaDitka]

@@muzikdude1188 McGee was a quality player. Two batting titles, a World Series ring and two more NL championship appearances, good speed, good defense. If I had a guy like him on my team, I sure as hell wouldn't complain. I'm a White Sox fan but I don't hold any animosity towards the Cubs. Heck, I was happy for them when they won the whole thing a few years ago, mainly for the sake of my dad (he's 85 and has been a Cubs' fan his whole life) and a few friends of mine up north. I remember 1984 and that was a pretty cool year overall. You have a great one.

[@macroevolve]

I'm on a vintage Cubs binge

[@martinlehfeldt6916]

back when baseball was great.

[@ton8098]

This is back when baseball was fun to watch. Great game. Loved the daily double of sandberg and dernier.

[@RS-io6vm]

I agree I used to watch every cardinals and cubs games back then

[@larrysproul9424]

I watched this entire game from our local watering hole. Not many homes could get WGN then. If you lived in Michigan.

[@cubswin3838]

Bob Costas: Willie and Ryno shared. Good on them! Good baseball!

[@leogetz3570]

That's because Willie McGee had already been named player of the game because he hit for the cycle and the game seemed over. Hard to take that back once it's announced, so they did the right thing by giving it to both

[@caras2004]

I live in California, but it was fun watching Cubs day games on WGN that year. A one and a two and a three...take me out to the ballgame

[@leogetz3570]

Oh man, remember when all Cub games were on WGN televised all over the country?! Same with the Braves and TBS. Oh, and that's right, Cubs day games!!!! No home night games until 1988!!!

[@marcusanderson933]

One of the best games I ever seen! ⚾️

[@EBthere]

I saved the Chicago Tribune newspaper the day after this game. The headline of the sports section read Whitey Herzog; "Ryne Sandberg is the greatest player I've seen". I still have the paper. Great memories.

[@davidellis5141]

THAT , was a game of the week ! 😎

[@rickrose5377]

I remember exactly where I was as I listened to this game on the radio. I heard Sandberg's first home run driving northbound on the Edens Expressway, stopped at Northbrook Court, and heard his second home run also in my car on the Edens. Later that summer, I moved to Providence, RI, where every Portuguese person -- upon learning I was from Chicago -- claimed to be a PERSONAL FRIEND of Providence native, Davey Lopes.

[@lowelltr]

I was at this game with my fiance (now my wife of lo these many years), my brother and his first wife, and my sister and her boyfriend (now her husband). Cardinals fans all of us :)

[@JLR0912]

Probably the greatest MLB regular season game I think I have ever seen. I was a very young kid but remember this game as the NBC game of the week. Good times even though the Redbirds lost. Good stuff.

[@mrpink73]

40 year old Expos fan here and wouldn't you know it I have a Ryne Sandberg jersey. I actually remember this, Willie Mcgee was awesome too, the golden years!

[@TheFaithfulAtheist]

mrpink73 are you a Nationals fan now? how heartbreaking it must be when your team ceases to exist. I really did feel for Montreal when that happened. they may not have had the community support some teams have, but it was clearly a money move.

[@OldTown1520]

The Expos had a lot of talent come through Montreal. Boy were they loaded. From Randy Johnson to Pedro Martinez. I can take players the Montreal Expos had & put them together & the Yankees wouldn't beat them.

[@itsadryheave]

I remember this game - one of the best games I've ever watched (even as a Cardinal fan)! I remembered Costas announcing this, and it strikes me now as how young he had to be, but he did a great job.

[@gregd630]

Baseball just isn't the same for me now.

[@Cicero380]

You said it

[@homerun8032]

Station to station, wait for the long ball , 5 pitchers to finish game, and some flame throwing middle relivers who can't throw strikes.

[@tywebb6010]

Couldn’t agree more. So glad I was alive when these days occurred. Great memories

[@kragratt]

I remember watching this as a 16 year old. I still say it's the best baseball game I have ever seen. I'm a Cubs fan, my dad liked the Cards (we lived in between the two cities in Illinois). Also one of the best times I had with my dad for just a normal day.

[@DJ_DKBGD]

Sandberg hit two homers in a single game against Sutter. That alone was remarkable. Sutter was the toughest, hardest and nastiest NL reliever of the 80s. Sutter was fit to be tied after the second homer as he knew that no one was supposed to do that against him. Excellent game! I'm a Mets fan. I can recall how both Sandberg and McGee consistently cost us games and NL Eastern Division titles. They were two of the greatest players of the decade.

[@rogermckee1405]

I remember watching this game with a buddy of mine who was a Cardinal fan. I'd forgotten many of the details of the game so this video was a trip down memory lane! Sandberg & McGee with monster performances respectively!

[@keithcarlson7267]

The game that catapulted Ryne Sandberg into superstardom. He had one hell of a 1984 season and not to mention a hell of a career! .314 19 homers 36 doubles 19 triples 114 runs 32 steals 84 RBI's and his stellar defense help lifted the Cubs to an awesome '84. Would have loved to see them play the Tigers in that series it would have been a better matchup and a close one.

[@matthewm9261]

Ryno for some reason wasn't a first ballot hall of famer

[@isteve2464]

I can remember reading the write-up of this game in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday. The reporter pegged this as one of the great games of all time. Ryno went on to be MVP that year and Willie the next year.

[@ckendall67]

- I dunno, I don't think anyone was going to beat the Tigers in '84, as great a team the Cubs had that year, they probably would've met the same fate vs the Tigers in the World Series as the Padres did.

[@OldTown1520]

Let's be fair now. Doubt anyone, not the Padres or Cubs were going to beat the Tigers in 84'. If u remember correctly, the Tigers that year started out 35-5. The best start to over the 1st 40 games in MLB history. They were that good. What a NLCS series though too in 84'. Sorry Cub fans but my heavily underdog Padres prevailed in 5 in a classic NLCS match-up.

[@DaDitka]

@@OldTown1520 If memory serves, the biggest reason why I wasn't optimistic about the Cubs' chances against the Tigers in 1984 was because the Tigers had a solid left-handed-hitting lineup, and the Cubs' pitching staff was predominately right-handed (Steve Trout being the exception). But unfortunately for family members and friends of mine, it wasn't to be. Your Padres outdid the Cubs and I tip the hat to you for that. You are right about the Tigers, though. They had an awesome team. Whitaker and Trammell, Gibson, Parrish, Darrell Evans, the bench was fantastic. And the pitching was great, with Morris and Hernandez and Lopez and others. I don't think anyone was going to beat them that year, either.

[@demfan]

Three future Hall of Famers featured prominently: Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith, and Bruce Sutter. Very cool.

[@Nickrj3]

The first home run Sandberg hit was a splitter up and in. The second one was another splitter that stayed over the plate.

[@crashcorrigan9733]

Saw this game on TV real time. Perhaps the best game in my life. Great performances by both teams. You must understand----- Bruce Sutter had a n almost un-hit-able fork ball pitch that just dove down on hitters in one motion. Great pitcher. That day in baseball history, it didn't break enough, and Ryne Sandberg had a game for the ages. And Willie McGee? Oh, please. Speed, great fielder, played his heart out that day as well. Anyone who paid to see that game should have kept the ticket stub.

[@Eddie_Schantz]

This game was played on June 23, 1984. Thanks for posting.

[@jasona.126]

Costas has been a choad for so long I'd forgotten he was once really good.

[@TheMan750]

Jason A. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@VioletDeliriums]

I loved Ryne Sandberg. I remember in his first game ever Harry Carrey was announcing and described his two brilliant defensive plays, something like -- " Look at this kid! He goes all the way to his left on one, all the way to his right on another. Ho-oh-ly Cow!" He and Ozzy Smith were just great and they respected the game and the other players so much.

[@mjoven1975]

I can't say that I remembered this one when I was a kid. WOW, what a classic! Lots of future Hall of Fame players too. Great upload!

[@isteve2464]

Thanks. Terrific edit. I lived within hearing distance of Wrigley Field from 1982-2000. There'd be a roar from Wrigley, so I'd turn on the TV but nothing would be happening. I finally figured out that it would take 8 to 15 seconds for the sound of cheering after a homer to get to my apartment due to the speed out sound, so by the time my CRT TV had warmed up, the homer hitter would be back in the dugout and the bases would be empty.

[@windcatcher331]

One of the greatest games I've ever seen.

[@davethebarber62920]

As a Cardinal fan , I have to say that the Cardinals, Cubs rivalry, is the best. Willie McGee was my favorite player of that era. A lot of respect and admiration though to Ryne Sandberg. I also have to watch things like this to remind myself that Ozzie was the best shortstop ever. I still have not seen anyone that compares to him.

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

Best fielding shortstop, maybe. Best ever? Nope.

[@OldTown1520]

@@kyokogodai-ir6hy yes defensively. He was a wizard. Best defensive play ever made in MLB history by any shortstop was him while with the Padres. Period. Nothing else compares.

[@kt420ish]

Awesome video. Games like this would be forgotten if we didn't have it on video. Go Cubbies!

[@turtleflegel6816]

That a guy could hit for the cycle with 6 RBI and not be player of the game is unbelievable, and makes this game stand out among all others.

[@ryanmoore3876]

Went to dozens of Cubby games , loved these teams in the 80's

[@finally_startingtopost]

Heck yeah bud....best summer ever in Chicago - I was 8 years old myself and will never forget the 84 team.

[@craigsmith6274]

This is when baseball was way bigger then football I miss the 80s baseball

[@crowjr2]

Not a smartphone in sight.

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

Some time in the future, this video will be shown to anthropologists, who will wonder how anyone survived the time period without one.

[@larrysproul9424]

Isn't that so true and no jumbotron either . You could still get Old Style then and see Harry in the WGN booth....

[@robertwesley4416]

One wonders why they don't call it a "dumbphone " given what it does to human intelligence and personality

[@jackndew2]

@@larrysproul9424 I was watching Cubs baseball when Jack Brickhouse was doing Hamm's Beer promos during the game. "From the land of sky blue waters.... Hamm's"

[@tvtitlechampion3238]

@@kyokogodai-ir6hy payphones, land lines, and delayed gratification.

[@pjshutout3480]

Wow, did not know this video was here. I was 16 and my dad took me, my sister and some of our friends to this game. Beautiful Saturday afternoon and sold out. We got SRO tickets and stood in back of the seats on the 1st base side. My usually stoic dad leaped and danced when Sandberg hit that second home run. I had never seen him that excited. He's 80 now and we still talk about this game. My sister made me a collage of pictures and other memories as a H.S. graduation gift 2 years later that included her ticket stub and I still have it! Thanks for the video! What an awesome day that was.

[@2101case]

Memory's a strange thing. I watched this game in '84, but over the years I came to "remember" that Sandberg also hit the game winner.

[@James-qq2vq]

Lovable losers. I remember this game, thank you for this.

[@faithfamilyandcountry7452]

I was 4 yrs old at this time. I’ve watched baseball my whole life I’ve seen both Sandburg and McGee homer but never heard of this epic meeting. Magical game.

[@tommanfrede5241]

The best game i ever saw. The bleachers fans at Wrigley field that day remember this game...

[@DaddyTre65]

Ryne Sandberg (5 hits, 7 RBI) and Willie McGee (4 hits, 6 RBI) were in full Nintendo mode! I think I heard Power-Up music when they each came up to bat!

[@jolem5000]

Imagine if those guys had been on steroids. LOL.... Imagine if Andre Dawson (The Hawk) was on steroids! He would have hit a thousand homeruns!

[@dbarker79]

Finally someone knows what EPIC really means. Thanks for posting!

[@thabeaststl3703]

This type of game why this rivalry is so much fun!! There has been alot, but not many like this!!!

[@DanLynchmedia]

30 years ago today.

[@rodneyshelby4371]

, I remember this game I was working downtown Chicago I was 19 years old now I am 53 wow memories now I live in Florida how time passes so fast but that was one of the best epic Cub Cardinal games of all time

[@cubswin3838]

LOVE Don Zimmer!

[@MarkRoberts-bj2me]

The most unbelievable regular season game I ever saw and I'm a Cardinal fan. Keep in mind that Bruce Sutter is in the HOF because his split-finger was nearly unhittable. Ryne Sandberg has always been one of my favorite Cubs but man the organization sure fucked him over after his ball-playing days were over.

[@everestrealty5516]

Back then they only play day games in Wrigley. I sure miss those days!

[@AI-cp1jg]

Ryno became my favorite Cub that day and still is.

[@skalin23]

summer of 84 Sandberg became my favorite player ever !!!

[@aaronanon3056]

Holy hell Joe West has been around a long time

[@polishtheturdmickelson5473]

You just read my mind with that comment. Just started watching this video. LOL

[@SirLikkAlot]

JOE WEST HAS BEEN A UMPIRE SINCE 1914!

[@streaming1950]

And look how *THIN* he was back then!

[@MichaelBradley1967]

Thinner, but just as bad an umpire no doubt.

[@HipsterDoofus100]

So has balkin bob Davidson

[@erikaverbeck7543]

I remember this game so well.

[@nalvarado1384]

Harry Caray: 1ST Sandberg Homerun: THERE IT GOES!! WAY BACK!!! IT MIGHT BE! IT COULD BE! IT IIIIISSS!!!!! HOOLY COW!!! THE GAME IS TIED!!!! THE GAME IS TIED!!!! SANDBERG DID IT!!! LISTEN TO THE CROWD!!!! 2ND Sandberg Homerun: There is a line DRIVE!! WAY BACK!!! MIGHT BE OUTTA HERE!!!! IIIT IIIIIIISSSS!!!!! HE DID IT AGAIN!!!! HE DID IT AGAIN!!!! THE GAME IS TIED!!!! THE GAME IS TIED!!!! HOOLY COOWW!!!! LISTEN TO THIS CROWD!!!! EVERYBODY'S GONE BANANAS!!!!

[@caras2004]

That year I got to watch WGN Chicago Cubs in Bakersfield, California. Day games with awesome commentators.

[@AcbLynn132]

I was 9yrs old living on the south side of chicago and was so happy watching this game. It broke a Cubs losing streak

[@toddjones6481]

Wrigley Field sure was wild back then. That was a golden era of baseball, and I think we are entering another one because of all the amazing young talent. Acuna Jr., Tatis Jr., Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, and a slew of others are just getting their feet wet in the majors, and they are already performing at MVP levels. These are generational type players who add interest and excitement to the game and put butts in the seats.

[@libville]

Great memory for Cubs fans against a great rival.

[@pmdl23]

THE game. I remember it very clearly. :)

[@johnperrigo6474]

announcing sure has changed. Today they couldn't stop yapping non-stop about the exploits of the two players. Back then they were judicial about how much they talked about it.

[@markdaugherty6318]

Set at home on. Saturday afternoon watching Cards vs Cubs. Rival as Sandberg hit 2 Home Run off. Late Burce Sutter. Give Sandberg MVP that seasons ⚾

[@skinnyp8234]

Awesome video thanks

[@cryptkicker71]

Thank you for posting this..I ge tot see the hot mess games that my father would be yelling about the outcome

[@nalvarado1384]

Bob Costas on NBC Sports, locally televised on WMAQ-TV 5 in Chicago, Harry Caray on 720 AM WGN Radio. How could this get any better???

[@goofy710]

That was great!!!

[@gregthegroove]

Man, I’m just glad there was no instant replay back then. You can’t distinguish a baseball from the base, the foul line and white socks they wore with the pixels and non HD back then. YIKES

[@144Donn]

Is it just me or do you see these players as more authentic than those who have come after. Seeing Cey at 3rd base and all these guys..just brings back a feeling of intensity and purpose..when the game counted more!

[@chitownref]

Gary Mathews was a really nice guy too. His kids played little league at the same park that I did and I was umpiring at that time and he would talk with everyone and never brushed anyone away or was a jag to anyone. He never yelled at any of us umpires or was a diva with any of the coaches. That was a fun few years with him and his kids.

[@hoosierflatty6435]

Dave Owen for the win. Nice work Ryno, Willie, Ozzie and all.

[@raulgreen8369]

This was the 2nd crew on NBC'S Game of the Week. Because the Dodgers/Mets was rained out at Shea Stadium on Channel 4 in New York & Los Angeles. But this was seen on WMAQ-TV Channel 5 & KSDK-TV Channel 5 and the rest of the NBC Television Networks around the country.

[@jimbotc2000]

Youngsters, this was back in the good old days when professional sports were still good and relevant.

[@deplorable_bitter_clinger7482]

Nice to see little bit of Larry Bowa in the clip. Underrated player.

[@kevinpayton2664]

Great defensive shortstop

[@dougbrowne9890]

The Cardinals catcher (Porter?) gave the game away. He made Sutter pitch the exact same three pitches to Sandberg. You could almost superimpose Sandberg's last two AB's. What a game!

[@ApeQuake]

I grew up in Kenosha as a Cubs fan. I was also eight (just about to turn 9). We were down 9-3 and we went to the mall. When I got to the mall, they were down 9-6. I stayed and watched the remainder of the game with an ever growing crowd as the rest of the family went shopping. From that day forward, Ryno has been my favorite athlete. He will make a fabulous manager in the big leagues when he finally gets his shot (too bad the Cubs current administration were too stupid and passed).

[@raulgreen8369]

This was the one of the 2 games to see on NBC. The Dodgers/Mets at Shea was rained out with Vin and Joe. So they went to Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field what turned out to be a classic. Willie McGee who was gonna be the Miller Lite player of the game. Till Ryne Sandberg stole the show with 2 homeruns of former Cub Bruce Sutter. Bob Costas & Tony Kubex had the call of this summer game on WMAQ-TV Channel 5 and sister station KSDK-TV Channel 5 .On radio 720 WGN in STL. 1120 KMOX.

[@AcessDBpro]

What can you say. What a great decade for baseball. 1984 was a great year as well, the year the San Diego Padres beat these same Cubs for the pennant 3-2 after losing the first two games at Wrigley. Also, African-American participation was much higher.

[@jeffpapas4602]

Reading the closing credits during Sandberg's at-bat in the tenth. It's like putting away the bats before the game is over.

[@isrealneal7552]

I wish we would have won this but Willie McGee hit for the cycle I was happy about that

[@kenhernandez8128]

This will forever be the Sandberg game. No one remembers anything about Mcghee.

[@muzikdude1188]

Hitting for the cycle is a remarkable achievement--it happens about as often in MLB as a pitcher throwing a no-hitter. Sandberg was the epitome of clutch in this game but what McGee did was pretty special as well.

[@Trust291]

I do!!! Old baseball players are my favorite classic.

[@OldTown1520]

Fellas don't listen to this dude. He clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. I remember Willie McGee, #51. He was a baller. Hit for cycle indeed in this game. If it weren't for the Cubs winning the game, it would be all about Willie McGee. I remember him hitting .351 & winning the batting title too. He had speed as well. That combo of McGee & Coleman. Man they can run.

[@10Peter25]

IIRC, Sandberg hit a game-tying home run off Sutter the next year, too. Sandberg had Sutter's number like no other hitter did.

[@briandeichler9078]

Best game ever

[@AJKPenguin]

When Bob Costas was really good. Every player in that game was rather special, though some do reign higher than the others. And it certainly was a nightmare for the mound.

[@funkyflashman]

The game that made Rhino a superstar!

[@jeremyc2445]

Magical year, but the playoff loss still hurts for some reason. Even after 2016 WS

[@raulgreen8369]

Who can forget Ryne Sandberg 2 homeruns against former Cub Bruce Sutter definitely with Bob Costas/ Tony Kubek on NBC Sports . Sports world was coming up but Ryno's 2 long balls was the difference. But the Cubs won the game. Later on the Nine o'clock News on WGN Channel 9 the highlights were played from 720 WGN Radio

[@mcq413]

What a game for both players! Poor McGee, hitting for the cycle and losing the game.. I felt bad for Cabrera when he had a 3 HR game against Texas and lost.