Reimagining the 1984 Cubs: A Chicago Sports Stuff / Strat-O-Matic Simulation
We fixed one of the the most heartbreaking losses in Chicago Cubs history. We also broke down what might've happened next.
LEON DURHAM was a solid Major League Baseball player.
The first baseman/outfielder they (unimaginatively) called “Bull” finished his ten-year career racking up a .277 average, 106 stolen bases, and a pair of All-Star nods. The bulk of his professional life was spent with the Chicago Cubs, for whom he jacked at least 20 home runs in five seasons. In his 1982-1987 heyday, Durham was a durable pro, topping 550 plate appearances in four years.
Yet all most people remember him for is his Bill Buckner-esque error in the 1984 National League Championship Series.
Since I don’t want to ruin your day too much, here’re the broad strokes:
An excellent 1984 Chicago Cubs squad finished the season with a division-winning record of 96-65.
Chicago faced an equally excellent San Diego Padres team in the best-of-five NLCS.
The Cubs won the first two games of the series at Wrigley, with the Padres taking games three and four in Cali.
In the seventh inning of the rubber match, the Cubs were up 3-2, and starting pitcher Rick Sutcliffe was cruising.
With no outs and a man on second, Padres pinch hitter Tim Flannery dribbled a slow roller to first, which went through Durham’s wickets (see the above GIF), leading to an unearned run, a four-run inning, a Pods a 6-3 victory, and a 3-2 series win.
Durham’s reputation was shot. But we like the guy, so we’re going to pretend it never happened.
We’re also going to pretend that Sutcliffe finished out the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
We’re also going to pretend that All-Star reliever Lee Smith struck out five of the six Padres he faced, sending the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945.
We’re also going to pretend that the Cubs stared down the 104-win Detroit Tigers in baseball’s crown jewel.
Because at Strat-O-Matic and Chicago Sports Stuff, and that’s what we do.
So here, now, is what an SOM simulation tells us a 1984 Cubs/Tigers World Series might’ve looked like.
(Game recaps courtesy of Strat-O-Matic.)
GAME ONE
In the era of alternating home-and-away World Series, it’s the Senior Circuit’s turn for home-diamond advantage, so the set opens at Wrigley Field.
With NL Cy Young honoree Rick Sutcliffe unavailable due to a rotational glitch, lefty Steve Trout gets the start.
Leon Durham, flush with confidence after fielding that grounder in Game 5 of the NLCS, blasts a two-run dinger in the first and a solo shot in the third, putting Chicago ahead, 4-1.
But five runs over the next three frames give the visitors in the lead, and league MVP and Cy Young winner Willie Hernandez closes the door, quelling a late Cubbies rally for the Game 1 triumph.
Detroit Tigers - 7
Chicago Cubs - 5
(Detroit leads series 1-0)
GAME TWO
A three-run third featuring RBI singles by Ryne Sandberg, Gary Matthews, and Keith Moreland is followed by another three-run outburst an inning later, with Sandberg’s two-run triple doing the most damage.
Dennis Eckersley throws seven magnificent innings, as the Cubs build a 7-1 lead. Reliever Tim Stoddard locks down the win, knotting the series as it heads up to the Motor City.
Chicago Cubs - 8
Detroit Tigers - 3
(Series tied 1-1)
GAME THREE
Despite all his success since the mid-season trade to Chicago, starter Rick Sutcliffe is banged around in his only World Series appearance, unable to get out of the third inning.
With a 9-2 lead, it looks like the Tigers are headed to a comfortable win, but to the Cubs’ credit, in the bottom of the ninth, they have the game-tying batter in the on-deck circle.
Unfortunately — and unsurprisingly — former Cub Hernandez’s two-out save shuts the door.
Detroit Tigers - 9
Chicago Cubs - 5
(Detroit leads series 2-1)
GAME FOUR
Scott Sanderson, another clever acquisition by the Cubs after their 1983 dumpster fire, scatters six hits, walking one, in the shutout win.
Back-to-back triples by Sandberg and Matthews in the first set the tone and Sanderson does the rest.
Bob Dernier smacks three hits to pace Chicago’s 10-hit attack.
Chicago Cubs - 4
Detroit Tigers - 0
(Series tied 2-2)
GAME FIVE
A two-run single by the Tigers’ Barbaro Garbey in the third keys a three-run second inning and a three-run double by the Detroit’s DH Darrell Evans accounts for the remainder of the scoring.
Dan Petry, Aurelio Lopez and Doug Bair combine on a six-hitter to give Detroit a 3-2 series edge as the teams head back to the Friendly Confines.
Detroit Tigers - 6
Chicago Cubs - 1
(Detroit leads series 3-2)
GAME SIX
There’s no joy in Wrigleyville as the Tigers pummel Eck and a parade of relievers mercilessly, pounding out 18 hits in the laugher to clinch the title.
Milt Wilcox earns his second win of the Series with a workmanlike quality start (7 1/3, seven runs, three runs) and every Bengal starter has at least one hit, led by Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, and Dave Bergman, who rack up three apiece.
On the plus side, Leon Durham makes it through the Series with zero errors. No bull.
Detroit Tigers - 9
Chicago Cubs - 5
(Detroit wins series 4-2)
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Detroit Tigers
Lou Whitaker .303, 6 RBI
Kirk Gibson .375, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Lance Parrish .269, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Milt Wilcox, 2-0, 3.52
Dave Bergman .467, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Chicago Cubs
Gary Matthews .409, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5 runs
Bob Dernier .360, 5 runs
Keith Moreland .348, HR, 4 RBI
Ryne Sandberg .269, 2 3B, 4 RBI