Sandberg statue to be unveiled Sunday, a very memorable day in Cubs history
Prior to Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, the Chicago Cubs will honor Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg by unveiling a statue in its Statue Row at Gallagher Way.
Sunday will mark the 40th anniversary of The Sandberg Game (June 23, 1984).
The unveiling ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. ET, three hours prior to the Cubs-Mets game.
Earlier this year, Sandberg announced he is battling prostate cancer.
Sandberg’s statue will be the fifth such monument located outside of historic Wrigley Field. He will join the likes of Hall of Famers Harry Caray, Fergie Jenkins, Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Billy Williams.
He will throw out the first pitch on Sunday night as well.
For No. 23 June 23, 1984, was his breakout game as the entire nation found out who Ryne Sandberg was.
In front of a national NBC television audience on The Game of the Week, Sandburg homered not once, but twice off of the league’s best closer – Bruce Sutter – helping the Cubs rally from deficits of 7-1, 9-3 and 11-9, a game the northsiders eventually won over the St. Louis Cardinals 12-11.
Watch the historic video here with Harry Caray’s classic call and I dare you not to get goosebumps.https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=was+Sandburg+Game+on+NBC&type=E210US739G0#id=1&vid=dce429198ae75192be616d3f97eccb17&action=click
Sandberg’s second homer tied the game and Dave Owen’s pinch-hit single in the 11th won it for the Cubs.
Sandberg finished the game five-for-six with two dingers and seven RBI.
Although Sandberg deservedly stole the show, Cardinal outfielder Willie McGee hit for the cycle. Interestingly enough, McGee was named NBC’s player of the game prior to Sandberg’s first long ball in the ninth.
Of course the Cubs went on to win the National League East (the National League had just two divisions at the time – East and West) with a 96-65 record, 6 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets.
The Cubs made their first playoff appearance since 1945 and after taking a two games to none lead over the San Diego Padres in the NLCS, they lost three in a row out west to see their season come to an end. Back then the League Championship Series were the best of five and you will recall since the Cubs did not have lights they lost homefield advantage and only got to host two games instead of three as they should have since they had the best record in the National League.
Sandberg went on to win the 1984 National League MVP, but without question on June 23, 1984, the entire nation discovered the kind of ballplayer he was.
Don’t forget Sandberg was part of arguably one of the greatest trades in Cubs’ history. Chicago acquired him prior to the 1982 season. Sandberg was considered the throw-in in a deal that sent Larry Bowa to the Cubs and Ivan DeJesus went to the Phillies.
Sandberg, just 22 at the time, was going to be counted on to be General Manager Dallas Green’s ‘new tradition with the Cubs. Green was the former manager of the Phillies.
It was a rocky start for Sandberg, who went hitless for his first 20 at the plate, and one for his first 32.
However, Green and Manager Lee Elia stayed the course with Sandberg, and it certainly paid off wouldn’t you say?
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