1987 Chicago Cubs season

1987 Chicago Cubs
File:Chicago Cubs Logo.png
Division	Eastern Division
Ballpark	Wrigley Field
City	Chicago
Owners	Tribune Company
Managers	Gene Michael and Frank Lucchesi
Television	WGN-TV/Superstation WGN (Harry Caray, Steve Stone, Dewayne Staats)
Radio	WGN (Dewayne Staats, Lou Boudreau, Jim Frey, Harry Caray)
Stats	ESPN.com BB-reference
Seasons

The 1987 Chicago Cubs season was the 116th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 112th in the National League and the 72nd at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished sixth and last in the National League East with a record of 76–85, 18½ games behind the division and pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals.

Offseason

Spring training

The team opened camp in Mesa, Arizona, apparently content with Brian Dayett to start in right field. However, Andre Dawson and his agent Dick Moss showed up after camp opened hoping that Green would consider signing the all-star outfielder. Dawson was one of the top free agents on the market during the off-season, but he garnered little interest. He made no secret that he wanted to leave Montreal, where his knees were battered by the Olympic Stadium Astroturf. He also made it known during the off season that the Cubs were his top choice, as Wrigley Field had a natural grass surface and had no lights. Dawson hit considerably better during the day.

After a couple weeks of Green saying he was flatly uninterested in Dawson, Dawson and Moss presented Green with a "blank" signed contract. Green filled in the amount -- $500,000 for one year.

Spring training also began with the dark news of broadcaster Harry Caray suffering a stroke in Palm Springs. WGN announced that until Caray was well enough to return, guest announcers would fill in and sit alongside color analyst Steve Stone.

Notable transactions

• December 9, 1986: Heathcliff Slocumb was drafted by the Cubs from the New York Mets in the 1986 minor league draft.
• February 17, 1987: Guy Hoffman was traded by the Cubs to the Cincinnati Reds for Wade Rowdon.
• March 9, 1987: Andre Dawson was signed as a Free Agent by the Cubs.
• March 23, 1987: Mike Martin was released by the Cubs.
• March 30, 1987: Thad Bosley and Dave Gumpert were traded by the Cubs to the Kansas City Royals for Jim Sundberg.

Regular season

The 1987 season featured a career year from free-agent acquisition Andre Dawson, who captured National League Most Valuable Player honors following a 49-home run season. It was also the rookie season for starting pitcher Greg Maddux, the final full season for Wrigley Field without lights, and the last year for general manager Dallas Green, who resigned in late October 1987.

Season summary

An 18–10 May propelled the Cubs into the race, and they spent time in first place in early June. However, injuries to Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston within days of each other crippled the Cubs' middle infield and hampered their offense. Their replacements were Paul Noce and Mike Brumley, respectively, Brumley having been acquired as "thrown-in" in the 1984 Buckner-for-Eckersley trade. Neither player was able to come close to replacing the lost production from Sandberg and Dunston and, consequentially, the team struggled.

In the month of August, two incidents occurred in which players cheated against the Cubs. Phillies pitcher Kevin Gross was pitching against the Chicago Cubs on Aug 10, 1987. Gross was caught with sandpaper in his glove and suspended for 10 games. Astros batter Billy Hatcher was batting against the Chicago Cubs on Aug 31, 1987, when he broke his bat and it flew down the third base line. Cubs third baseman Keith Moreland saw cork, and Hatcher was suspended for 10 games. Later on, Hatcher claimed that he was using pitcher Dave Smith's bat, and not his own.

After a woeful August, Michael told the press that he was planning on resigning after the season. Green said that he would accept the resignation, effective immediately, and replaced Michael with Frank Lucchesi, a longtime scout in the Philadelphia organization who had become a Cubs roving instructor. As the Cubs played out the string under Luchessi, they finished last, although they were a markedly improved team over the '86 club, with a promising future.

Season standings

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	95	67	0.586	—	49–32	46–35
New York Mets	92	70	0.568	3	49–32	43–38
Montreal Expos	91	71	0.562	4	48–33	43–38
Philadelphia Phillies	80	82	0.494	15	43–38	37–44
Pittsburgh Pirates	80	82	0.494	15	47–34	33–48
Chicago Cubs	76	85	0.472	18½	40–40	36–45

Record vs. opponents

1987 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	6–5	8–10	8–10	6–12	3–9	7–5	7–5	7–5	6–12	8–10	3–9
Chicago	5–6	—	6–6	8–4	6–6	10–8	9–9	8–10	4–14	9–3	5–7	6–12
Cincinnati	10–8	6–6	—	13–5	10–8	6–6	7–5	5–7	4–8	12–6	7–11	4–8
Houston	10–8	4–8	5–13	—	12–6	7–5	6–6	6–6	6–6	5–13	10–8	5–7
Los Angeles	12–6	6–6	8–10	6–12	—	3–9	6–6	2–10	6–6	11–7	10–8	3–9
Montreal	9–3	8–10	6–6	5–7	9–3	—	8–10	10–8	11–7	9–3	5–7	11–7
New York	5–7	9–9	5–7	6–6	6–6	10–8	—	13–5	12–6	8–4	9–3	9–9
Philadelphia	5-7	10–8	7–5	6–6	10–2	8–10	5–13	—	11–7	8–4	2–10	8–10
Pittsburgh	5–7	14–4	8–4	6–6	6–6	7–11	6–12	7–11	—	8–4	6–6	7–11
San Diego	12–6	3–9	6–12	13–5	7–11	3–9	4–8	4–8	4–8	—	5–13	4–8
San Francisco	10–8	7–5	11–7	8–10	8–10	7–5	3–9	10–2	6–6	13–5	—	7–5
St. Louis	9–3	12–6	8–4	7–5	9–3	7–11	9–9	10–8	11–7	8–4	5–7	—

Notable transactions

• April 6, 1987: Dickie Noles was signed as a free agent by the Cubs.
• July 13, 1987: Steve Trout was traded by the Cubs to the New York Yankees for Bob Tewksbury, Rich Scheid, and Dean Wilkins.
• September 22, 1987: Dickie Noles was loaned by the Cubs to the Detroit Tigers.

Opening Day starters

• Jody Davis
• Andre Dawson
• Brian Dayett
• Bob Dernier
• Shawon Dunston
• Leon Durham
• Keith Moreland
• Ryne Sandberg
• Rick Sutcliffe

Roster

1987 Chicago Cubs
Roster
Pitchers 48 Jay Baller 39 Ron Davis 33 Frank DiPino 44 Drew Hall 50 Les Lancaster 37 Ed Lynch 31 Greg Maddux 41 Mike Mason 49 Jamie Moyer 47 Dickie Noles 21 Scott Sanderson 46 Lee Smith 40 Rick Sutcliffe 42 Bob Tewksbury 34 Steve Trout		Catchers 34 Damon Berryhill  7 Jody Davis 11 Jim Sundberg Infielders 17 Mike Brumley 12 Shawon Dunston 10 Leon Durham  6 Keith Moreland 16 Paul Noce 28 Luis Quiñones 18 Wade Rowdon 23 Ryne Sandberg 19 Manny Trillo		Outfielders  8 Andre Dawson 24 Brian Dayett 20 Bob Dernier 30 Darrin Jackson  1 Dave Martinez 36 Gary Matthews 22 Jerry Mumphrey 25 Rafael Palmeiro 29 Chico Walker		Manager 53 Frank Lucchesi  4 Gene Michael Coaches  9 Johnny Oates  5 Jim Snyder  3 Herm Starrette  2 John Vukovich 26 Billy Williams

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Jody Davis	125	428	106	.248	19	51
1B	Leon Durham	131	439	120	.273	27	63
2B	Ryne Sandberg	132	523	154	.294	16	59
3B	Keith Moreland	153	563	150	.266	27	88
SS	Shawon Dunston	95	346	85	.246	5	22
LF	Jerry Mumphrey	118	309	103	.333	13	44
CF	Dave Martinez	142	459	134	.292	8	36
RF	Andre Dawson	153	621	178	.287	49	137

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Brian Dayett	97	177	49	.277	5	25
Jim Sundberg	61	139	28	.201	4	15
Wade Rowdon	11	31	7	.226	1	4

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Greg Maddux	30	156	6	14	5.61	101

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Mike Mason	17	38	4	1	5.68	28

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Jay Baller	23	0	1	0	6.75	27

Awards and honors

• Andre Dawson – National League Most Valuable Player
• Andre Dawson – National League Leader Home Runs (49)
• Andre Dawson – National League Leader RBI (137)
• Andre Dawson, Outfield, Gold Glove Award
• Andre Dawson, Outfield, Silver Slugger Award
• Ryne Sandberg, Second Baseman, Gold Glove Award
• Rick Sutcliffe, Pitcher, Lou Gehrig Award
• Rick Sutcliffe, Roberto Clemente Award

All-Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Iowa Cubs	American Association	Larry Cox
AA	Pittsfield Cubs	Eastern League	Jim Essian
A	Winston-Salem Spirits	Carolina League	Jay Loviglio
A	Peoria Chiefs	Midwest League	Jim Tracy
A-Short Season	Geneva Cubs	New York–Penn League	Tom Spencer
Rookie	Wytheville Cubs	Appalachian League	Brad Mills

External links

• 1987 Chicago Cubs
• 1987 Cubs on a Chicago-centric wiki
• 1987 Chicago Cubs on Baseball Almanac
• List of guest announcers for Harry Caray