The WHAT IF World Series of 1984 (Cubs / Tigers)

Many have wondered what would have had Leon Durham fielded that ground ball, many Cubs fans for sure. Some wonder, would they have been better competition for the Detroit Tigers, could have anyone stopped those Tigers?!

The good thing is we can play out these scenarios through the amazing world of APBA Baseball. I decided to do that, by knocking out some games for a couple mornings.

In 1984, the National League hosted Games 1 & 2 (and would have hosted Games 6 & 7, if necessary). So the Tigers would have to start off the series at Wrigley

GAME 1

Sutcliffe: Dialed in.

The Chicago Cubs send their ace to the mound in Rick Sutcliffe (Grade B-XZ), he was tied for the Majors' lead, with 20 victories (20-6), going 16-1 (.941 winning percentage) with the Cubs after he was acquired from the Cleveland Indians; sporting a 2.69 ERA & 155 K's in 150.1 innings -- his numbers with the Indians were horrendous, leaving some Indians fans wondering if he just wanted out. He will face off against Jack Morris (Grade B-Y) of the Detroit Tigers, 19-11, with a 3.60 ERA, 148 K's in 240 innings; Sutcliffe's combined season ERA was 3.64 -- making this an equal match-up for Game 1.

Bottom of the 1st - After a one-out single by Ryne Sandberg, Leon Durham hits an RBI double to right to score in Sandberg. Ron Cey grounds out to move Durham to third. Keith Moreland's RBI single makes it 2-0 early for the Cubs.

The Tigers would go on to have trouble figuring out Sutcliffe, oddly, because Tigers have seen him aplenty in the A.L. East when he pitched for Cleveland. Sutcliffe records 5 K's in the first three innings, while the Tigers didn't record their first hit, until the 4th, a two-out single by Darrell Evans.

Durham had a huge game for Cubs.

Bottom of the 4th - The rain comes down, and the game is delayed for an hour -- We'll see if they are rusty... [the starting pitchers have been downgraded to Grade C's to make it interesting].

The Tigers would have men on from the 4th through the 6th inning, but failed to get the runners home, with two of the innings ending on double plays.

Bottom of the 7th -Leon Durham added a solo HR in the bottom of the 7th off of Juan Berenguer, who is being used as relief; Durham was already having an impressive day, he would finish going 3-for-5, HR, 2 doubles & 2 RBI.

Top of the 8th - Rick Sutcliffe cruised through 7 innings, before giving up a solo HR by pinch-hitter Rupert Jones, Cubs still leading 3-1.

Bottom of the 8th - Davey Lopes hits a two-out pinch-hit double off of Aurelio Lopez, it's been all Cubs in this one.

Top of the 9th -  Lee Smith comes in to attempt to close this one out, the Wrigley fans are excited. Smith's pitch gets away from him, brushing back the 9th inning lead-off man Kirk Gibson; Gibson didn't like that so much, and sent a fly ball over the right field fence -- even in APBA land Gibson lives for the dramatic! Chet Lemon comes up and singles to right, the Tigers are in business, tying run is at the plate in Darrell Evans.

As the Cubs manager, I decided to have the Tigers intentionally walk Evans, I have seen Evans with a man on, so many times cause trouble, his card seems to play better than its worth, and he already has a single, while Lance Parrish (batting 6th) has been quiet, 0-for-3 with a K -- plus I have seen Parrish many times hit into a double play. It turned out to be a mistake on the Cubs' part, Parrish hits a ball into the opposite corner, and races around to third, a two-run triple, the Tigers have now tied the game! Dave Bergman adds salt to the wounds, with a RBI single, to take the 5-4 lead! Wrigley is in shock, as if they saw a ghost, or better yet a billy goat. No outs, Rupert Jone would fly out, while Rusty Kuntz pinch-hitting for the reliever Lopez would hit into an inning-ending double play.

Sparky: Man & team on a mission "This is our year."

 Willie Hernandez who has been phenomenal -- shut down the Cubs (Sandberg, Durham & Cey),
1-2-3! Cubs fans leave sick to their stomachs, can they even recover after this.

Postgame rumors swirled of a few Tigers fans that happened to make the trip to Wrigley, were making "BAAAAHHHHH!!!" noises at Lee Smith before he headed out to save the game for the Cubs; nothing has been confirmed, Smith scoffed when asked such a question.

Kirk Gibson afterwards described the quick change of momentum as if the Cubs were hit by an un-expecting freight train. Sparky quickly made his rounds through the dugout, telling his team to not get too cocky, but to stay hungry.

He walked away and said "This is our year."


TO BE CONTINUED...