Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley presents Rick Sutcliffe

Chicago Cubs: Staying on the hill key for the Red Baron

Sutcliffe started 1985 strong, throwing two early season shutouts. However, a hamstring injury and numerous arm issues stunted his effectiveness to pitch well and stay healthy.  He made just 20 starts for Chicago, with a lower strikeout rate and higher walk rate in ’85 and had an abysmal 1986 campaign, losing 14 games with a horrendous 1.27 strikeout-to-walk clip.

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Finally, healthy, Sutcliffe rebounded in 1987, again becoming a National League All-Star en route to a league-leading 18 wins over 237 1/3 innings pitched.  The Cubs, however, did not share the same success as the righty, finishing 76-85, making Sutcliffe’s comeback season moot.

1988 proved to be yet another waste of Sutcliffe’s talents.  Despite having an admirable 3.86 ERA, the Cubs failed to score runs in volume, causing Sutcliffe’s record to fall to just 13-14.  An interesting occurrence did happen to him that season though.  On July 29, while the Cubs were in Philadelphia playing the Phillies, Sutcliffe not only won the game but also stole home.

The Cubs seemed to figure it all out in 1989, winning 93 games under manager Don Zimmer, first in the NL East.  The “Boys of Zimmer” were a young, exciting bunch which included the likes of Greg Maddux, Dwight Smith, Jerome Walton, Shawon Dunston, Mark Grace, and led by future Hall of Famers, Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson.

Alongside the 23-year-old Maddux, Sutcliffe and Mad Dog were quite a one-two punch in the Cubs rotation. Sutcliffe made 35 starts for the North Siders, and once again overcome a low strikeout rate to nab the third and final All-Star appearance of his career.

However, history once again repeated itself and, just like in 1984, the Cubs’ hope of a World Series appearance ended quickly, falling to the San Francisco Giants in five games.

After two less than stellar seasons in 1990 and 1991, which saw Sutcliffe go a combined 6-7 over 24 games due to recurring arm injuries, the Cubs decided not to offer the 35-year-old a contract, making him a free agent and ending his time in Chicago.