Chicago Cubs: Comparing every Cubs Cy Young season

Chicago Cubs: Sutcliffe was the first pitcher to win Cy Young as a Cub and pitch in the postseason

June 13, 1984. Cubs executive Dallas Green made a trade with the Cleveland Indians, which got them starting pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. The then-28-year-old pitcher was struggling in Cleveland as he was posting a 5.15 ERA in 15 starts at the time of the trade. A change of scenery did the man wonders.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

Sutcliffe made his final 20 starts in 1984 as a Cub and went 16-1 with a 2.69 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.08 WHIP, seven complete games and 155 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings. His numbers as a Cub were so good; he won the NL Cy Young while making 43% of his starts in the American League.

Because his time in the NL was not a full season’s worth in 1984, he did not end up leading the league in many statistical categories. The only stat he was best in was win percentage (.941).

After pitching a gem in the NL East Division winner, Sutcliffe took the mound to start the first Cubs postseason game since 1945. Sadly things did not go well in his game five starts, but it cannot take away from how good he was that year on the North Side.

After 1984 Sutcliffe pitched seven more seasons in a Cubs uniform and made two All-Star games. He was second in Cy Young voting in 1987 when he pitched to a 3.68 ERA and won a league-leading 18 games.