Chicago Cubs History: Longtime Cubs who turned into Cardinals

Chicago Cubs: Cy Young winner Rick Sutcliffe ended his career with the Cardinals

Veteran righty Rick Sutcliffe was a godsend for the Cubs when Dallas Green acquired him from the Cleveland Indians in 1984. His Cy Young award-winning efforts helped propel the team to the NL East title, followed by seven more years of quality pitching. Sutcliffe pitched with the Cubs through 1990, posting a 3.74 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 1.3 WHIP and 909 strikeouts in 193 games. He made two NL All-Star teams as a Cub in 1987 and 1989.

After his seven-and-a-half year run with the Cubs, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 1991. His two seasons with the Orioles did not go very well, pitching to a 5.00 ERA, 4.51 FIP and 1.5 WHIP in 65 games. In January of 1994, Sutcliffe made the move to St. Louis via free agency.

At 38 years old and in what would be his final season as an MLB pitcher, Sutcliffe returned to the Wrigley Field mound on June 26, 1994. Despite struggling mightily in the season, The Red Baron beat his former club with a six inning, one-run effort. He surrendered only four hits, struck out two and walked none in a 3-1 Cardinals win.

Sutcliffe finished his final season with a 6.52 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 16 games. His Cardinals tenure was brief and forgettable. The 1994 season, of course, ended early with the infamous baseball strike.