What if Leon Durham hadn’t booted that ball? What if Lee Smith hadn’t let Steve Garvey take him deep? What if the Chicago Cubs had actually won the 1984 National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres? We’re re-imagining the 1984 World Series through the use of the APBA Pro Baseball Game, with the Cubs facing the American League champion Detroit Tigers.

Dan Petry out-dueled Scott Sanderson in leading the Tigers to a 3-1 win in Game Five, bringing the series back to Tiger Stadium with the home team one win away from its first World Series title in 16 years. But the Cubs felt good about their chances of forcing a seventh game, with Cy Young winner-to-be Rick Sutcliffe on the mound with his 19-1 record since coming to Chicago. The story after the jump.

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What if Leon Durham hadn’t booted that ball? What if Lee Smith hadn’t let Steve Garvey take him deep? What if the Chicago Cubs had actually won the 1984 National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres? We’re re-imagining the 1984 World Series through the use of the APBA Pro Baseball Game, with the Cubs facing the American League champion Detroit Tigers.

After the Cubs fought back to square the series at two games apiece, Chicago manager Jim Frey had a decision to make. Dennis Eckerlsey’s turn in the rotation was up, but the veteran – acquired in a June trade with Boston for the popular Bill Buckner – had been hit hard in two postseason starts. The alternative? Righthander Scott Sanderson, who hadn’t pitched since Game Four of the NLCS against the Padres. Detroit would counter with Game Two starter Dan Petry, who hadn’t made it out of the second inning. The story after the jump.

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What if Leon Durham hadn’t booted that ball? What if Lee Smith hadn’t let Steve Garvey take him deep? What if the Chicago Cubs had actually won the 1984 National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres? We’re re-imagining the 1984 World Series through the use of the APBA Pro Baseball Game, with the Cubs facing the American League champion Detroit Tigers.

Game Three saw the Cubs win their first home World Series game since 1935, but they would need to make it two in two days to avoid going down 3-1 in the series. The pitching matchup was a repeat of Game One, with Steve Trout facing Jack Morris. The story after the jump.

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What if Leon Durham hadn’t booted that ball? What if Lee Smith hadn’t let Steve Garvey take him deep? What if the Chicago Cubs had actually won the 1984 National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres? We’re re-imagining the 1984 World Series through the use of the APBA Pro Baseball Game, with the Cubs facing the American League champion Detroit Tigers.

After losing the first two games in Detroit, the Cubs returned home for the first weekday afternoon World Series game since 1971. With ace and probable Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe rested and ready, Chicago was in position to gain its first victory in a World Series game since 1945 and first home win in a Fall Classic since 1935. The Tigers countered with 17-game-winner Milt Wilcox. The story after the jump.

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What if Leon Durham hadn’t booted that ball? What if Lee Smith hadn’t let Steve Garvey take him deep? What if the Chicago Cubs had actually won the 1984 National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres? We’re re-imagining the 1984 World Series through the use of the APBA Pro Baseball Game, with the Cubs facing the American League champion Detroit Tigers.

With Jack Morris having outdueled Steve Trout in Game One on Tuesday night, the Tigers looked to go up 2-0 with 18-game-winner Dan Petry on the mound in Game Two on Wednesday, October 10. The Cubs countered with Dennis Eckersley, who had gone 10-8 since coming over from Boston in a midseason trade, and whose dominance as a reliever was still years away. The story after the jump.

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What if Leon Durham hadn’t booted that ball? What if Lee Smith hadn’t let Steve Garvey take him deep? What if the Chicago Cubs had actually won the 1984 National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres? We’re re-imagining the 1984 World Series through the use of the APBA Pro Baseball Game, with the Cubs facing the American League champion Detroit Tigers.

With Commissioner Peter Ueberroth having decreed that the Cubs would give up home-field advantage if they made it to the World Series because of Wrigley Field’s lack of lights, the 1984 Fall Classic opened at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on Tuesday, October 9, 28 years ago today. With Rick Sutcliffe having pitched in the decisive fifth game of the NLCS two days prior, the starting assignment for Chicago went to Steve Trout, whose father, Dizzy, had started and won Game Four of the 1945 World Series for the Tigers against the Cubs 39 years and three days prior. Detroit countered with 19-game winner Jack Morris. The story after the jump.

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