1984 Sandberg Two HRs vs Cardinals

The 'Sandberg Game' starter for the Cardinals

Ralph Alexander Citarella (born February 7, 1958) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1979 amateur draft (secondary phase), and he played for the Cardinals (1983–1984) and Chicago White Sox (1987).

Last updated 2026-09-28 from the source article.

Quick Facts

Date: June 23, 1984
Opponent: St. Louis Cardinals
Player of the match: Ryne Sandberg (2B)
Key statistic: Two walk-off home runs in extra innings
Season context: First NL East title since 1945
Final score: Cubs 12, Cardinals 11 (11 innings)

Facts from the source article.

Background

Citarella made his first MLB start on June 23, 1984, a nationally televised NBC Game of the Week at Wrigley Field versus the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals held a 9-3 lead when Citarella left the game in the sixth inning with two runners on base. The high-scoring extra-inning affair came to be known as the 'Sandberg Game' in recognition of Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who homered to tie the game in the ninth inning and again in the tenth against Bruce Sutter.