1989 NLCS Game 1

Lore & Background

The Cubs stole the National League spotlight during the 1989 season along with their NL West rivals San Francisco Giants. The Cubs had All-Star seasons from Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Rick Sutcliffe, and closing pitcher Mitch Williams. Williams gave the Cubs a strong stopper in the bullpen in his impressive National League debut while the 1989 NL Rookie of the Year was Chicago's very own Jerome Walton, who proved himself to be a dependable centerfielder. The Cubs finished the season 93–69 to win the NL East for the second time in franchise history, battling the St. Louis Cardinals into the last week of the season. The Cubs lost the NLCS four games to one to the San Francisco Giants, who proved to be more dominant with a strong hitting presence.

In Their Own Story

The wind whipped out from Wrigley's bleachers, carrying the scent of roasted nuts and fading hope. In the dugout, Ryne Sandberg adjusted his helmet, his eyes locked on the Oakland bullpen where relief pitchers moved with lethal efficiency. The stands were a sea of red and blue, but as Dave Stewart took the mound for that first pitch, the air grew heavy with dread. Every strike thrown by the A's felt like a hammer blow to the season's fragile optimism. By the time the final out was recorded, the silence in the bleachers was deafening—a stark contrast to the roar that had greeted the team just hours before.

Reader's Guide

The 1989 NLCS was the second Cubs NLCS appearance in franchise history, following their 1984 NLCS appearance. The Cubs lost the series four games to one to the San Francisco Giants. The Giants made it to their first World Series since 1962 with a 3–2 win over the Cubs to win the 1989 National League pennant. The final game pitted Mike Bielecki against a well-rested Rick Reuschel. Reuschel gave up only one run over eight innings. The one run Reuschel gave up was an unearned run the Cubs scored when Walton reached on an error by Mitchell and then scored on Sandberg's double. The Cubs held the 1–0 lead until the seventh inning when Will Clark tripled and scored on Mitchell's sacrifice fly. The Cubs rallied in the ninth with three straight singles that made it 3–2, but Sandberg grounded out sending the Giants to their first World Series since 1962.

Did You Know?

• Ryne Sandberg hit exactly 30 home runs in 1989.
• The 1989 NLCS was the second Cubs NLCS appearance, not the first since 1945.
• Dave Stewart's nickname was not 'The Big O'; he was known as 'Smoke' or 'Stew'.