The Cubs had two Hall of Famers on their pitching staff, they literally got to write in any salary they wanted to pay another Hall of Famer to join their outfield, and they won 75 games. The year was 1987, Wrigley Field’s last without lights, Harry Caray had suffered a stroke and a raft of “celebrities” filled in for the first couple of months on the TV broadcasts. Gene Michael was the manager for some unknown reason, and he didn’t survive the season, which would also be Dallas Green’s last. Jerry Mumphrey had a shockingly good season, and Brian Dayett wowed the nation with his incredible all-around play. The Cubs were lousy with quality centerfielders for once, Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston went missing for long stretches of the season. They’ve had non last place teams that were far worse than this bunch. They just happened to play in a loaded NL East that season.
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Highlights of the Bill Murray broadcast from 1987
Even better, here’s the raw feed of postgame and 10th Inning show from that game
The radio call (DeWayne Staats and Jim Frey ((oh boy))) of Eric Show hitting Andre Dawson
Here’s the entire Cubs-Cardinals game called by Mike Royko
Tim Weigel on the Cubs signing Andre Dawson