Steve Goodman died just months after writing the song and four days before the Cubs made the 1984 playoffs. Thirty-one years later, Cubs fans are still long-suffering, but now there is real hope.

But in 1984, it was the Cubs who ruled the city, and it was Ryne Sandberg, a 24-year-old second baseman who had neither Jordan’s aura nor Ditka’s image, who was the biggest star in Chicago.

This was a day of memories for the Cubs, from the memorial service for Ryne Sandberg at Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago ...

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the ...

Roberto Ramos “Captain Cubbo” wears a helmet with rhino horns in reference to Ryne “Ryno“ Sandberg during the streaming of ...

The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.

Longtime Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg died Monday at age 65, his family announced on Sandberg’s verified ...

The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.