Spring training

The team opened camp in Mesa, Arizona, apparently content with Brian Dayett to start in right field.^{[citation needed]} However, Andre Dawson and his agent Dick Moss showed up after camp opened hoping that Green would consider signing the all-star outfielder.^{[citation needed]} Dawson was one of the top free agents on the market during the off-season, but he garnered little interest. He made no secret that he wanted to leave Montreal, where his knees were battered by the Olympic Stadium Astroturf.^{[citation needed]} He also made it known during the off season that the Cubs were his top choice, as Wrigley Field had a natural grass surface and had no lights.^{[citation needed]} Dawson hit considerably better during the day.^{[citation needed]}

After a couple weeks of Green saying he was flatly uninterested in Dawson, Dawson and Moss presented Green with a "blank" signed contract. Green filled in the amount -- $500,000 for one year.

Spring training also began with the dark news of broadcaster Harry Caray suffering a stroke in Palm Springs. WGN announced that until Caray was well enough to return, guest announcers would fill in and sit alongside color analyst Steve Stone.^[1]

Notable transactions

• December 9, 1986: Heathcliff Slocumb was drafted by the Cubs from the New York Mets in the 1986 minor league draft.^[2]
• February 17, 1987: Guy Hoffman was traded by the Cubs to the Cincinnati Reds for Wade Rowdon.^[3]
• March 9, 1987: Andre Dawson was signed as a free agent by the Cubs.^[4]
• March 23, 1987: Mike Martin was released by the Cubs.^[5]
• March 30, 1987: Thad Bosley and Dave Gumpert were traded by the Cubs to the Kansas City Royals for Jim Sundberg.^[6]

Season summary

An 18–10 May propelled the Cubs into the race, and they spent time in first place in early June. However, injuries to Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston within days of each other crippled the Cubs' middle infield and hampered their offense. Their replacements were Paul Noce and Mike Brumley, respectively, Brumley having been acquired as "thrown-in" in the 1984 Buckner-for-Eckersley trade. Neither player was able to come close to replacing the lost production from Sandberg and Dunston and, consequentially, the team struggled.

In the month of August, two incidents occurred in which players cheated against the Cubs. Phillies pitcher Kevin Gross was pitching against the Chicago Cubs on Aug 10, 1987. Gross was caught with sandpaper in his glove and suspended for 10 games.^[7] Astros batter Billy Hatcher was batting against the Chicago Cubs on Aug 31, 1987, when he broke his bat and it flew down the third base line. Cubs third baseman Keith Moreland saw cork, and Hatcher was suspended for 10 games.^[7] Later on, Hatcher claimed that he was using pitcher Dave Smith's bat, and not his own.

After a woeful August, Michael told the press that he was planning on resigning after the season. Green said that he would accept the resignation, effective immediately, and replaced Michael with Frank Lucchesi, a longtime scout in the Philadelphia organization who had become a Cubs roving instructor. As the Cubs played out the string under Lucchesi, they finished last, although they were a markedly improved team over the '86 club, with a promising future.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• April 6, 1987: Dickie Noles was signed as a free agent by the Cubs.^[8]
• July 13, 1987: Steve Trout was traded by the Cubs to the New York Yankees for Bob Tewksbury, Rich Scheid, and Dean Wilkins.^[9]
• September 22, 1987: Dickie Noles was loaned by the Cubs to the Detroit Tigers.^[8]

Opening Day starters

• Jody Davis
• Andre Dawson
• Brian Dayett
• Bob Dernier
• Shawon Dunston
• Leon Durham
• Keith Moreland
• Ryne Sandberg
• Rick Sutcliffe

Roster

Game log

Batting

Pitching