The Cubs had roared into first place in early August 1984 by taking seven of eight from the Mets in a pair of four-game series in New York and Chicago.
Cubs fans still weren’t totally convinced, though, that this was “the year” they’d finally break the postseason drought. And those fears got worse in mid-August when the Cubs went into the Astrodome and got swept in that house of pain for all Cubs fans.
But after a loss to the Reds in Cincinnati August 17, the Cubs went on a 12-3 run that had them in first place by five games entering a two-game series against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Labor Day, September 3.