By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 31st, 2023
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3570 Views
~Fred McGriff 1963– (Cubs 2001-2002) He was nicknamed the Crime Dog because of his last name’s similarity to the “actual” crime dog McGruff. Our crime dog, it’s safe to say, was at best a reluctant Cub. He refused to be traded to the Cubs at first, and then when he finally agreed to the trade, ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 30th, 2023
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3351 Views
~Roe Skidmore 1945– (Cubs 1970) He played in exactly one game for the Cubs in 1970, and his lifetime batting average is 1.000. Skidmore hit a Jerry Reuss pitch over third baseman Joe Torre’s head for a clean single against the Cardinals. The New York Times wrote a piece in 1999 about him and ot...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 29th, 2023
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3337 Views
~Solly Hofman 1882–1956 (Cubs 1904-1912, 1916) His nickname was Circus Solly, and he played for the Cubs during their most dominant era, and was a key member of four World Series teams. At first he was a utility man, but by the time his Cubs tenure was through, he was their full-time center fie...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 28th, 2023
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3475 Views
~Percy Jones 1899–1979 (Cubs 1920-1922, 1925-1928) Percy was a fifth starter/spot starter for the Cubs during his time in Chicago. He had two double-digit win seasons (1926, 1928), but was included in the trade that brought Rogers Hornsby to the Cubs just before the Cubs made it to the World Se...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Oct 27th, 2023
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4486 Views
How long ago was 1908? Cubs utility player Solly Hofman turns 26 years old. He is finally celebrating his wedding and honeymoon, something that manager Frank Chance made him put off until the season ended. Hofman followed the boss’ orders without complaint: “I guess Miss Looker’s ju...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 27th, 2023
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3546 Views
~Ralph Kiner 1922–2014 (Cubs 1953-1954) He was one of the most feared sluggers in the league when he played for the Pirates, but by the time the Cubs got him (1953), he was not the same player. He led the league in home runs all seven seasons with the Pirates, and though he did have […]...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 26th, 2023
1 Comment
4559 Views
~Hillary Rodham Clinton 1947– (Cubs fan 1947-Present) She grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, an unabashed Cubs fan. Even though she later claimed to have been a Yankees fan, there is documentary evidence to prove her Cubs love. In 1993, when she was the First Lady, she accepted induction into the...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 25th, 2023
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3821 Views
~Russ Meyer 1923–1997 (Cubs 1946-1948, 1956) Not to be confused with the B-movie director who was obsessed with large breasts, this Russ Meyer was known as Mad Monk because he had a vicious temper and didn’t take to coaching. One night he ran into an old girlfriend at a bar the players frequent...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 24th, 2023
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3901 Views
~Ned Williamson 1857–1894 (White Stockings 1879-1889) Williamson was Chicago’s star shortstop/third baseman during the 1880s. He thrilled the fans with his home runs, and was arguably the game’s first home run hero. In 1884 he hit 27 in one 112-game season. That was the record for 35 years. It ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 23rd, 2023
1 Comment
4287 Views
~Solly Drake 1930– (Cubs 1956) Solly got a lot of time in center field for the 1956 Cubs. He showed some speed on the base paths (nine stolen bases), and played decently defensively, but didn’t really hit enough to keep his spot in the lineup. Drake later played for the Dodgers and Phillies. Bo...
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