By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 16th, 2024
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2957 Views
~Hobie Landrith 1930– (Cubs 1956) Hobie was a catcher who lasted fourteen seasons in the big leagues, including 1956 with the Cubs. That season Hobie got over 300 at bats for the only time in his career, but he didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. He led all big league catchers in errors, ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1945
Mar 15th, 2024
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5696 Views
This week during the last year the Cubs went to the World Series… World War II Rages On *The Battle of Iwo Jima officially ends, but small pockets of guerrilla resistance are persisting past the official conclusion of the battle. *Kobe, Japan is fire-bombed by 331 B-29 bombers, killing over 8,0...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 15th, 2024
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3824 Views
~Bob Locker 1938– (Cubs 1973, 1975) The Cubs traded one of their rare home-grown position players (Billy North) to get Bob Locker before the 1973 season. North was a speedy leadoff hitter that ignited the lineup of the World Champion Oakland A’s, and Locker was a 35 year old reliever. Admittedl...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 14th, 2024
2 Comments
5486 Views
~Steve Lake 1957– (Cubs 1983-1986, 1993) Steve spent eleven years in the big leagues as a backup catcher, beginning and ending his career with the Cubs. He was known as a great defensive catcher. Lake ranks ninth on the all-time list for percentage of baserunners thrown out trying to steal. But...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 13th, 2024
1 Comment
4365 Views
~Chippy Gaw 1892–1968 (Cubs 1920) One of the greatest names in baseball history–Chippy Gaw–pitched only briefly for the Cubs. After logging nearly ten years in the minors, he got into six big league games in 1920, mainly as a reliever. In his last Major League appearance on July 4, 1920, he cam...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 12th, 2024
1 Comment
4822 Views
Johnny Callison 1939 (Cubs 1970-1971) The Cubs acquired him in November of 1969, in a trade that they hoped would put them over the top. They traded pitcher Dick Selma (who had been a favorite of the Bleacher Bums because of his cheerleading routine from the bullpen) and a young prospect, to the Phil...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 11th, 2024
1 Comment
4166 Views
~Jack Spring 1933–2015 (Cubs 1964) He pitched for seven teams in his eight big league seasons, and for exactly one month that team was the Cubs. They acquired Jack in May of 1964, and he pitched in seven games over the next few weeks. But then on June 15, 1964, Spring was called into the [&hell...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 10th, 2024
1 Comment
4725 Views
~Bill Heath 1939– (Cubs 1969) Bill Heath was a backup catcher for the Cubs in 1969, and with less than 200 career at bats, certainly qualifies as a “cup of coffee.” His story has a very dramatic ending by the way. Heath was catching on August 19, 1969. If you’re a real stats g...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 10th, 2024
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5988 Views
How long ago was 1908? Chicago’s aldermen of 1908 make today’s look like alter boys. Meet “Bathhouse John” Coughlin. He is one of the aldermen from Chicago’s notorious First Ward. Along with his partner in crime (literally), Hinky Dink Kenna, Bathhouse protects Chicago&#...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 9th, 2024
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3763 Views
~Terry Mulholland 1963– (Cubs 1997-1999) He was a mediocre starting pitcher for the Cubs in 1997, but Mulholland was a key contributor out of the bullpen during their wild card season of 1998. He was the main lefty setup man, and when Rod Beck was resting his tired arm, Terry filled in for him....
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