By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 16th, 2024
0 Comments
3362 Views
~Lee Elia 1937– (Cubs player 1968, Cubs manager 1982-1983) Elia was a big league shortstop who got a cup of coffee as a player with the Cubs in 1968. He got 3 hits in 17 at-bats. The following spring he was traded to the Yankees for Nate Oliver. Cubs fans don’t remember Lee for his […]...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 15th, 2024
1 Comment
4096 Views
~Bubbles Hargrave 1892–1969 (Cubs 1913-1915) His real name was Eugene Hargrave, but everyone called him Bubbles because he stuttered every time he said a word that started with the letter “B”. As much as Bubbles hated his nickname, he must have known that it could have been worse. His younger b...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 14th, 2024
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3077 Views
~Steve Stone 1947– (Cubs 1974-1976) Of course we all remember Steve Stone’s long run as the TV color man for the Cubs, but he also pitched for them three seasons in the mid-70s (‘74-‘76). The Cubs acquired him from the White Sox (along with catcher Steve Swisher) for Ron Santo, who toiled away ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 13th, 2024
0 Comments
3951 Views
~Footsie Blair 1900–1982 (Cubs 1929-1931) His real name was Clarence Vick Blair, and he was primarily a backup second baseman (he also backed up 1B and 3B) with the Cubs from 1929-1931. In 1930, he became the regular second baseman after Rogers Hornsby broke his ankle. That 1930 team had five f...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 12th, 2024
0 Comments
2963 Views
~Tom Gorzelanny 1982– (Cubs 2009-2010) The homegrown pitcher (Marist High School) was acquired by the Cubs in the summer of 2009 when their starting rotation suffered a few injuries. He had pitched for the Pirates the previous 4 1/2 seasons, and had been a bit of a Cubs-killer. When he put on t...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 11th, 2024
0 Comments
3402 Views
~Jimmy Slagle 1873–1956 (Cubs 1902-1908) One of the wily old veterans on the last Cubs team to win the World Series (1908) in the 20th century. Slagle was 35. He was known as Rabbit (because of his speed), and Shorty (because of his height — 5’7″), but most of his teammates referred to him as [...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 10th, 2024
0 Comments
4263 Views
~Andre Dawson 1954– (Cubs 1987-1992) Andre Dawson was a fan favorite with the Cubs from 1987-1992. Warren Cromartie, one of Andre’s teammates with the Expos, explained Andre’s nickname in his autobiography: “Andre’s nickname was the ‘Hawk’ because his facial features resembled a hawk’s. He had ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 9th, 2024
1 Comment
5596 Views
~Willie Wilson 1955– (Cubs 1992) Willie Wilson was one of the most dynamic players in baseball during the 1980s. Unfortunately, he wasn’t on the Cubs during those years. He was one of the all-time great leadoff hitters, a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, and a batting champion, but it was ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 8th, 2024
0 Comments
4070 Views
~Hank O’Day 1859–1935 (Cubs manager 1914) He was the umpire who made the most controversial call in baseball history…the play that became known as “The Merkle Boner.” The NY Giants never forgave him for favoring the Cubs on that play, and were especially suspicious of him because he was born an...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jul 7th, 2024
0 Comments
3472 Views
~Billy Herman 1909–1992 (Cubs 1931-1941) He was named William Jennings Bryan Herman after the famed orator, and this Billy had an incredible big league career. He was a 10-time All-Star in 15 big league seasons (and his first two years, the All-Star game hadn’t been invented yet). He was consid...
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