By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 23rd, 2023
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2526 Views
~Jack Hardy 1877–1921 (Cubs 1907) One of the most obscure members of the first World Series champion Cubs team (1907), Hardy played in exactly one game for Chicago. The catcher went 1 for 4, with a single and a strikeout. He got a few more cups of coffee in the big leagues with Cleveland (his [...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 22nd, 2023
0 Comments
3503 Views
~John Dillinger 1902–1934 (Cubs fan) He was Public Enemy #1–so hounded and hunted by the FBI that he underwent drastic plastic surgery to change his appearance. The surgery left him disfigured, but didn’t do a very good job of disguising his appearance. Other bank robbers and gangst...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 21st, 2023
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3153 Views
~Rick Sutcliffe 1952– (Cubs 1984-1991) The nickname “The Red Baron” was given to Rick Sutcliffe by Harry Caray, because of his intimidating presence (he was 6’7″) and red beard. 82 of his 171 career wins came with the Cubs, including 16 in his Cy Young-winning season of 1984. He was almost unhi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 20th, 2023
0 Comments
3991 Views
~Wayland Dean 1902–1930 (Cubs 1927) Wayland Dean was one of those tragic stories that pepper baseball history. He was deeply troubled; a chronic alcoholic who suffered from depression. But he had a live fastball and made his way up to the majors in 1924 with the New York Giants. The Giants unde...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 19th, 2023
0 Comments
2823 Views
~Blake Parker 1985– (Cubs 2012-2014) Parker was a Cubs draft choice who got a lot of action of out the bullpen during the 2013 season. He appeared in 49 games for the Cubs that year and pitched fairly well, registering an ERA of 2.72. Unfortunately, the 2014 season didn’t go nearly as well, and...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 18th, 2023
1 Comment
3932 Views
~Lou Brock 1939–2020 (Cubs 1961-1964) It’s not that the Cubs didn’t realize they had a good potential player on their hands. It’s just that they didn’t know how to develop him. Brock came up through the Cubs system during their ill-fated College of Coaches era. Every few weeks Lou was getting d...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 17th, 2023
1 Comment
4135 Views
~Phil Douglas 1890–1952 (Cubs 1915-1919) They called him “Shufflin’ Phil” Douglas because he sort of shuffled his feet when he walked, but he was one of the best pitchers on the Cubs. Phil was a starter in their 1918 pennant-winning rotation. Unfortunately, Douglas was also a notorious drunk. T...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 16th, 2023
0 Comments
3563 Views
~Kerry Wood 1977– (Cubs 1998-2008, 2011-2012) He wasn’t even 21 years old when he came up to the majors in May of 1998, but he made his mark right away. On May 6, 1998, he took the mound on a very cold and wet day in Wrigley Field and pitched one of the best games […]...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 15th, 2023
0 Comments
4100 Views
~Billy Williams 1938– (Cubs 1959-1974) Billy Williams got his nickname (“Sweet Swingin’ Billy from Whistler”) because of his nearly perfect swing and his hometown: Whistler, Alabama. He played for the Cubs from 1959-1974 and is simply one of the greatest players to ever wear a Cubs uniform. Swe...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Jun 14th, 2023
0 Comments
3021 Views
~Hal Manders 1917–2010 (Cubs 1946) Hal pitched for the Tigers before being drafted into military service during World War II. When he returned, he pitched briefly for them again before being sent off to the team they beat in the previous year’s World Series. He got one start in September for th...
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