By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 14th, 2024
2 Comments
5448 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
4346 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
4790 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
4151 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
4699 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 Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 9th, 2024
0 Comments
3752 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....
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 8th, 2024
0 Comments
3387 Views
~George Gerberman 1942– (Cubs 1962) George got exactly one big league start, and it came for the Cubs on September 23rd. The location was the Polo Grounds, and the opponent was the worst team in big league history, the 1962 New York Mets. Gerberman lasted into the sixth inning and got a no-deci...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 7th, 2024
1 Comment
4140 Views
~Joe Carter 1960 (Cubs 1983) The Cubs had the second pick in the 1981 draft, and for once, they didn’t blow it. They chose Joe Carter. Carter would go on to be a five-time All-Star, hit nearly 400 career homers, steal more 200 career bases, and hit a walk-off home run to win the World […...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 6th, 2024
1 Comment
4481 Views
~Ted Abernathy 1933–2004 (Cubs 1965-1966, 1969-1970) Abernathy’s delivery was memorable–he was a submariner who nearly hit the ground with his arm on every pitch. The reliever pitched for seven teams during his fourteen year career, but probably had his best season in 1965 with the ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Mar 5th, 2024
1 Comment
5145 Views
~Doug Bird 1950– (Cubs 1981-1982) Bird was an important part of the Kansas City bullpen throughout most of the 1970s, but when he was acquired by the Cubs (from the Yankees) in 1981, they thought he would make a better starter. They were wrong. He started 45 games for the Cubs in 1981 and 1982,...
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