His real name was Eugene Hargrave, but everyone called him Bubbles. He got that nickname as a youngster 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 brother also played in the majors, and his nickname was Pinky.

Bubbles was a catcher for the Cubs from 1913-1915, but didn't get a lot of playing time because the two catchers ahead of him, Roger Bresnahan and Jimmy Archer, were both all-star caliber players.

The Cubs released him after the 1915 season, and he didn't make it back to the majors until 1920 (with the Reds), but when he got another chance, he took full advantage of it. In 1926, he became the first full-time catcher to win the batting title when he hit .353 for the Reds.