By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 27th, 2023
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~Johnny Schmitz 1920 (Cubs 1941-1951) He was nicknamed Bear Tracks because of his lumbering shuffle to the mound. Schmitz was only twenty when he was called up to the majors, and pitched two seasons for the Cubs, but was drafted to serve in World War II in 1942. Bear Tracks was one of the rare [&hell...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 21st, 2023
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3043 Views
~Freddie Lindstrom 1905 (Cubs 1935) Lindstrom was a big star in New York for the Giants. In his rookie season of 1924, he came up late in the year and led the Giants to the World Series. He had many great seasons in New York, especially 1928, when he finished 2nd in the MVP voting, […]...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 7th, 2023
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3256 Views
~Joe Niekro 1944–2006 (Cubs 1967-1969) His brother Phil was already a star pitcher for the Braves when Joe Niekro was drafted in the third round by the Cubs in 1966. In his rookie season in Chicago (1967), Joe won 10 games. He won 14 games for the Cubs in 1968, but manager Leo Durocher, never [...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 26th, 2023
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3917 Views
~Hillary Rodham Clinton 1947– (Cubs fan 1947-Present) She grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, an unabashed Cubs fan. Even though she later claimed to have been a Yankees fan, there is documentary evidence to prove her Cubs love. In 1993, when she was the First Lady, she accepted induction into the...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 20th, 2023
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4135 Views
~Wid Matthews 1896–1965 (Cubs GM 1950-1956) When Matthews came to the Cubs in 1950, he arrived with a sparkling reputation. Wid had been an assistant to Branch Rickey with the Dodgers, and he promised to return the Cubs to their glory days. He did do one thing that was long overdue before he le...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 15th, 2023
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2782 Views
~Bill Henry 1927–2014 (Cubs 1958-1959) Bill led the league in appearances in his second and final season with the Cubs. He served as their closer in 1959, winning 9 games, and saving 12. After the season ended, Henry was traded (along with Lou Jackson and Lee Walls) to the Reds for slugging thi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Oct 6th, 2023
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3190 Views
~Jay Baller 1960– (Cubs 1985-1987) He pitched out of the Cubs bullpen for three seasons (’85-’87) and got progressively worse each season (3.46 ERA, 5.37 ERA, 6.35 ERA). After the ’87 season, the Cubs sent him packing. He later had a cup of coffee with the Royals and the Phillies. (Photo: Topps...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Sep 23rd, 2023
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5614 Views
September 24, 1943 The Cubs call up outfielder Andy Pafko from their Los Angeles minor league team, and put him in the lineup. He would remain there for the next eight seasons. His first game at Wrigley Field is played in absolutely miserable weather conditions. It is freezing cold, the wind is howli...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Sep 17th, 2023
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4319 Views
September 21, 1919 Grover Cleveland Alexander takes the mound against the Boston Braves. Ol’ Pete has had a season for the ages, shutting out every single team in the league at least once. With the season coming to a close, and both teams out of the pennant picture, Alexander bears down and takes car...
By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Sep 11th, 2023
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3642 Views
~Ray Grimes 1893–1953 (Cubs 1922-1925) Ray Grimes was an instant phenom for the Cubs when he joined them for his rookie season of 1922. He was an absolute RBI machine, one of the great clutch hitters of his era. During that season he set a record that still stands today when he got an RBI [&hel...
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