• EveryCubEver

    Gabby Hartnett

    By Rick Kaempfer
    In This Weeks Historical Events
    Feb 1st, 2024
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    7051 Views
    Where were the Cubs? February 6, 1911 The most famous Cubs fan in history was born on this day. His name was Ronald Reagan. Reagan didn’t just grow up a Chicago Cubs fan. He owes much of his success to the team. Following college graduation, Reagan landed a job as a radio announcer at WOC [&hel...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Dec 26th, 2023
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    3004 Views
    ~Dave Rader 1948 (Cubs 1978) Rader was a Cub for only one season (1978), and he hit only .203 that season, but all three Cubs catchers in 1978 sported tremendous mustaches (the other two were Tim Blackwell and Larry Cox).That’s a feat that may never be replicated. Rader also caught for the Gian...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Dec 20th, 2023
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    3133 Views
    ~Gabby Hartnett 1900 (Cubs 1922-1940) Gabby was one of the greatest Cubs of all-time. His real name was Charles Leo Hartnett. No surprise where that nickname came from, he was known as someone who was “constantly talking” when he was catching. Gabby is known as one of the all-time greats,...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Nov 26th, 2023
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    3675 Views
    ~Larry Gura 1947 (Cubs 1970-1973, 1985) Gura didn’t pitch too much for the team that drafted him. He appeared in a total of 54 games over four seasons (mostly out of the bullpen). The Cubs traded him for pitcher Mike Paul. Paul had very little left in the tank. Gura, on the other hand, was [&he...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Nov 13th, 2023
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    3346 Views
    ~Johnny Kling 1875–1947 (Cubs 1900-1911) Kling was one of the best catchers in baseball; a grizzled veteran who was so good defensively, he caused former catcher Frank Chance to move positions (to first base). Hall of Fame pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown often said that his secret weapon ...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In This Week In Wrigley History
    Nov 1st, 2023
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    9575 Views
    November 2, 2016 It didn’t happen at Wrigley, but who cares. We have to chronicle this forever… November 7, 1928 The Cubs acquired the greatest right handed batter in baseball history; Rogers Hornsby. He had one of the greatest seasons in Cubs history in 1929, got hurt in 1930, was named ...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Oct 30th, 2023
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    3088 Views
    ~Roe Skidmore 1945– (Cubs 1970) He played in exactly one game for the Cubs in 1970, and his lifetime batting average is 1.000. Skidmore hit a Jerry Reuss pitch over third baseman Joe Torre’s head for a clean single against the Cardinals. The New York Times wrote a piece in 1999 about him and ot...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Oct 19th, 2023
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    4443 Views
    ~Mordecai Brown 1876–1948 (Cubs 1904-1912, 1916) He was born in 1876, the same year the Cubs played their very first season in the National League. Three Finger probably owns one of the best nicknames in baseball history, and he earned it the hard way. As a seven-year-old boy, Mordecai caught h...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Oct 2nd, 2023
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    3119 Views
    ~Hector Villanueva 1964 (Cubs 1990-1992) Unlike most .230-hitting bad-fielding catchers, Hector managed to become a crowd favorite at Wrigley Field. Many fans saw themselves in Hector’s Ruthian physique. Others appreciated his “swing for the fences on every swing” approach to hittin...
    By Rick Kaempfer
    In Today's Cub Birthday
    Sep 24th, 2023
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    3872 Views
    ~Rafael Palmeiro 1964– (Cubs 1986-1988) Two incredibly bright prospects came up to the Chicago Cubs around the same time. Unfortunately, both Mark Grace and Rafael Palmeiro played the same position (first base). To get both of their bats into the lineup, Palmeiro was moved out to left field. Hi...