Today’s Cubs Birthdays (July 14)

~Steve Stone 1947– (Cubs 1974-1976)
Of course we all remember Steve Stone’s long run as the TV color man for the Cubs, but he also pitched for them three seasons in the mid-70s (‘74-‘76). The Cubs acquired him from the White Sox (along with catcher Steve Swisher) for Ron Santo, who toiled away painfully on the South Side in his last big league season. Stone’s best season with the Cubs was 1975 when he won 12 games. He became a free agent after the 1976 season and had two more good seasons (winning 15 games with the South Side Hitmen White Sox in 1977, and the Cy Young award with the Baltimore Orioles in 1980.) He became a broadcaster shortly thereafter, and still broadcasts baseball games somewhere. (It’s too painful to say where). Stone still shares a spot in the Cubs record books. On July 9, 1974, he allowed five homers in one game.(Photo: Topps 1975 Baseball Card)

~Chuck Rainey 1954– (Cubs 1983-1984)
Rainey was a 14-game winner for the Cubs in 1983, by far his best season in the big leagues. In August of that year he came within one out of pitching a no-hitter. Eddie Milner of the Reds hit a single in the ninth. Rainey won the 1-hitter 3-0. He started the 1984 season with the Cubs too, but was traded in mid-season to Oakland for Davey Lopes. It turned out to Rainey’s final season in the big leagues.

~Jack Leathersich 1990– (Cubs 2017)
Jack got into exactly one game in a Cubs uniform and it didn’t go well for the reliever. He faced seven batters and five of them reached base — four of them via walks. The Cubs released him shortly thereafter and he signed with the Pirates.

~Jose Hernandez 1969– (Cubs 1994-1999, 2003)
Hernandez was a long-time mainstay on the Cubs during the slugging Sammy Sosa era, and Jose fit right in. He was an oddity in that he was a swing-for-the-fences shortstop, but he did club 71 homers as a Cub. He also struck out 504 times. Jose was a good glove man too — playing every position in the infield, and occasionally even in the outfield. He was picked up by the Cubs again at the tail end of the 2003 season, although he didn’t make the postseason roster. Between his two stints with the Cubs, Jose was an All-Star with Milwaukee — and led the league in strikeouts twice.

~Derrick May 1968– (Cubs 1990-1994)
Derrick was a first round Cubs draft choice in 1986, and made his big league debut in 1990. The son of big leaguer Dave May didn’t really get regular playing time until 1992, but in his final three seasons with the Cubs he did show some promise. In ’93 he had his best campaign, hitting 10 homers and driving in 77 while batting .295. After the 1994/1995 strike, May was permitted to leave as a free agent, and later played with the Brewers, Astros, Phillies, Expos, and Orioles.

~Julio Bonetti 1911–1952 (Cubs 1940)
Julio was one of the rare big leaguers who was born in Italy. He pitched briefly for the Browns before coming to the Cubs and didn’t get much of a shot with Chicago. He only pitched in one game before he was shipped out. Bonetti was later quietly banned from the game for associating with gamblers.

~Art Nichols 1871–1945 (Orphans 1898-1900)
Nichols was a utility man for the Cubs (then known as the Orphans) for a few seasons, but he never really got extensive playing time. He played 39 games in three seasons as a catcher, first baseman, and outfielder. He later played with the Cardinals.

~Jiggs Parrott 1871–1897 (Colts 1892-1895)
One of the great names in baseball history, Jiggs started at second base one year for the Cubs (then known as the Colts) and as a third baseman another year. Jiggs wasn’t too popular with the fans because he was a bit of a butcher at second base. By the end of his time in Chicago, his manager only played him on the road so that the crowd didn’t get upset. His brother Tom also played for the team. The Parrott brothers were professional musicians. Jiggs died of tuberculosis in 1897. He was only 26 years old.