Today’s Cubs Birthdays (July 18)

~Larry McLean 1881–1921 (Cubs 1903)
Larry had a 13-year big league career as a catcher and first baseman, but he only played one game for the Cubs in 1903, and went 0 for 4, with a walk. Granted, that walk came with the bases loaded, so he does have one RBI in a Cubs uniform. Larry later played for the Cardinals, Reds, and Giants, and became a pretty good defensive catcher. He was 6’5″, which makes him the tallest catcher in big league history. Unfortunately, Larry was also known as a bit of a drinker and brawler. His career ended after he got into a fight with his Giants manager John McGraw, and his life ended when he got into a bar fight in 1921. A bartender in Boston shot him dead. Larry was 39.

~Larry Hoffman 1878–1948 (Orphans 1901)
The native Chicagoan got one small taste of the big-time with his hometown Cubs (then known as the Orphans) in 1901. He hit over .300 in 25 plate appearances, but spent the rest of his baseball career (which lasted another ten years) in the minors. Hoffman played second and third base.