Today’s Cubs Birthdays (July 6)

~Lance Johnson 1963– (Cubs 1997-1999)
Johnson had a very impressive 14-year big league career that included playoff appearances with the Cardinals (1987) White Sox (1993), and Cubs (1998), and an All-Star appearance as a member of the Mets (1996). He was a speedy center fielder who hit for average (lifetime .291), hit lots of triples (he led the league five times), and stole bases (327 lifetime). With the Cubs playoff team of 1998, he was the leadoff man to a lineup that featured the likes of Sammy Sosa, Mark Grace, and Henry Rodriguez. Unfortunately, he managed only two hits in that playoff series. Lance left the Cubs after an injury-plagued 1999, and finished his career with the Yankees. His nickname was One Dog, because he wore #1. (Nickname courtesy of Hawk Harrelson) (Photo: Fleer 1999 Baseball Card)

~Frank Kellert 1924–1976 (Cubs 1956)
Kellert was a first baseman who only got a brief taste of the big leagues in the 1950s. He got cups of coffee with the Browns, Orioles, and Dodgers, before he came to Chicago. With the Dodgers he was part of the Boys of Summer who won the World Series. Frank even got three at-bats and one hit in that series. The Cubs gave him his most extended playing time of his career the following year. In 129 at-bats he hit four homers and knocked in 17 runs, but he hit only .186. That was it for the big leagues. Kellert spent the rest of his career in the minors, before hanging up his spikes for good in 1959.