By Rick Kaempfer
In Today's Cub Birthday
Nov 26th, 2023
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3605 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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3235 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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9454 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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2994 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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4366 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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3019 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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3773 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...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Sep 23rd, 2023
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5621 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 Today's Cub Birthday
Sep 18th, 2023
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2921 Views
~Ryne Sandberg 1959– (Cubs 1982-1994, 1996-1997) He was destined to have a great nickname because he was named after the famous Yankees relief pitcher “Blind Ryne” Duren. Ryno was just a throw in to the Iván de Jesus/Larry Bowa trade with the Phillies. The Phillies had two other second base pro...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week In Wrigley History
Sep 3rd, 2023
2 Comments
5735 Views
September 3, 1936. A police officer may have cost the Cubs a victory. Henry Hanson was an ordinary Chicago cop. He was working security at a Cubs-Dodgers game. In the first inning of the game, young Cubs first baseman Phil Cavarretta hit a ball down the right field line, right were Hanson was standin...
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