The countdown to #1 continues

by cubboy89 on Feb 12, 2007 8:36 PM CST

I think I've got the final 6 in Al's list, but putting them in order is tough, but here would be my top 6 (of those not ranked yet)

#6 Cap Anson (easily forgotton, but great player)

#5 Gabby Hartnett (top Cub catcher)

#4 Ryne Sandberg (one of the best 2B)

#3 Sammy Sosa (stats may always be in question)

#2 Billy Williams (one of the sweetest swings)

#1 Mr. Cub (any doubt?)

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I'd go

Banks
Williams
Anson
Sandberg
Sosa
Hartnett

Actually that's not what I would do, but it is what I think Al will do.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 8:46 PM CST reply actions

Since he was not in the top 100 so far...

PLEASE do not forget Doug Dascenzo!!!!!

"Keep the sun out of your eyes and be yourself"

by cubbietenor on Feb 12, 2007 9:22 PM CST reply actions

I've been calling...

...for Jeff Blauser, Jim Bullinger, and Joe Kmak, but so far, Al has left them off. How can they all be squeezed into the top 6?

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 9:24 PM CST up reply actions

Great choices...

I've sort of noticed a little bitterness towards the Cub greats from Al. I think he has some festering disdain for Billy, Ernie, Ryne, and obviously Sammy...

Therefore, look for overlooked legends like Mike Morgan, Glenallen Hill, Willie Wilson, Mickey Morandini, and A-Rod's illegitmate father, H-Rod.

My darkhorse for #1 is Bob Novoa...but with the frequency that Al wears his Neifi jersey, I think we may be in for a surprise.

MARQUIS! YES, MARQUIS!

by thekansasian on Feb 12, 2007 10:59 PM CST up reply actions

That's funny

I actually really like Hill, Morandini, and Henry Rodriguez.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 11:02 PM CST up reply actions

I want candy

Maldanado that is .

Talk about a poor defensive Left Fielder, that guy made Adam Dunn look like Cesar Izturis.

by cubsfan2883 on Feb 12, 2007 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

All this talk without mention of Matt Stairs?

Or even Brooks Kieschnick?

Check out my daily baseball blog at MLB-threeSIXTYfive

by TheBeerBaron on Feb 12, 2007 11:55 PM CST up reply actions

Did I Miss it...

or is Tarzan Joe Wallis actually going to be int he top 5?

Kasey

by kaseyi on Feb 13, 2007 5:49 AM CST up reply actions

don't forget 3b legend

Kevin Orie

by miltowncubbie on Feb 13, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

booooooooooooooooo

we don't speak of the man whose poor play (but not poor enough to be called an error) kept k-wood from a no-hitter and the most dominant pitching performance in baseball history.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Feb 13, 2007 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

Candy Maldanado

I remember when we got him from the Dodgers and he struggled and Harry totally WENT OFF on him on tv. "How is it, that a guy who hit ?? hr's and ?? avg for the Dodgers, comes here and hits a buck fifty?"
Laughed my butt off!!

"Keep the sun out of your eyes and be yourself"

by cubbietenor on Feb 13, 2007 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

Thowing my support

behind Vance Law.

Don't let me down.

HENDRY!

by cubbiejulie on Feb 12, 2007 9:26 PM CST reply actions

I have Billy Williams #1

The rest are too close together for me to try to rank them.

by VS on Feb 12, 2007 9:40 PM CST reply actions

Sosa! Sosa! Sosa!

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 9:48 PM CST reply actions

Sosa...

If Sosa is No. 1, I will be puking...

I just feel so much better when I'm drinking beer.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 12, 2007 9:55 PM CST up reply actions

It will not be Sosa

Al has hinted at that in the past, and if there's one thing we know about Al and his hints...

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

Oh yeah, I guess you're right.

I feel much better.

I just feel so much better when I'm drinking beer.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 12, 2007 10:10 PM CST up reply actions

None of you are correct.

Tune in tomorrow!

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 12, 2007 10:01 PM CST reply actions

There are...

...720 possible combinations for the remaining 6.

I'm eager to see if you will try to throw us for a loop and list someone OTHER than Banks as #1.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

Hmph.

No more clues. Tune in tomorrow!

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 12, 2007 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

I will

of course.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

I think he didn't make Ernie number one...

Maybe he picked Billy Williams. Or Ryne Sandberg. Or Cap Anson. Or not.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 12, 2007 10:25 PM CST up reply actions

Or Joe Kmak

If it is not Banks, my money is on Williams. Or Sandberg. Damn, Various Styles was right, these guys all clump together pretty indistinguishably.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:27 PM CST up reply actions

I think Sandberg has a good shot at being first.

However, I have a really hard time not picking Mr. Cub.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 12, 2007 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

And Sosa...

...will be tomorrow. That's my guess.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

I think

Harnett
Anson
Sandburg
Williams
Sosa
Banks

"Losing is my only fear"

by Unique on Feb 12, 2007 10:55 PM CST reply actions

My picks

#1 Banks
#2 Sandberg
#3 Williams
#4 Anson
#5 Hartnett
#6 Sosa

Throw Jacque Jones down the well, so the Cubs will be free...

by Ross on Feb 12, 2007 11:05 PM CST reply actions

Similar to this one

1 Banks
2 Sandberg
3 Williams
4 Anson
5 Sosa
6 Hartnett

by TORCO on Feb 13, 2007 7:26 AM CST up reply actions

I love reading these guesses!

So far, not one is correct.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 12, 2007 11:06 PM CST reply actions

I know what it is

The winning combo is located on this page.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 11:23 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

But, you don't say on that list of SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY COMBINATIONS, which is #6 and which is #1!!

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 12, 2007 11:39 PM CST up reply actions

The first one listed...

...is #1, the last is #6.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 11:42 PM CST up reply actions

Oh.

Well, yes, it's in there.

Note that the number of choices on that page is exactly the same as the number that is the frequency of WGN Radio, which carries the Cubs games.

There must be some meaning there. Darned if I can figure out what it is, though.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 7:07 AM CST up reply actions

I say...

6. Anson
5. Hartnett
4. Sosa
3. Williams
2. Banks
1. Sandberg

Although I think I would switch my 1-2, but I want to be different so that's my guess.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 12, 2007 11:20 PM CST reply actions

I GOT IT!!

6. Sosa
5. Hartnett
4. Anson
3. Williams
2. Banks
1. Villanueva, Hector

"The game is always healthier when the Cubs are good, and in a week they have made themselves a whole lot better."

by BillHoldenFan on Feb 12, 2007 11:25 PM CST reply actions

I'm gonna go with

Harnett
Sandburg
Anson
Sosa
Williams
Banks

Los Cachorros!

by Laven on Feb 12, 2007 11:53 PM CST reply actions

I've got it

6 - Sosa
5 - Harnett
4 - Sandberg
3 - Anson
2 - Williams
! - Banks

by Ihatethecards on Feb 13, 2007 9:07 AM CST reply actions

Should Be/Will

Should be

Sosa
Sandberg

4 williams

Banks
Anson
Hartnett

Will be
6 Hartnett (yes, I saw this, so this is not a guess)
5 Anson
4 Soso
3 Williams

Sandberg
Banks

by frustratedfan on Feb 13, 2007 10:14 AM CST reply actions

Ummm...?

Has anyone been to Beer Baron's blog lately?

Is this a joke or did he just scoop Al's list?

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Feb 13, 2007 11:13 AM CST reply actions

Here's the scoop.

I offered him the chance to write the profile, since I had run into a time crunch and he had offered several times.

What you see on his blog is his version. I had to flesh it out -- it left out a lot of detail.

And in no way did I ever tell him Sandberg's position on the list. I'm not sure why he posted it over there, either.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

re: Here's the scoop.

Interesting. I actually enjoy BeerBaron's blog; I'd say he went a bit overboard with that post though.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Feb 13, 2007 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

a bit?

It's pretty much B*lsh*, and it will take a lot to ever get me to be friendly with him again (not that he or anyone cares). It's a total lack of journalistic integrity, whether Al told him or not. Even if it is just 'blogs, it's 100% wrong.

IMO, it's a bannable offense. But Al's much nicer than me.

worthless...

by tyger1147 on Feb 13, 2007 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

I won't ban him.

but I did email him to let him know I wasn't pleased.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

I kind of can't believe he did that.

Wow. I don't know what to say.

HENDRY!

by cubbiejulie on Feb 13, 2007 5:12 PM CST up reply actions

Odd thing, too.

He has not answered my email. I'll see what he says in response, but I think -- do you all agree -- that I would be justified in asking him to delete the post?

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 7:29 PM CST up reply actions

Followup.

The post is gone. I guess he got my email.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 7:30 PM CST up reply actions

That is good

I'm sure that, if asked, you would have allowed him to repost the polished version on his site after Sandberg's profile is posted here, right? That would have been the sensible thing to do.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 7:44 PM CST up reply actions

Well...

... if I did that, I'd have to let anyone else who wrote one and has a site to do the same thing.

Plus, there's the issue of this series potentially being made into a book.

And, for those of you who did read the Sandberg profile when he posted it, you will see it reads significantly differently when I post the combined version. I added quite a bit of detail.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 7:51 PM CST up reply actions

Not even...

...with the proper intro (pretty much what you just stated) and a link back to BCB?

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 8:09 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe.

Only if it didn't have the entire post. Once it's posted here, it's the same thing as it would be if someone posted an entire article from another site on BCB -- a copyright violation.

But part of it plus a link would be OK.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 8:13 PM CST up reply actions

More or less...

...what I meant.

BTW, I really like the idea of turning the series into a book.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 8:15 PM CST up reply actions

It's being discussed.

If & when this ever comes to actually doing it, I will again ask for help from all of you.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 8:18 PM CST up reply actions

You know where to reach me.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, I do.

You'll be among the first to know.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 8:20 PM CST up reply actions

I'm sure by then...

...I'll either be finished with my grad work or very close, which (theoretically) would mean that I'd have more time - and I'd actually be able to help out beyond just, you know, reading the profiles.

Come to think of it, that is one of the nice things about having comments on the posts. If and when you do decide to publish, you can always look back for additional material - personal anecdotes, details that others mention - right there from the comments on the original posts.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 8:22 PM CST up reply actions

That's something...

... I also have considered. It would make any book far more interesting, don't you think?

Now, that raises a question.

What to do with all the comments on the Grace profile?

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 8:25 PM CST up reply actions

Erase all of them...

...except for the last word provided by

...

Julie.
;)

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 8:26 PM CST up reply actions

LMAO

n/t

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

Speaking of books...

how's the book of baseball by Julie and Sarah coming along?

Maybe they can tell us? I know they said it might be ready by spring training, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen anymore.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 13, 2007 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

I asked recently...

...and got no response.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 13, 2007 10:36 PM CST up reply actions

I'd LOVE to help with the book.

I am very, very good at editing. My literary skills are going to waste on these comments. Wait til I actually re-read what I type. Good lord.

worthless...

by tyger1147 on Feb 13, 2007 11:40 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

I will, however, take you up on your offer.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 14, 2007 4:02 AM CST up reply actions

Wrong, wrong, wrong...

Why is everyone so obsessed with the same five players... Mr. Cub, Sosa, Williams, Anson, Sandberg... yadda yadda yadda! There's more to baseball than just numbers. Therefore, without further adieu I give you my Top 5 Cubs of All-Time.

Trenidad Hubbard
Daniel Garibay
Bret Barberie
Ruben Quevedo
Chuck Crim

Crim, or as I call him C-squared was destined to have a career year in 1994 before the strike cut it short. Yes, the Cubs were 15 under at the time, but Trebelhorn didn't know what he had in C-squared. Had he figured it out and had the season not been cut short, I'm absolutely certain that C-squared would have orchestrated a momentous comeback ne'er before seen in the history of baseball. He would have nearly single handedly led the Cubbies to the division title and without a doubt would have been the 1994 NLCS MVP as the Cubs beat the Expos to advance to the World Series. But unfortunately, he never got to fulfill his destiny, but what he would've and should've done for Chicago makes him MY Top Cub of All-Time.

by eamuscatuli1881 on Feb 13, 2007 1:09 PM CST reply actions

Barberie..

... had only one hit as a Cub, in his very first game with the team on May 19, 1996. It was a two-run, pinch-hit HR in the last of the 8th inning that tied a game the Cubs eventually won in 11.

It was Barberie's last major league hit.

He was better known as being the husband, from 1996-2002, of this well-known actress and model.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 3:15 PM CST up reply actions