Christmas Name That Cub

by Al Yellon on Dec 25, 2008 3:00 PM CST in Name That Cub

Clues: In a career that lasted well over a decade, this man spent less than half a season in a Cub uniform. How he lasted that long is a mystery, because he led his league in a positive category only once, and his postseason numbers were pretty awful.

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I know I'm way off, but this is a fun game to play

I was ready to guess Steve “Rainbow” Trout, until I remembered Steve was with
the Cubs for 4 years. Well, 4 and a 1/2 (since has was traded to the Yankees in ’87)

by BigDcubbie on Dec 25, 2008 3:51 PM CST reply actions

Nope.

Here’s Trout:

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 25, 2008 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

dont the guy

in the pic look like jim thome?

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 25, 2008 4:56 PM CST reply actions

Woody Fryman ?

Looks familiar from an old baseball card.

by West Coast Diehard on Dec 25, 2008 5:04 PM CST reply actions

DINGDINGDING!

We have a winner.

I have to start finding more non-baseball card photos. That’s Fryman’s card photo from 1978, his only year with the Cubs, and he only lasted 13 games (9 starts) before they dumped him.

Fryman’s career stats

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 25, 2008 7:36 PM CST up reply actions

Another of the famous Topps airbrush jobs

As bad as airbrushing a cap or uniform looks, I must admit I get nostalgic when I see it. At least it’s obvious it’s not real, unlike something that has been photoshopped today.

"In an ocean or in a glass, cool water is such a gas."

by markleonette on Dec 25, 2008 7:50 PM CST up reply actions

It had to be an Expos cap that was painted.

Cub caps in that era didn’t have gray underbills.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 25, 2008 7:52 PM CST up reply actions

Is that Davey Johnson?

Team USA Manager in the 2008 Olympics and 2009 WBC?

Bleed Cubbie Blue: Like Drāno for your internet tubes.

by znohitter on Dec 25, 2008 5:36 PM CST reply actions

Almost a match

with Phil Gagliano.

But he never led the league in anything, as far as I can tell.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Dec 25, 2008 7:01 PM CST reply actions

Don Nottebart ??

by Southside Steve on Dec 25, 2008 7:27 PM CST reply actions

Woody Fryman definitely

I think I still have that baseball card somewhere.

That was one of the more bizaare Cubs trades of that era (which is saying something).

If memory serves, Fryman was RETIRED when the Cubs traded Bill Bonham to the Reds for him. He was supposed to be the left handed started on the staff that year and was a complete washout.
Not surprisingly, after the Cubs cut him loose, he became a pretty decent relief pitcher for Montreal for the next few years.
The only factor that keeps that from being a disastrous trade was that Bill Bonham got hurt not long after that and was out of baseball within a year or so.

by bluekoolaide on Dec 26, 2008 9:14 AM CST reply actions

You're right about the retirement.

Which raises the question, if he was on the voluntarily retired list, why did the Cubs have to trade anyone for him? Shouldn’t he have been a free agent? Or did the Reds still control his rights?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 26, 2008 10:38 AM CST up reply actions