Which Cubs should be honored as the "Magic Numbers"?

by hip2bsquare on Sep 12, 2008 10:27 AM CDT

As this incredible 2008 season comes to a close, Cubs fans everywhere are watching with bated breath as the team's Magic Number draws close to zero, signifying a playoff berth - which would be just the sixth for the franchise in the division-play era, and would also put the Cubs in back-to-back postseasons for the first time in a century.

To mark the countdown to zero, Al has added a "Cubs Magic Number" box to the BCB main page, which honors a Cub who has worn that uniform number. Today the magic number stands at 11, and BCB is honoring one of the best Cubs to ever wear #11, shortstop Don Kessinger.

As this historic march to the playoffs continues, which Cubs should BCB honor as the final ten "Magic Numbers"? (Al may have already made up his mind on this, but I still think it's an interesting discussion to have.)

For reference purposes, all-time Cubs uniform numbers can be found here. There are some good names to choose from...

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief (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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A friend and I have been texting this sort of thing

back and forth since #31:

Me – “Today is Fergie Day!”
Him – “Fergilicious!!!”

Him – “It’s DLee Day!!!”
Me – “Get it Right, Today is Tuffy Rhodes Day!”
Him – “F*** Doc Gooden.”

Sometimes he’ll text with an

I’ve been trying to pick slightly obscure yet memorable players, but I also stick with my own era of Cubs baseball, and honor those that need to be honored. Here are my plans:

10. Santo and Steve Lake
9. Damon Buford
8. Sandy Martinez and Dawson
7. Jody Davis and Tyler Houston
6. Ron Coomer and Keith Moreland
5. Riggleman
4. Zim
3. Wendell Kim
2. Vance Law
1. Bowa

This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by HectorVillanueva on Sep 12, 2008 10:53 AM CDT 0 recs

Lake Wore #16, Durham Wore #10 in mid-80's

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 12, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lake made a brief return to the Cubs in the '90s

During that stint he was #10. He was #16 during his first chunk of time with the team.

Steve Lake is an obscure pick, but when I was in high school I worked at a restaurant with a group of older college girls. These girls used to hang out in Wrigleyville and told repeated stories about Steve Lake and his briefcase. I have no idea what the deal was with the briefcase, but the girls would say it was ever present and the mere mention of it made them all blush and giggle. As much as I tried, I could never get out of them what the story was. Because of that inside joke, I have to include Steve Lake on any list I can.

This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by HectorVillanueva on Sep 12, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Damon Buford!

He hit the game-winning home run in the first game I ever attended at Wrigley. Nice call…

"This team makes your ulcers have a baby." ~Mark Grace

by Goodie1969 on Sep 12, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

my picks

fwiw…

Here are my picks fot the randon Cubs based on my likes

10-Santo
9-Randy Hundley
8-Andre Dawson
7-Jody Davis
6-Stan Hack
5-Riggs Stephenson
4-Lee Elia
3-Mako Oliveras (i know he was a coach, but I own a Oliveros Game Used Jersey!)
2-Billy Herman
1-Jose Cardinal

Kasey

See my Pictures of the 2008 Cubs at http://ignarski.tripod.com/cub-pics-2008.html
Also, see the Cubs 2008 schedule with game results and TV schedule at http://ignarski.tripod.com/sched2008.html

by kaseyi on Sep 12, 2008 11:09 AM CDT 0 recs

edit needed

Here are my picks for the random Cubs based on my likes

See my Pictures of the 2008 Cubs at http://ignarski.tripod.com/cub-pics-2008.html
Also, see the Cubs 2008 schedule with game results and TV schedule at http://ignarski.tripod.com/sched2008.html

by kaseyi on Sep 12, 2008 11:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

The best "Magic Number"

"I guess you had some lean years, and didnt have to beat it hard" - Craig Sager

SORIANO WATCH: AVG: .291 27 HR 69 RBI

by Galvan316 on Sep 12, 2008 11:15 AM CDT 0 recs

gilbert arenas doesn't play for us

2008 Cubs: Who needs nine innings, when you only need a 7th?

by Chanman25 on Sep 12, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

10

Should be the all time great third baseman

LUIS SALAZAR!

Nobody but Todd Hundley.

I think while he is a Bear that great QB REX GROSSMAN!

For Dusty Baker as I believe this was his IQ as a manager.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Sep 12, 2008 11:17 AM CDT 0 recs

We passed Dusty's number yesterday...

and besides, Sori wears it now.

"This team makes your ulcers have a baby." ~Mark Grace

by Goodie1969 on Sep 12, 2008 7:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Que?

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Sep 12, 2008 9:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

12

was passed when Milwaukee lost Thursday night and we won, jumping straight from 13 to 11. Dusty wore #12 as Cubs manager, and Sori now wears it as a player. Es por eso.

"This team makes your ulcers have a baby." ~Mark Grace

by Goodie1969 on Sep 13, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'll read any and all suggestions anyone has.

But you guys will just have to wait every day and be surprised!

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

by Al on Sep 12, 2008 11:17 AM CDT 0 recs

Bears

Al any thought of Bears games threads? Especially if no Cubs on Sunday?

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Sep 12, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

Who?

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 12, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

LOL

At least they won.

If there’s no Cubs game Sunday, yeah, I’ll probably open a Bears thread.

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

by Al on Sep 12, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

if Al doesn't put it on the front page, I could probably just post one in the diary section

2008 Cubs: Who needs nine innings, when you only need a 7th?

by Chanman25 on Sep 12, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

10 Billy Graborkewitz
09 Jungle Joe Wallis
08 Joe Pepitone
07 Bobby Murcer
06 GlenAllen Hill
05 Whitey Lockman
04 Vic Harris
03 Kiki Cuyler
02 Peanuts Lowery
01 Jose Cardenal
00 Milton

Nobody cares about your fantasy league baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Sep 12, 2008 11:47 AM CDT 0 recs

My own picks...

10 – Ron Santo (really no competition for this one)
9 – Randy Hundley
8 – Andre Dawson
7 – Charlie Grimm (he was with the Cubs, either as a player or manager, for 25 years!)
6 – Stan Hack
5 – Nomar Garciaparra (#5 is surprisingly short on good players and managers)
4 – Don Zimmer
3 – Kiki Cuyler (lots of people forget about this Cubs Hall of Famer)
2 – Gabby Hartnett
1 – Kosuke Fukudome (we should include at least one current Cub, shouldn’t we?)

"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman

by hip2bsquare on Sep 12, 2008 11:50 AM CDT 0 recs

I would like see

Al choose the 3 or 4 per number and then let us vote.

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Sep 12, 2008 11:55 AM CDT 0 recs

-1

Al’s blog he can do what he wants

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Sep 12, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

It was just a suggestion

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Sep 12, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

An interesting idea.

But it wouldn’t allow for a lot of time to do it. I’ll put up Santo for #10 — that’s a no-brainer — then all of you can keep guessing!

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

by Al on Sep 12, 2008 1:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Let's hope

Let’s hope it’s 8 by Monday!

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Sep 12, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

I know we don't have worry about this for a couple days

but is there anyway we can know who you would have used if we drop it by more then one in a day?

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Sep 12, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd lilke to see the numbers go down 2 at a time....

probably not possible for the next couple days…

I'm a reader not a poster, but I'm also a poster so don't get any ideas.

by cozmotaylor123 on Sep 12, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Am I the only one who thinks that

it is a total snub if we don’t have 4: Freddie Boom Boom Bynum and 1: Jose Macias?

What has Cubdom come to people?

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 12, 2008 12:18 PM CDT 0 recs

How about Lance "One Dog" Johnson for #1

…I mean how could you ever forget a CF who had a whistle to call off Sammy?

"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08

by JB 23 on Sep 12, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Santo's #10

has to be used. There is probably no other former player that has put as much into the cubs on a day to day job as Santo. Everyone knows he’s a homer; I would have it no other way. Here’s to Ron’s YEEEEEES battle cry!

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Sep 12, 2008 12:46 PM CDT 0 recs

Since 1980 List

10: Leon Durham
  9: Scott Servais
  8: Andre Dawson
  7: Jody Davis
  6: Keith Moreland
  5: Jim Riggleman
  4: Don Zimmer
  3: Jose Martinez
  2: Rick Wilkins
  1: Larry Bowa

I couldn’t put Nomar down for #5 because his career was so short and injury-plagued with the Cubs, so I went with Rigs. None of the players who wore #3 since 1980 blew me away, so I went with the coach Jose Martinez. Rick Wilkins had a great 1993, so I chose him as my #2.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 12, 2008 12:57 PM CDT 0 recs

This looks

very similar to my “painful memories” list

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

by copes006 on Sep 12, 2008 1:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

Looking forward...

to considering my fond memories of Hawk, Jody and Zonk (love that nickname) within the next week.

by JCD on Sep 12, 2008 1:58 PM CDT 0 recs

No love for Rex?

Noone liked my idea of using Rex Grossman despite his bearness?

I am shocked I tell you shocked!

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Sep 12, 2008 2:01 PM CDT 0 recs

Rex who?

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Sep 12, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rex is the guy who

should have won the Super Bowl MVP a couple of years ago. He did a lot to help the Colts win.

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Sep 12, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

I do agree

Many say the Bears don’t lose the Super Bowl if Orton had started in 06.

I completely agree. They don’t make the Super Bowl with him.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Sep 12, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't you mean Lovie Smith?

by McRipper on Sep 12, 2008 2:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

My choices, and good ones if I do say so myself. :)

10 Ron Santo
9 Gabby Hartnett
8 Andre Dawson
7 Rick Monday
6 Stan Hack
5 Joey Amalfitano
4 Billy Herman
3 Kiki Cuyler
2 Leo Durocher
1 Jose Cardinal

After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases. ~Mickey Mantle

by Jettero2112 on Sep 12, 2008 4:16 PM CDT 0 recs