Next Retired Number?
by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Sep 12, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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PrintIts raining here in Indiana, and rainy days are boring days. Plus the next couple games are postponed because of Ike, so now I'm really bored! I don't know how I thought of it in the first place, but its been plaguing me all day So heres a question for all you to think about. Who's the next Cubs great to have his number retired? My answer would be either Fergie Jenkins/Maddux for #31, and thats all I got so far, so what do you think?
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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21 might happen
But not for at least 5-10 years
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 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
It's going to take 20 years
but yes, I expect #21 to be retired by the Cubs.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
And it's possible that others after Jason Marquis will wear it...
… just as many wore #10 after Ron Santo.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
or Larry Biitner
wore #26. Which is just a good excuse to mention Larry Biittner.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you're right on the next one up.
After that, hard to say. A lot of Cubs from the pre-1960’s are deserving, but they won’t retire numbers en masse like that, so I’d say #31 is probably it for a while. Retired for both Fergie and Maddux. Oh, and Kevin Foster.
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 11:27 AM CDT reply actions
17
But I think they may just fly Fontenot from the flagpole instead of a banner.
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 11:31 AM CDT reply actions
The banner would be larger and thus easier to see
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 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
31...
…is a no brainer right now. I don’t see anything happening with 21 until this steriod business has time to calm down (years from now).
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Agreed.
31 should be retired when Maddux gets into the Hall of Fame, so that’s at least another five years.
There is precedent for retiring a number for two players: the Yankees retired #8 for Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra, who both wore it.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
SIX YEARS
PLEASE !
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 12, 2008 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Fergie's already in the hall
and they didn’t wait for Santo’s induction. Don’t think it rests on Maddux’s induction, just his retirement.
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
31
Wasn’t the cat let out of the bag when we signed Lilly and he let out that he wasn’t given #31 as the Cubs planned to retire it?
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 12, 2008 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, kinda
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
No Kidding!
Fergie Jenkins: 6 consecutive 20-win seasons (1967-1972)
Since 1972: Three 20-win seasons by Cubs pitchers (R. Reuschel-1977, Maddux-1992, Lieber-2001)
Fergie deserved to have #31 retired a long time ago. I know he had a 25-12 season with the Rangers in 1974 and an 18-8 season with Texas in 1978. Most of Fergie’s great years were with the Cubs.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
Why not
Why not Kevin Foster?
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 12, 2008 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions
#62 Bob Howry
Oh, wait; this is what number should be retired not what player needs to retire?!? My bad.
"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"
we are all hoping
that a few good outings will lower his ERA below 62
"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"
44
Phil Cavarretta. Long Long overdue.
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 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
#44 was supposed to be retired in 1954.
Then Cavarretta pissed off P. K. Wrigley by telling him the truth about the team (that they weren’t very good) and the plans were scratched.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
and thats why
the current management should do the right thing and retire it now while Phil is still alive
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
+1 on the still alive
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
Not to step on any toes here
But what was so great about Phil Cavaretta? I’m 29, I wasn’t around. I’d just like to know. His numbers don’t jump off the page. Is it the longevity thing? He was with the club for 20 years?
It seems like he was pretty hot shit for 4 years, and that’s about it. 4 All Star teams and an MVP in ’45 while taking the Cubs to the Series. Andre Dawson did similar things with the Cubs regarding All Star appearances and an MVP during a nice 5 year run as well.
Again, I’m not trying to piss on people’s childhood hero, I’m only able to look at numbers and would love some insight.
Cavarretta spent many years playing hurt.
That should be obvious in looking at his games played totals. He was basically Mark Grace, only for a longer time. If he’d have been healthy he would have probably had 700-800 more hits and been close to HoF worthy.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
But that is what if's and could have been's
I have to agree. At this point why Cavarretta over Hack or maybe even Billy Herman? Herman is at least a HOF’er but he didn’t play his whole career as a Cub like Cavarretta. That’s really all Cavarretta has going for him.
I'm not saying we should retire Cavaretta
but I think he should be retired over Hack and Herman. Yes, he wasn’t as good a player as those two. But no one from the period of the late 30’s to the early 50’s was more associated with the Cubs than Philibuck was. He’s also a local boy: Chicago born and raised.
Finally, Cavaretta is alive and Hack and Herman are dead. Honoring the dead is nice and all, but it doesn’t have the same meaning as giving an old man his due respect.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions
The fact that he is living
does add some weight. I surely wouldn’t be against it.
I am aware of the other stuff. I wrote Cavarretta’s bio for Al’s top 100 Cubs. In fact, I requested him.
Also, he was a born-and-bred Chicagoan
He went to high school at Lane Tech, I think.
Amongst my grandfather’s old Cubs-related newspaper clippings there’s a picture of Cavaretta breaking his ankle on a hard slide into second in 1939 – as I recall, that ankle was never quite right after that and was a big factor in not having a more productive career. Still, the Mark Grace analogy seems quite apt.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
Yes
He went to Lane Tech, although he dropped out to play baseball. It wasn’t a selfish decision either. It was 1933 and the money he could make playing minor league ball was putting food on the table for his family during the worst days of the depression.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Longevity and local boy
He was Mr. Cub before Ernie Banks, too.
On top of that, he’s the oldest living Cub. (Or at least the oldest living Cub that anyone cares about.)
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I believe he is the oldest living Cub, period.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I thought so
but I didn’t want to look it up, so I put in the caveat.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions
multiple numbers
Hack wore 6 numbers in his Cub career as a player- 31 (1931), 49 (33), 34 (34), 39 (35-36), 6(37-42, 45-47), 20 (43),& 25 (44). He also wore 54 as a coach in 65
Grimm also wore multiple numbers as a player – 6(32), 7 (33-34, 36) & 8 (35). He also wore the following numbers as a coach or manager – 1(37-38), 38 (41), 40 (44-49), 50 (60-63)
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
oops..
make that Hack wore 7 numbers as a player
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
Stan Hack, Gabby Hartnett, Charlie Grimm, and Phil Cavaretta are LONG overdue
to have their numbers retired.
(Trouble is, as Kasey points out, all three wore several different numbers in their careers – I’d go with 6 for Hack, 7 for Grimm, and either 2 or 9 for Hartnett, personally.)
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
and thats what I brought up
at the Season Ticket holders meeting that they need to honor the old timers by retiring their numbers and I was basically blown off by Crane Kenny and his crew.
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
Any idea why?
It just doesn’t make much sense to me that the Cubs would be so dismissive of such an idea. It’s not just important to the players (and their descendants), it’s important to the fans too, and to the franchise as a whole.
I’ve met many lifelong Cubs fans now in their 70s and 80s who have talked of the days of Gabby Hartnett, Phil Cavaretta, et al with a gleam in their eye. (My late grandfather swore that Hartnett was a better catcher than Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra.) The Cubs need to honor those memories and let them live on in some small way. Much of the franchise’s past is terribly depressing, but it would seem a lot brighter if the Cubs did a better job at acknowledging the great players, teams, and moments in their history. Retiring the numbers of some of the great old Cubs while there are still folks around who remember them would be a good start.
Why would the team be resistant to that?
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
they said.
the little flags on the roof and the sections of the pavers are honor enough. He also said they would be mentioned in the CUbs history portion of the new Triangle Building if it is ever built. He also mentioned that some teams retire numbers like kids go thru candy so if you retire too many numbers, it loses its meaning. All this being said, I still believe that these numbers DO need to be retired as that is what most people look at when they see how players are honored by their teams.
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
Those little flags on the roof are sort of useless
You can only see about half of them – at most – from any part of the grandstand, and since they only show initials or nicknames it’s not obvious to whom a lot of them refer. I do agree that the Cubs should be very selective in which numbers they retire, but it’s ridiculous that in the 70+ years they’ve been wearing uniform numbers there have only been FOUR players deemed worthy of that honor.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
Well then
let the Cubs know this. I know I have written them on several occasions asking for more retired numbers especially for the old timers. Sometimes I think I am the only one asking them to do this. Let the Cubs know there are more people out there that feel they should let people know they were not always the “lovable losers” and a lot of really GREAT players played for this team.
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
I agree with you.
Retiring four other numbers (maybe five if you include Charlie Root) for a 130+ year old franchise is hardly "going through numbers like candy).
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I agree
with a lot of what he said. Still, Cavaretta need to at least be given one last serious consideration before he dies. If they still say no, then OK. But at least look at it.
The thing is, while Philibuck is most associated with #44, he wore a lot of different numbers early in his career. One of them was #23. They could simply retire that number for him and they wouldn’t even miss a number.
I’m going to assume #21 and #31 will be retired one day too. No other number should be considered, IMO. I mean, if Jeff Samardzija goes on to win 250 games for the Cubs, then OK, let’s talk about #29. But I’m going to assume that’s not going to happen. If it does, we can worry about it then.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions
A retired number group
without those past names is not retired number group. Maybe something like a first 50 year retired number group and then the more current player group. In the case of some of these players and some of the teams they played on history IS worth repeating!!
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
Sorry no to Maddux
He is primarily a Brave no matter how many here try to claim him as a Cub. Names on the flagpole should be for the very best Cubs not Braves.
I’d probably be ok with the Cubs retiring 31 for Jenkins with Maddux secondary but absolutely positively no to the flag pole.
I agree with you on this one...
Greg Maddux is going into the Hall of Fame as an Atlanta Brave, not a Cub. I have a hard time memoralizing his Cub career at Wrigley Field. I’m reasonably certain the Cubs do too.
This isn't 1969...is this 1969?...this isn't 1969, is it?
I think 38 will go up one day
34 could as well depending on how long he stays and if we win a WS or two.
Your 2008 Missouri Tigers! #6 2-0 (0-0). Next up Saturday home vs. Nevada. Chase for Heisman!
34
If he stays a Cub his whole career and has a ring or two definitely.
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 12, 2008 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
It's a bit early for either one of those
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 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions
29!
n/t
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions
31
And Al, I disagree — no need to wait for Maddux’s Hall of Fame induction. The guy is a first-ballot guy, and arguably might be the first 100% inductee ever, I think….at the very least, the first 100% guy since the original class.
So once Maddux retires, pick a nice day and retire #31 for BOTH Fergie AND Maddux. If that’s next summer (and I’d love to see Maddux keep going), so be it.
I’d say do it opening day at Wrigley, but I’m hoping for some other type of ceremony on opening day at Wrigley (and across Sheffield near the Eamus Catuli sign) in 2009….
No one's ever gotten 100%
Not even Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Mathewson, or Johnson got 100% voting. Oddly, Seaver has top honors on percentages: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hof/hofmem4.shtml
I’m sure that some writers will vote against Maddox purely to maintain that distinction—-someone always does. There’s always some talk about it whenever a “no-brainer” comes up for induction, with the last time being for Ripkin.
There are a few writers who NEVER vote for someone their first time on the ballot
They do it out of general principle, and actually take pride in it. Their voting credentials should be revoked for such stupidity IMO.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
The whole election process has always been somewhat flawed...
Originally, the writers virtually refused to let anyone in (in the first ten years of the process, the writers chose only 13 players for election, with some seeming no-doubters, like Collins, Hornsby & Young for instance, making it by scant margins) (note that many others above and beyond what the writers chose were inducted during this time but these were almost exclusively managers and front office types). Because of this, the first veteran’s committee was established, but they went the opposite route and seemingly let everyone in. This balance changed over time until the writers today are, for the most part, reasonable with the veteran’s committee not electing anyone, practically. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_Baseball_Hall_of_Fame_by_date_of_induction)
Whether you like the guy or not, Bill James’ “Politics of Glory” is a very good read for the history of the Hall of Fame. For you non-stats folks, it has a strong focus on establishing a historical timeline in addition to his typical analysis.
If Cobb and Ruth..............
……………didn’t warrant 100% support, how can one condone bestowing this honor on any other player? Really haven’t seen players with better numbers than these guys.
"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns
Opening Day
+ a zillion on hoping for a different flag or three to be raised on opening day..
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 12, 2008 8:34 PM CDT up reply actions
34 should be retired, IMO
Kerry Wood has had an extremely impressive career. Think if it weren’t for injuries how great his stats would be now. HOF, probably not (unless his career takes off!), but if he stays with us for another 5-8 years I’d have to say you retire it
2008 Cubs: Who needs nine innings, when you only need a 7th?
Why don't we retire George Frazier's number too while we're at it
This isn't 1969...is this 1969?...this isn't 1969, is it?
I don't usually like your smartass responses, but this time, you're (almost) right
Way to early to even consider retiring a number for Wood. A better comparison would have been Shawon Dunston, in terms of longevity.
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 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions
*Not because of the smartass element
Hell, I’m a smartass myself — because they’re often rude and personal attacks.
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 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions
I support the Dunston idea..............
………….because when he goes into the Hall, he’ll go in as a Cub.
"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns
As much as I loved to see it
Dunston isn’t going to the Hall
"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"
Sad, but true.
Shawon did receive one vote this year, his first of eligibiity, but alas this was not enough to keep him on the ballot for 2009.
Damned sports writers don’t know a great player when they see one………….
"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns
Thunderpup
Right as he was reaching his prime he threw out his back.
His best season was 1991. He and Sandberg were a nice combo up the middle offensively in 90 and 91.
I don’t think he ever was a HOFer but he might have been much better without the injuries.
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 13, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm not serious............
………..about Dunston and the HOF, just crazy about him as a player. He did do some exciting things in a Cubs uniform and I always appreciated his effort.
"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns
How about 17 for Bobby Hill?
For enticing the Pirates to offload ARam
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
1
The man…..the legend….the god….Jose Macias
2008 Cubs: Who needs nine innings, when you only need a 7th?
What number
did Hector Villanueva wear? Retire it immediately.
Then we can get around to discussing Tuffy Rhodes and Lenny Randle!
"Hey hey, kiss it goodbye! That one's in Milwaukee! Man oh man did he hit it. Isn't that something?" - Lou Boudreau, May 17, 1979
1 will always be Jose Cardenal to me
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
Years down the road...
I would venture a guess that in fact, #16 will be on the foul pole. Provided he contributes to Cubs lore in some pretty significant way, say, as World Series MVP, then I think it happens before #21. Without that kind of an impact, though, probably not…
"This team makes your ulcers have a baby." ~Mark Grace
I also
I think we would all settle for a nice flag but not of retired numbers
But a list of the numbers of the current team around World Champions 2008.
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 12, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Current Players
IF Wood can get a career going for 5+ years as a closer, then maybe. Carlos has to stay healthy for longer, but if this team wins the series, all bets are off – they may retire all their numbers.
It’s way early, but they guy I have my eye on of the current Cubs is #18. If he stays healthy, we could be watching a legend.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Next retired number? Thats easy
“100”
"I guess you had some lean years, and didnt have to beat it hard" - Craig Sager
SORIANO WATCH: AVG: .291 27 HR 69 RBI
I had a rather bizarre thought
I had a rather bizzarre thought regarding flags.
If we win the world series will there be any signage when the Blackhawks play on New Year’s Day?
Go Cubs
No
They always raise that stuff on opening day the next season in a big ceremony.
Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?
by Josh Timmers on Sep 12, 2008 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions
It really should be up there already.
They should hang his flag from the media booth. Press Corps badges should come with a “2” patch in his honor.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
8
No mention of #8 here or did I miss it?
The Hawk…Andre Dawson.
Sure he player almost twice as many years in obscurity in Montreal, but his some of his best 6 years were in Chicago. Plus he has a pretty decent shot at getting in the HOF soon, hopefully next year!
Although #31 should be as well for both Fergie and MadDog.
D-LEE!
Thank you for bringing The Hawk up.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Dumbest one I've seen
Dumbest suggestion I’ve ever seen was Grace.
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 13, 2008 10:35 AM CDT reply actions
#17
MARK GRACE people he deserves it he was one of the most underrated players ever, and we owe it to him
by BelieveinBlue2314 on Sep 13, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions
Underrated?
Grace was a fine player, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen him called “underrated”. If anything, he was overrated.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Al
I loved Gracey in fact I still have a picture of me with him in my special collection of Cubs pictures but frankly if he was ugly and had no personality he wouldn’t have been as beloved as he was.
Go Cubs
by puckishcubsfan on Sep 13, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Beloved Grace
His looks and personality definitely took him a long way compared to how things would have been had he possessed the looks of Mickey Morandini and the personality of Todd Hundley. However, he was a good pure contact hitter, ran the bases well, played first base with aplomb (think of how many errors he saved Shawon Dunston from making) and was a good clutch hitter. He was one of the few position players the Cubs have developed in their own system in my lifetime who became an anchor on the Cubs for a decade or more (indeed, he might be the only position player in my lifetime – 37 years) who meets that criteria. I’m still a fan.
"Hey hey, kiss it goodbye! That one's in Milwaukee! Man oh man did he hit it. Isn't that something?" - Lou Boudreau, May 17, 1979
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