Bleed Cubbie Blue: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: World Soccer Digest for Soccer Fans!

First fanpost -- Funny story about a former Cub

So, after the Cubs' big win over the Brewers Sunday, I was out for a walk with my 4-year old and dog on a lovely sunny day in Duluth, MN, and wearing my favorite Cubs T-shirt.  I was a couple blocks from my house when a 50-ish woman working on her lawn got all excited -- "Hey, you're wearing a Cubs shirt!  My Dad played for the Cubs!"  She asked if I was a fan.  After confirming I was, she proceeded to tell me her Dad, a guy named Bob "shorty" Raudman, played outfield for the Cubs from '61 to '68 before being traded to the Reds.  Said he hit behind Ernie Banks.  After chatting for a minute or two we ended our brief and pleasant exchange and I moved on.   Of course, being the skeptical sort, I did a little research when I got home.

Shorty Raudman

Turns out he was signed in '61, although he only saw time with the parent club in '66 and '67, and only played in 16 games.  His rights were traded to Cleveland in '67, and immediately re-traded to Cincy.  Despite barely having a cup of coffee in the majors, I thought it was cool that I live two blocks from his daughter and that she's still a Cub fan.  So, any long-timers (I went with that rather than "old" timers) remember Shorty Raudman?  Any stories?  Like I said, very brief stint with the team, but still cool.

I'm a long-time reader and very infrequent poster, but I thought this story was worthy of sharing. 

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.

0 recs  |  Comment 10 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Nice story

thanks for sharing it.

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Jul 8, 2009 1:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Fellow Minnesotan here.

Ran Grandma’s two weeks ago, third race @ Gma’s overall. Lil’ brother went to UMD, graduated in 2007. You a student there? I’m sure I know somebody you know.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 8, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No, I've been out of college for several years (I'm a native Iowan and a U of I grad).

I went to grad school at the U of M, lived in Grand Rapids for a couple years, and somehow ended up in Duluth with my wife and kids. It’s a beautiful place and great for raising a family despite having about three weeks of summer a year. I’ve been a Cub fan for many, many years and also root for the Twins as my AL team. My 4-year old can sing “Go Cubs Go.” I don’t know whether to be proud of that or not. :)

There aren’t a ton of Cub fans up here although there are more than most other teams.

by DonnyDonovan on Jul 8, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cool story.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 8, 2009 1:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That's a cool story

But I don’t know if I believe it. My brother said he ran into a guy at Dunkin Donuts who said he played for the Cubs and he was the reason they moved Ernie Banks to first, then he suffered some big injury or something. I don’t remember what he said his name was, but I looked him up and he didn’t exist.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 8, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I looked him up and he did exist.

I posted the link. She even had her years right, other than she made it sound like he was in the big leagues most of that time when in fact almost all of his career was spent in the minors.

I’m 100% sure her story is legit. No one would make up a story about Robert Joyce “Shorty” Raudman. That wouldn’t make any sense.

by DonnyDonovan on Jul 8, 2009 4:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes, I believe this story.

How old is this woman? Bob Raudman is 67 years old. His daughter couldn’t be “50ish” — could she be in her early or mid 40’s?

A little research found a Bob J. Raudman living in Arizona. Next time you see her ask her where her dad lives.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 8, 2009 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

She absolutely could have been.

I’m not a very good judge of age.

by DonnyDonovan on Jul 9, 2009 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bob Will

I was looking for tickets a few years ago outside wrigley field and bumped into an old guy outside a ticket broker who said he had a couple of extras. i bought a pair off him and ended up sitting beside him at the game between the visitors dugout and home plate about twenty rows up. it turned out the guy had played for the cubs in the late fifties early sixties. his name was bob will

anyways he turned out to be a really nice guy and has sent me some old pictures and cards from his playing days. i am coming down to chicago in september and going to try and look him up.

by hoppy91 on Jul 8, 2009 5:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I remember him

Bob Will was a good left handed hitting outfielder. He came off the bench a lot as far as I recall. A real gentleman.

by If we only had Hubbs on Jul 8, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Chicago Cubs blog for the SB Nation, created on February 9, 2005 by Al Yellon
Start posting about the Cubs »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Reversal of opinion...Bradley will not be moved
Yelloncard_small
Baseball Picture Puzzles Overflow 1
Derrick_rose_poster_by_rokasm_small
You know you want him, Get it done Jim!
Yelloncard_small
Baseball Player Picture Puzzles
66103_small
The Ordinary Wizarding Levels of Milton Bradley & the 2009 Chicago Cubs

Recent FanPosts

Sb_small
Ask BCB - Wacky Trade Proposals
Small
Time to get yelled at...
Cubs_small
Cubs HR Over/Under
Cubs_ying_yang_small
OT Aged Stadiums
Small
Here's a thought
Jake_fox_small
25th Annual Cubs Convention
Bucky_small
OT: Annual Thanksgiving  Thread
Dscn2381_small
Cubs 2010 2B and "the L word"
Cubswin712_small
Is there anyway we trade some of our high-priced players?
Yelloncard_small
Milton Bradley Named NL "LVP" By Joe Posnanski

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

Would you blow up the farm system for Halladay?
FanGraphs calls Grabow a "waste of cash."
Fangraphs hasn't given up on Geo, should you?
Baseball America's Top 10 Cubs Prospects
An animated tribute to the no-hitter that Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis threw on June 12, 1970. Simply...

Recent FanShots

Cubs' next major hire: marketing guru
Zambrano attends Bears game
Cubs install sign boards in bleachers to block Horseshoe Casino (Budweiser) building...
This one is for you sabermetricians
A Chicagoan, Part Of Cardinals Ownership Group, Dies
Making Fun Of Tim Lincecum's Hair...
Minor League Ball Interview With Billy Beane
Castillo Rumor Won't Go Away
Minor League FA's

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

It Is Only...

Cubs By The Numbers

Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.

Click here to order your copy, available now!

SPONSORS

Recent Stories in The Next 100 Years

Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: Cubs Convention 2010
Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: General 2009 Ticket Exchange
Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: September 29-October 4 Homestand

Managing Editor

Yelloncard_small Al

Editorial Cartoonist

Toonmike_small toonmike

Contributors

Dsc_0139_small holy mackerel

100px-boisehawkscaplogo_small Josh77

Small shawndgoldman