The Top 100 Cubs Of All Time - #60 Keith Moreland

by Al on Dec 21, 2006 9:48 AM CST in Top 100 Cubs

Profile by BCB reader billypilgrim

On December 9, 1981, Hall-of-Fame baseball reporter Jerome Holtzman wrote in the Tribune:

Hollywood, Fla. - It took six days to make heaven and earth, but Dallas Green, confronted with an equally challenging assignment, virtually remade the Cubs Tuesday. In a sudden, though not unexpected, burst of activity, Green hooked two established free agent pitchers, Bill Campbell and Ferguson Jenkins, and in between swung a five-player deal which Green insists brings a potential 100-RBI slugger to Wrigley Field.

He is Keith Moreland, a 27-year-old catcher who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies along with Dickie Noles and Dan Larson, right-handed pitchers expected to qualify as rotation starters. In exchange, the Cubs sent Mike Krukow, their most promising pitcher, to the Phillies, who will also receive a player to be named later, probably a minor-leaguer.

That was almost an afterthought-type description of Keith Moreland, born May 2, 1954 in Dallas. He attended the University of Texas, from where he was drafted in the seventh round by the Phillies in 1975, and that's why he'd always exchange "Hook 'em Horns" finger greetings with people in the right field bleachers at Wrigley Field during his tenure with the Cubs.

Moreland's career with the Cubs began within the context of Dallas Green trying -- as Holtzman said -- "to remake the Cubs in one day.". And for the next six seasons (1982-1987) this "poor-throwing," "below-average defensively," "power-hitting", "rugged player" was a mainstay in the middle of the Cubs line-up as an outfielder, third baseman, or catcher (descriptions all used in the Holtzman article).

Some memorable moments in Moreland's career with the Cubs include:

A 3-run dinger in the first game of a doubleheader on August 7, 1984, helping Rick Sutcliffe go to 9-1. In the second game Moreland also got into a brawl with Mets pitcher Ed Lynch (later to become Cubs GM, ironically enough), after Lynch drilled him with a pitch.
The slow roller Moreland hit to break-up Dwight Gooden's no-hitter on September 7, 1984
A grand slam (one of 3 for the Cubs that day), helping to crush the Astros 22-7 on June 3, 1987, (the most runs they have scored in a game at Wrigley Field since the famous 23-22 game in 1979).

I simply remember him for less specific things -- just playing the game hard. Although I can't pinpoint exact games, when I think of Keith Moreland I have these images in my head:

chugging in for a fly ball in right field, diving, and making a shoe string catch as he lays out;
breaking up a double play by not just sliding feet or head first into second, but by turning sideways and rolling into a second baseman, taking the legs out from under him.

Nonetheless, Keith Moreland showed up everyday (averaged 150 games per season), played hard (like the former college football player he was), did whatever was asked of him (multiple positions in the field and in the line-up), didn't complain, and produced consistent results (averaged .281, 17 home runs, and 82 runs batted in, decent numbers for the lower-power era in which he played). In six Cub seasons he hit exactly 100 home runs, good for eighteenth place on the all-time Cub list.

On September 1, 1987 Moreland was playing third base against the Astros when Billy Hatcher's bat broke into several pieces. Keith held up remnants of the bat, which was hollowed out and corked. Hatcher was ejected from the game.

In the 1987 off-season, the Cubs traded Moreland and infielder Mike Brumley to the Padres for Goose Gossage and minor-league pitcher Ray Hayward. At the time, Cubs front-office boss Jim Frey said that the departure of Moreland left Vance Law, who was acquired as a free agent over that winter, as the Cubs starting third baseman.

In recent years, Moreland has been a high school baseball coach, a radio announcer for Texas Longhorn baseball and football, and a roving minor league instructor for the Washington Nationals.

Moreland seems like a stand-up kind of guy as this post on Chicago folk singer Steve Goodman's web site suggests:

A sad footnote to A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request

Excerpt from: Sport (New York, N.Y.). v. 76, Apr. '85, p. 96. Kieth [sic] Moreland pondered what to do with an autographed baseball that he failed to deliver to folk singer Steve Goodman prior to Goodman's death. The singer wrote a humorous song, "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request," in which he conjectured that the perfect ending to his funeral at Wrigley Field would be for outfielder Keith Moreland to "drop a routine fly" during the post-funeral game. Moreland, amused, signed the ball after learning that Goodman really was dying, and entrusted it to the writer, who never found time to deliver it. Ironically, Goodman passed away just as the Cubs were about to clinch the Eastern Division championship.

Keith Moreland's career stats at baseball-reference.com

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Comments

Nice job

Zonk was always one of my favorite players - a hard-worker and an intense ballplayer who wanted to win. The memories you have of him are the same as my memories of him. I can still see him rolling into second to break up a double play.

I always thought it was a bit unfair of Steve Goodman to refer to Moreland dropping a ball in that song. Moreland wasn't Willie Mays in the outfield (nor was he Johnny Bench behind the plate or Brooks Robinson at third), but he wasn't a terrible defensive player and he tried very hard.

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 9:56 AM CST 0 recs

Goodman...

... was a huge Cubs fan, as many of you know. I think he was gently poking fun at Moreland, not criticizing him, and I think Moreland took it exactly in that way. I know he'd have loved to have gotten that ball to Steve Goodman before he died.

by Al on Dec 21, 2006 10:00 AM CST up 0 recs

One more Moreland memory

He always used to grow a beard in September to get ready for hunting season. The one year he didn't do this, if I recall correctly, was 1984, because the Cubs were on their way to the playoffs and he knew there'd be no hunting in early October. Unfortuanately, hunting season arrived for him and the other Cubs much sooner than it should have that year.

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 9:58 AM CST 0 recs

June 3, 1987

I remember that Cub romp well. It was the day I got my first driver's license (I'd just turned 16), and I listened to the game on my way back from the driver's license facility on Elston. It's actually a bit of a shock to look at the box score 20 years later and see how well the Cubs did keeping the core of their 1984 squad together. Dernier, Sandberg, Moreland, Matthews, Davis and Sutcliffe - all key parts of the 1984 team - all appeared in this game. Hard to believe they weren't able to stay competitive with that group. Of course, Matthews was a shadow of himself by 1987.

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 10:03 AM CST 0 recs

And...

... Dernier never really did much after '84.

by Al on Dec 21, 2006 10:06 AM CST up 0 recs

True

I'm not sure why Dernier was so good in 1984. He really caught lightning in a bottle that year. Otherwise, his career was pretty undistinguished.

I have a video of the June 23, 1984 game that the Cubs won 12-11 on two Sandberg homers off of Bruce Sutter (a game I was lucky enough to attend). On the video, it becomes apparent what a key factor Dernier was in that victory. In the 10th inning, with the Cubs down two runs, two out, nobody on, and Sutter still on the mound after giving up Sandberg's first game-tying homer the previous inning (the Cards scored two in their half of the 10th to take an 11-9 lead), Dernier came up representing the Cubs' last hope and had the most amazing at-bat of his life.

After working Sutter to a full count, Dernier looked at strike three, immediately put his head down and raced for first. The ump never raised his hand for the strike call, and Dernier was credited with a walk. If you look at the pitch, there's no way it shouldn't have been called strike three, ending the game. But Dernier's body language convinced the umpire it was ball four, extending the game so Sandberg could come up and, once again, tie the game with a homer. Unbelievable.

The look on Sutter's face after he gives up the second Sandberg homer, and the way he jerks his glove in frustration, is priceless.

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 10:18 AM CST up 0 recs

Absolutely true.

We all thought at the ballpark, too, that Dernier had struck out and the game was over.

It's not too hyperbolic to argue that that one pitch might have begun the spur to the division title.

by Al on Dec 21, 2006 10:21 AM CST up 0 recs

Agreed

I can't remember what I thought at the time of Dernier's walk. I was in the front row, just to the home side of the Cubs' dugout, so Dernier's body blocked my view of home plate. But to others at Wrigley, it was apparent that he had struck out.

I do know that from my vantage point in the front row, I thought Sandberg's second homer was going to be caught. When I watch the replay, I can't understand why I thought that. It was a no-doubter.

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 10:33 AM CST up 0 recs

Sutter

I just realized that Sutter blew not just one but two saves that day. Sutter came in with a 9-8 lead, and blew it. Then he had an 11-9 lead to hold, and he blew that, too. Now statistics would say he only blew one save chance, the first one. But he got a second chance, and blew it again. No wonder he was upset.

After the game, Whitey Herzog said, "Sandberg is the best player I've ever seen."

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 4:09 PM CST up 0 recs

Dernier was the master of the drop the bat walk.

In '84 I recall Dernier dropping his bat on clear strike three's down the middle (that of course were never called), simply because he was so fast in dropping the bat and heading down to first that the umpire was coaxed into not ringing him up. Of course, the Sandberg game was the most memorable.

Years later, Bret Butler was pulling the same schtick and racking up walks.

by cubby23 on Dec 21, 2006 9:41 PM CST up 0 recs

Memories

An image from that game is one of those childhood memories that you have the rest of your life. WGN showed a shot of Hal Lanier, and I'll never forget the look on his face. Dude looked miserable.

by Seamer on Dec 21, 2006 10:41 PM CST up 0 recs

'splainin

Back in the Leon Durham comments, I said:
"I hadn't thought about this, but if Moreland is ahead of Durham, you may have some 'splainin to do."

Since he's only two spots ahead, that comment was a little over-hyped. Still, I'd rank Durham over Moreland, mainly because Moreland, although he threw well, was slow as hell and not a particularly good defensive player, whereas Durham, aside from that one play, ran well and was a bit better than average on defense.

What I find interesting is that both benefited enormously from Wrigley Field while teammates. Between 1982 and 1987, Durham had 81 HRs at home and 44 on the road, while Moreland has 67 and 33, respectively. Their OPS's were also much higher at home. It was a low-offense era, to be sure, but neither was really all that good a hitter for the positions they played.

Another tidbit - despite Moreland's clutch rep, their career numbers with RISP and RISP with 2 out were almost in line with their overall career numbers. That hot streak in August 1984 helped his rep. Speaking of which, although I was never a big Moreland fan (ya think?), I'll always have a soft spot for him, since the first grand slam I ever saw in person was hit by him during that stretch (8/5/84).

by Tracy on Dec 21, 2006 11:39 AM CST 0 recs

After I read your original comment...

... I thought about it some more. When I originally did this list, I ran it by Ed Hartig, whose name some of you may recognize, as he is occasionally quoted on the Cubs website as an "unofficial team historian". He is a SABR member and very knowledgeable about team history.

What he said to me was "after #50, it's a crapshoot".

So, maybe I could have swapped Durham & Moreland. And, there are probably a dozen players I left off that could have made the cut.

by Al on Dec 21, 2006 12:05 PM CST up 0 recs

I would agree with Ed Hartig's assessment.

I think both Durham and Moreland are ranked reasonably. Looking back, it's clear Durham was never quite as good as I remembered.

by Tracy on Dec 21, 2006 12:24 PM CST up 0 recs

You may...

... still wind up disagreeing with some of my top 50 slottings, but to me, that's part of the fun of doing this sort of thing.

by Al on Dec 21, 2006 12:59 PM CST up 0 recs

my thoughts

After reading Bill James Top 100 MLB at every position, and coming to the realization that there aren't as many great players out there as you think, I actually thought Durham and Moreland would be in the top 50 somewhere. (perhaps in the 40s) Both guys were in James top 100 all time for Right Fielders and First Basemen. It's actually encouraging to seem them so low on the list of top Cubs, meaning there's 50 or 60 guys that were better. More than I thought.

by MikeJ on Dec 21, 2006 2:11 PM CST up 0 recs

Moreland

...reminds me of the second Cubs game I ever went to:

June 22, 1987. I was 12.

http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B06220CHN1987.htm

I had been a Cubs fan for few years (since 84), but this was the first season I became a die-hard, watch every game, read-the-box-score-every-day type of fan.

In this game, the Cubs were losing 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth, and I told my cousin...

"Don't worry, Durham will single and Moreland will homer and the Cubs win."

And that's exactly what happened. Crazy.

Interesting to see the box score from that day. Two active players participated, Bonds and Moyer. (three if Palmeiro ever plays again.) Bonds/Bonilla batted 1-2 with Van Slyke fifth for the Pirates. Sandberg and Dunston were on the shelf, but if they were healthy that'd be a pretty good lineup for the last-place Cubs.

by MikeJ on Dec 21, 2006 11:41 AM CST 0 recs

Good story - thanks

It's interesting to note that two players who participated in that long-ago game - Moyer and Bonds - are still active.

by danimal15 on Dec 21, 2006 12:17 PM CST up 0 recs

I was at that game...

the Cubs beat the Astros 22-7. I remember being amazed that you couldn't blink without another home run being hit. I went to the concession stand, and The Hawk jacked one. One of the best experiences of my life. You don't get to see many of those, especially when you only get to the park once in a great while because you live in Dallas (I was in Chicago visiting my grandparents at the time).

by Spoonerstreet on Dec 21, 2006 12:58 PM CST 0 recs

Moreland

As a kid he was my 1st favorite Cubs player.

by cubfaninSTL on Dec 21, 2006 1:28 PM CST 0 recs

Walk off bunt

As a kid I was a big fan of Keith Moreland. A game I remember was when we were down in the 9th and with a man on I guess Keith was given a bunt sign to move the runner and blew off the call, hitting a walk-off home run to win the game. He was ultimately fined for blowing off the call but was all smiles for the win.

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

by cubbietenor on Dec 21, 2006 8:52 PM CST 0 recs

I remember that

Thanks for bringing the memory back. The current Cub team could use a few guys like Moreland.

by danimal15 on Dec 22, 2006 9:24 AM CST up 0 recs

Gritty writeup, just like Moreland

Keith was so gritty and probably a perfect fit for Chicago in the 80s. I started reliving some of the old games via boxscores and it always amazed me to see how Moreland could get red hot in periods and then ice cold.

by cubby23 on Dec 21, 2006 9:44 PM CST 0 recs

Correction: Only 2, not 3 Grand Slams

... were hit by the Cubs on June 3, 1987. Billy Hatcher, an ex-Cub, also hit one in the 3rd inning for the Astros. It was the battle of the "grannies". Houston scored two in the top of the 1st off Sutcliffe. The Cubs answered with three HRs and nine runs in their half of the inning - Brian Dayett started it with the first grand slam, followed by a solo shot by Moreland and a two run HR by Sandberg. After 3 innings, the Cubs led 13-2 but Hatcher tagged Sutcliffe with the game's second grand slam in the top of the 4th, making it 13-6. It was 16-7 by the bottom of the 6th when, with runners on 2nd & 3rd, the 'stros pitcher decided to walk Dayett to load the bases for Moreland -- who promptly smashed his second HR (and the third grand slam overall) of the day.

Moreland went 3-5 with 7 RBI, raising his numbers for the season to .219-6-27(!). Moreland had been in a terrible slump all season, beginning June 1 with a .202 BA, 3 HR & 16 RBI. On June 2, the Cubs blasted Nolan Ryan and the 'stros 13-2, Moreland going 2-5 with a HR & 4 RBIs, followed by the 22-7 game the next day. Moreland went on a tear for the remainder of the season, finishing with .266-27-88. That was Moreland. He could be really streaky, but when he got on a tear, watch out!

On the other hand, Moreland's second victim, Astros pitcher Julio Solano, faced 21 batters that day but only retired 9 of them and saw his ERA balloon to 7.65. I believe did not pitch for the Astros again, getting traded on Sept. 30 to the Mariners for a minor leaguer. Such were the opposite trajectories of two of the players from that day.

by JoePepitone on Dec 23, 2006 1:23 PM CST 0 recs

Oh yeah, the win pulled the Cubs to within 1 game

... (at 30-21) of the first place Cardinals -- who were coming into Wrigley the next day for a four game series.

The first game pitted Danny Cox (5-2) against a young 21 yr. old Greg Maddux (4-4). Jack Clark smacked a 2 run HR off Maddux in the 1st. In the second, Shawon Dunston cut the lead in half. He came up with 2 outs and runners on 1st & 2nd. He singled to left, driving in a run but was cut down trying to take 2nd base. Maddux held the Cards down except for one (unearned) run in the 7th that scored on a two-out single, driving in a runner who reached first on Sandberg's 3rd error of the year. Maddux pitched 8 strong innings but the Cubs did not score again, losing 3-1. Sandberg came up with 4 runners on base and hit into 3 double plays, going 0-4. Moreland was 1-4, stranding 3 runners and Dawson was 0-4 & stranded 1. Maddux dropped to 4-5 for the season, winning only 1 more game for the rest of the year and finishing with a 6-14 record -- his last losing record for the next 17 years. The Cubs dropped 3 of 4 and fell 3 games behind, eventually finishing in last place with a 76-85 record.

by JoePepitone on Dec 23, 2006 2:09 PM CST up 0 recs