#18 Juan Pizarro

Prolific Puerto Rican pitcher.....21 years in organized ball most of them with some major leagues going back to the late 50’s.....Career of several acts....starting trajectory was of a talented protégé but failed to meet expectations early on, found a short window of prime only to be later sent to the minors.....having  relied upon by big clubs for instant starting support.........Story began in Milwaukee 90 miles north of Chicago but was mired under underwhelming performances and the Braves’ pitching depth.....Teemed with talent but couldn’t make the right pitch at the right time.....Personal godsend was a trade to White Sox to whom he gave his 3 best years collecting his career bests of 19, 16, and 14 wins at different intervals....an injury shortened his 1965 and lost his rotation spot in 66....embarked on stops to Pittsburgh, Boston, Cleveland, and Oakland in the span of three years failing to firmly establish himself....was released and signed by Angels farm club in Hawaii for 1970...went undefeated and quickly flipped mid season to the Baby Bears....change or scenery did not fit him....shelled in first Cub outing, sent down to AAA Iowa and continue to struggle.....was able to more successfully contribute to the Northsiders cause in 1971 getting another mid season call up and procuring seven wins vs. six losing decisions....netted a full season in 1972 but was unremarkable succumbing to weight issues....while he still could win in minors or Mexican league and get the call from Cubs, Houston,....could not mount a moment of longevity at the top level....but a 1974 Pittsburgh call up yielded an excellent 1.88 ERA...... Did finish his career with two fine years in the Mexican League ending 1976....the man knew how to pitch if he was focused and in shape....date of demise February 18, 2021 

#29 Bill Bonham

Not related to the Led Zeppelin drummer.....Another young Cub arm to replace an aging veteran crew of Pappas, Hands, Jenkins, Regan....Intellectual background....UCLA educated with a degree in Psychology.....drafted by several organization but once he finished school was passed over.....signed on as free agent by Cubs.....after starting pro ball in the Northern League, was fast tracked to AAA.....Two seasons was called up midseason....first full season his role as a swingman was a positive on team suffering a declining undertow.....His full deployment came at the wrong time as the Cubs needed to retool from a line up near static for a decade....a dubious honor led NL in losses with 22 in 1974.....at his prime, an inning eater type who could go the distance in many games .....Losses were diminished but losing record weren’t.....a reprieve came in the form of a trade to the Reds, a perennial contender.....Bonham wins 20 while losing 12 in two seasons but the entirety of his Reds days are plagued by arm trouble.....limiting his work load and win total.....Bill closed out a ten-year MLB career in 1980 with 4 games in a brief comeback attempt that were intertwined with high curtailed minor league rehab stints extending into 1982.

 

#45 Glenn Beckert #46 Glenn Beckert In Action

Star 2^nd baseman working his trade on Chicago’s north side...part of a very static infield of mainstays Kessinger and Santo for the latter half of the 60’s and a portion of the 70’s....fast tracked from the short season Northwestern League to AAA to be groomed as the heir apparent to spot left by the tragic death of Ken Hubbs.....debuted in 1965 and held to near everyday status.....hit .239 feeling out the new level of competition.... racked up several near .300 seasons and earned recognition in all star games as the Cubby youth movement jells.....in 1971 Beckert becomes exceptional reaching undiscovered heights hitting a dizzying .342.....career mark good for 3^rd in the circuit....downgrades to a .270 mark the next year but is named to all star team for 4^th time....another lackluster season and the Cubs decide to go on a youth movement....traded to San Diego who were in search for experienced veterans.....very limited returns as Beckert hits .266 in 188 at bats in two years hindered by arthritis.... line drive  contact hitter spraying the ball.....only sprayed the ball over the fence 22 times in 5208 at bats.....in his prime nearly impossible to strike out and had the best SO to AB ratio 5 seasons running....after playing took a non baseball career, getting into futures trading in Chicago....passed away in 2020....About In Action shot.....looks like a on deck swing.

#61 Cubs Rookie Stars, Burt Hooton, Gene Hiser, Earl Stephenson

One stand out in the trio....Burt Hooton  A first round draft pick by the Cubs from the Texas Longhorn in 1971....fast tracked to AAA Tacoma mid season where enjoyed a very brief and successful run....had a taste of the MLB stage having won two games (one by shutout) in 1971....Not missing a beat, throws a no hitter in his 1972 debut making many a sports page headline....Settled into a 11-14 record and excellent 2.80 ERA......unique specialty pitch the knuckle/curve....took to the Cubs mound two more full years continuing as an inning eater yet plagued by a rising ERA ....Started 1975 poorly and was traded to the Dodgers....Ineffective at first but was seemingly invigorated after seeing a hypnotist....proceeded to win 12 straight games on the way to 18 total....becomes a fixture in the LA rotation showing a quiet reliability well into the 80’s....stepped up his game with taking 19 W(s) in 1978....good for 2^nd in Cy Young voting.....A strong post season performer victorious in 6 decisions, with an excellent 1981 winning 4 games over three series....phased out of prominence in 1984.....ended career with one season in Texas.....   Gene Hiser a seldom used and little known position player....at both the major and minor league level....one of several candidates for the Cubs centerfield trouble spot.....taken in first round of 1970 draft out of the University of Maryland....Back of card is a misnomer.....while Gene had only one hit in 19 at bats in AAA, played the bulk of 1971 in the Western Carolina League hitting a .289 clip (not shown on the card)....a light hitter in any league he played.....was able to eke out 236 big league at bats over five partial campaigns....final career line one home run and eighteen RBI’s plus a .202 BA....tried his hand at a short lived professional soft ball league after baseball offers dried up......Earl Stephenson No longer a Cub at the start of 1972....instead employed 70 miles up I-94 at the Brewer's Milwaukee County Stadium...was included in exchange for Jose Cardenal ....a limited but decent 3-5 record with 3.25 ERA for the Brew Crew....was traded to Phillies in off season....failed to make the club and struggled in AAA....not impressing big clubs was passed around from organization to organization....descended into the Mexican League....was spotted by Oriole scouts and was able to return to major league franchise employment....was able to sneak back in MLB with the birds in 1977 and 1978 appearing in a total of 12 1/3 innings.   

#117 Cleo James

 Twice a mid season call up to fill the Cubs centerfield spot….a trouble area for the franchise at the time.... speedster and a line driving hitter....hit an amazing .367 in PCL Tacoma prior to his Cubbie stint in 1971....accounted decently for himself well in his second go round for the northsiders hitting .287....despite his year was not invited reprise his role for the Cubs in 1972…..stayed in minors continuing an extensive farm system livelihood going back to 1962….once a Dodger prospect….got one more short stint for the Cubs in 1973 but by in large a majority of that season and the next were spent in AAA Wichita…..had a short trial in Mexican League in 1975….hit well in limited at bats.

#145 Don Kessinger

The most consistent shortstop of his time...not much power but a decent line drive hitter...a Cub regular who is less of a name now when compared to Williams, Banks, Santo, Fergie Jenkin...Named to 6  all star teams in a 7 year stretch...the one year excluded, 1973 qualitatively was on par or even better than years he made the squad...excelled at turning the double play....Kessinger’s career trajectory  mirrors  that of the Cubs, struggling in the mid 60’s, progressively improved, best year took place in 1969....followed by above average results to gradual decline....After a great run, Kessinger parted ways with Cubs after 1975....traded to St. Louis, unusual for the Cub to deal with a longtime rival....Was a regular in 1976 lineup, appearing in 145 games mostly at Shortstop....lost playing time 1977 with the arrival of Gary Templeton and traded to cross town Chicago White Sox late in the season....Kessinger regains the playing time he was used to in earlier days in 1978....named player-manager for 1979...dual role cut into playing time....won 46 and lost 60....retired after 7 game losing streak about 2/3^rd  into the season....replaced by rookie manager Tony LaRussa....ending both MLB playing and managing....went into managing in the college ranks thereafter....man of strong Christian belief and positivity. 

#192 Chicago Cubs

Floating Heads!!!....Unique style of card takes the forefront of the storied franchise….so famous for long dry spell of world championship with words like Bartman, Leon Duram,  and 1969 echoing in their collective conscience …the futility curse broken in 2016 after 108 years in 2016….won back to WS in 1907 and 1908 a year prior to that a tie for the WS title…..beloved on the North side of Chicago drawing the ire of Milwaukee, St Louis, and White Sox faithful…like many of the original NL team the teams acquired various monikers, as has its home turf Wrigley Field (which was first built for a Federal League team in 1914)…Despite stadium small confines the team represents  large market club….brought  by marketing and cable TV…..last team to not have lights in their stadium, possibly to their disadvantage over long summers….team of fluctuations; made a 28 game improvement from 1966 to 67, a 25 game upgrade in 1893 to 1984…. Loveable losers although the franchise has a winning record by 500 games…..The greatest exclusive Cubs Ernie Banks, Near exclusive HOFer’s Anson, Santo, Jenkins, Billy Williams, Sandberg, Sutter….by in large existing teams formed in 1876, records are confined to past….the change in the batting record is primarily Sammy Sosa multiple 60+ home run years, beat out the formidable mark of Hack Wilson’s set at 56….depending on how one feels about home run records in the age of steroids, Wilson’s mark may stand….Pitching Ted Abernathy mark of 84 is now tied with two others (surprising) and Rick "don't call me Stu" Sutcliffe’s 1984 mark of 16-1 with the Cubs should be best win %....home to the Tinker, Evers, to Chance fame...presently second in all time franchise wins could take over top spot with a few more good years.

#208 Milt Pappas

Right hander who reached double figure wins 14 out of 15 seasons 1958 to 1972 with O’s, Reds, Braves, and Cubs....209 career victories, right now good for 99^th all time best....his station is threatened by Jason Verlander....for all his consistency all hit a ceiling, personal best were two back to back 17 win seasons nearing tail end of his career....Also know for two misfortunes; Orioles traded him and others to the Reds for Frank Robinson....considered an all time steal in favor of the birds....Robinson proceeded to win the 1966 AL  triple crown, MVP,  and led them to a WS title....Pappas 28 wins over 2 years pale in comparison....The other mishap was being denied a perfect game by highly questioned (by Milt anyway) walk...got the no hitter though....When Pappas left the AL he had collected 110 win....won 99 in NL....if he had won one more NL game Milt was would have been only the fourth pitcher at the time to get 100 wins in each league (there are now seven including Milt’s Cubs teammate Fergie Jenkins)....kind of player who got a shot in the arm from a mid season trade....passed away in 2016.   

#258 Randy Hundley

Greatly missed by the Cubs….possibly the cause of the Cubs playoff failures post 1969….not even close to an adequate substitute…an innovative player whose contribution is the one hand approach to catching reducing injuries to the throwing arm…started in the Giants farm system…acquired by Cubs blossomed under Leo Durocher….1966 hit19 home runs to show pop in his bat….a bright spot in a rebuilding year…the Cub’s investment in the future paid off with 28 game improvement 1967…Randy improved his BA by 31 pts…after an off year in 1968 was to come back with a .255 and 18 home runs…Randy was named to the All Star team for the only time in his career….1970 started the run of injuries…never obtained solid BA but probably the greatest loss was in defensive skills…hung on with Cubs up to 1975 season…traded to Twins but injuries bug bit in the form of the knee injury from a confrontation with a teammate…traveled on to Padres, hit poorly, but was helpful in Randy Jones effort for 20 wins…in all probability the slowest player in baseball at the time…The Cubs feeling nostalgic brought Randy for a handful of games in next two years…father of Todd Hundley, also a catcher from 1990-2003.

#271 Ken Rudolph

Cubs backup back stop…at the time part of a catching by committee in the wake of Randy Hundley’s injury…Did not work out and Cubs suffered for it…prototypically poor hitting backup 2+ string catcher….Career BA .213….in his Chicago stint, 1969-73, bounced around from team to team….SF Giants, Cardinals, Giants again, and then Orioles…Final stop had 4 hits in 14 at bats in 1977…did get picked up by Cards (again)…failed to make the big club with demotion to AAA…final line 6 home runs and 64 RBIs in 743 at bats.

#303 Joe Pepitone #304 Joe Pepitone-In Action

Groomed to be the next legendary Yankee....known for his 1960’s New York days, just like another Joe of NY Jets football fame....Pepitone never reached the stardom, notoriety, and controversy of Namath....although Namath was never shot in abdomen like Pepitone was....came on like gangbusters in second year of 1963 leading the Bronx Bombers....reached 100 RBIs in 1964 and hit a grand slam in the WS....future looked bright but the following years in NY were uneven...sometimes showing good power (31 HRs 1966) sometimes a disappointment (13, 1967) far off from Mickey’s body of work....BA did not deviate far from .250....Mostly a 1^st baseman but had forays in Centerfield....unusal...NYY not foreseeing a major upgrade in output swapped Joe to Houston for Curt Belfrey for 1970....bad deal on both sides.....Joe free form style clashed badly with traditionalist Harry Walker (although production did not decline) refused to play.... trade to Chicago Cubs was a god send for two reasons....catalyst for playoff drive and could manage his chain of local hair stylist shops....Stuck around Wrigley-ville for 1971....had best BA of .307 about 50 point over career average....1972 Joe was stopped cold by injuries mid seasons....never fully recovered....bizarre comeback attempt in 1973....started in Chicago, then a month  Atlanta, released and tried his luck in Japan for few games....totally alienated (might have been a worst situation than Houston).... laid low for a few years....resurfaced in 1976 AAA Hawaii, baseball answers to a pseudo-retirement home....another ill fated adventure but at least it was a paid vacation trip for the three time all star and two time gold glovers....I like to think that’s how Joe looked at it.

#335 Bill Hands

If Bill’s career wins were graphed it would show a bell curve...with the pinnacle topping out with 20 wins in 1969...a workhorse that year logging in 300 innings, a good portion of it in the Wrigley summer sun....Hands never reached those heights again....followed up 18, 12, and 11 win seasons as his ERA  inflated.....a swap to the Twins failed to resurrect his career, won just 6 games 1973....last game in baseball was a particularly nasty shelling by Brewers while in a Texas uniform....Resulting pitching line: 111 wins, 110 loses....passed away recently 2017....started out with Giants organization, won 17 games in AAA Phoenix 1965....another case of a prospect traded rather than kept much to the benefit of the mid-1960's Cubs.

# 364 Johnny Callison

A good player whose prime was two to four  years in the early to mid sixties....however was given such advance billing of superstardom his career is a bit a disappointment....Spearheaded the infamous 1964 Phillies pennant drive... hit bit below average during the team’s infamous swoon hit 3 homers one day against Milwaukee in a losing effort....became average player after his prime as the Phillies sank back into mediocrity ...took his bat to Chicago Cub where he became a regular working fill in 1970 a letdown in 1971....acquisitions of Rick Monday and Jose Cardanel prompted a trade to Yankees...Career moment was  hitting a 3 run home to win the All Star game....swan song came as a reserve outfielder with the Yankees 1972-73.

#410 Ferguson Jenkins

Overpowering, workhorse Canadian….6 straight seasons of 20 game wins on the North side…easy ticket to the Hall of Fame….trade from Phillies may have the Cub’s best trade ever at a time when Chicago was famous for getting taken in the Lou Brock deal….has a 6’5” frame.... could also hit for power…13 home runs and twice was summoned to the plate in the DH era….NL Cy Young winner 1971 although award was somewhat overshadowed by the Vida Blue/Mickey Lolich duel for AL honors….many years Fergie surrendered league highs in home runs, but his  few walks minimizes the damage….if teamed with Sam McDowell could have been the intimidating stare down staff ever….20  game win streak busted by a subpar 1973, prompting a trade to Texas….new digs paid huge dividends…career high 25 wins…instrumental in the Ranger’s ascension from baseball worst team to 2^nd in the AL west in one years….one more year in the Lone Star State and then moved on to Boston….Stationed on the east coast his two stint could best be described as pedestrian… 1978:  strong in a second return to Texas by going 18-8….continued winning for another year and .500 record in the next…took a second return to Cubs where he had so much previous success for last three years ending in 1983….favorite story:  picked up a hitchhiker in route to Texas Spring Training so he wouldn’t drive alone….unfortunately there is no post season story whatsoever in Fergie’s storied career….awesome combo control and power resulting in an outstanding walk to strikeout ratio.

#439-440 Billy Williams

More Superstars....Billy the NL iron man....Oh so great Cub....Some said the best lefthanded hitter of his time....of average stature but such a sweet consistent swing....fun began 1961 with solid season and ROY honors...Then improved and started a NL record 1117 consecutive game streak...best year of the sixties was 1965 with 35 home runs, 108 RBIs, and .315 BA....Was offensive juggernaut in 1970 and 1972, but those were the career years of one John Bench who was also happened to be on a pennant winner...Johnny  took the MVPs...time took a slow toll afterward....but in 1974 harbored enough trade value to bring the Cubs 3 players in swap with Oakland A’s who felt he was tailor made for the DH rule...on the west coast, home runs and RBI’s increased but BA took a sizeable drop to .244 mark in 1975....did get in his only post season work however....struggled in his last year of 1976 and lost playing time....Retired thereafter....inducted HOF in 1987....quiet, disciplined man never got outwardly angry...this may have been a factor why he was often overlooked for all star consideration....5 time all star in a 13 year prime....one would think he’d had more.

#485 Phil Regan

Bore the brunt of Cubs relieving duties for 1971....That year as a team, the Cubbies saved 13 games one more than the Yankees...Phil had 6 saves which was good for being tied with 36^th spot...a case of elder abuse.... Had his start in Detroit 1960....worked his way to respectability with a 15-9 record in 1963...but after 2 poor seasons shipped to LA....Instantly blossomed  with a memorable 14-1 record and All Star status....may have got votes for Cy Young if not for a teammate named Koufax....1967 Sandy wasn’t there and the Dodger's and Phil’s fortunes declined... trade to Cubs in 1968 represented a comeback.... 1969 he was top Cub reliever with strong veteram supporting cast of Ted Abernathy and Hank Auguire effect in set up roles....fortunes changed in 1970 with Auguire faltering and Abernathy inexplicably traded away (where did the Cubs need another aging and light hitting infielder in Phil Gagliano)....Burden of work fell to Phil and a host of untested others and effectiveness as whole suffered....released after 1972 season when he split work with Cubs and cross town White Sox....post playing long time coach (until 2020) and one time MLB manager with Baltimore (1995).

#512 Paul Popovich

With the Cubs he was a often used reserve infielder who could not tip the scales to be a consistent starter....Twice donned the  Cubs uniform with an assignment stint to LA sandwiched in-between....started in Chicago farm system 1960….worked his way up to his first AB appearance in 1964 and got a hit….hit 232 in 52 games in full season 1967…. .Interestingly enough was traded twice in the same day going to Montreal  before the Cubs on June 11th 1969 …was awesome in his 1969 early season return to Cubs by virtue of hitting .312….had a fair follow up hitting .253 in 1970…..offensive numbers declined thereafter....217 in 1971…rebounded a bit in 1973 with a .231 BA in 306 Abs….a bit of a swan song for his career…went to Pittsburgh for his last one and a half seasons in a limited role.

#534 Jim Hickman

Average outfielder with one exceptional year...1970:  31 home runs 115 RBI, .315 BA....beginnings went back to 1956 when he was signed up by Cardinals as a free agent....climbed his way up the system....was picked in the NY Mets in 36^th round of expansion draft based on excellent 1960 season in the Texas league...Was the first Met Centerfielder ever....OK year hitting .245 for the pitching poor Mets... held the regular CF spot for four more years....injuries cut into playing time in 1966...A 1967 trade to the Dodgers had disastrous results....thrown in as part of trade to the Cubs...after a stint with 2 AAA plus the big club in 1968, started to reawaken in 1969 with 21 HRs....had the memorable hit that drove in Pete Rose in 70 all star game...had two more above average seasons....playing time waned with age and retired mid 1974....career national leaguer.

#555 Ron Santo #556 In Action Ron Santo

RIP…revered icon of north Chicago…consistent anchor on team that had rough years in early 60’s….Synonymous with Cubs franchise and third base…. was named to all star team 9 of 11 campaigns…One year he was excluded from all star team he finished 4th in MVP voting….hustling aggressive player....had a 5 year string of Gold Gloves….offensive skills were ability to get on base, great batting eye, and consistent power…Unfortunately for all his awards and accolades, no post season play…Left Cubs after 1973….Cross-town trade to White Sox was a disaster and his career was over after one season…Career stats 342 home runs, 1343 RBIs’, .277 BA…Career best home run season was 1965 with 33…best RBI’s was 123 in 1969…top average was .313 in 1964….instated into hall of fame 2012 two years after his death....one of few players who got along well with Leo Durocher.

#576 Leo Durocher

Known as the Leo the Lip…of French Canadian ancestry…caustic with the press and management and certain players…tumultuous personal life, married multiple times …Took his bumps as the new Cubs manager in 1966….Northsiders made a 28 game improvement next year….guided the team to also ran contender status for next 4 seasons….according to a preview guide it was somewhat surprising he was retained after 1971 season…all before that he was known as a competitive, great fielding, fair hitting infielder…Legendary fixture in New York starting with a brief stint with the Yankees 1927, the Dodgers in 1939….During that year he was a regular player in the field….Skippered the Bums thru the war years…was suspended for the year of Jackie Robinson’s debut but was candid in his support of him….Returned the following year but he had already lost favor….a below .500 record resulted in his dismissal....Quickly hired by NY Giants….Spent  8 years in the Polo grounds capturing 2 pennants and WS Championship in 1954….Let go after 1955, Leo starts a series of high profile, yet odd jobs….returns to baseball in 1961 as Dodger coach….After the Cubs let him go midseason 1972, took a gig with Houston for the remainder of the year and the whole of 1973….Enshrined in the Hall of Fame 3 years after his death in 1991.