Chicago Sports Legends: The Chicago Cubs
We should be almost two months into the baseball season. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 restrictions still in place, sports, like most things, have been paused. Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field are empty, and plans for the 2020 MLB season are still in flux. While we wait for baseball to return, let’s take a look at some of the magical players who played a significant role in the history of Chicago’s two iconic baseball franchises. First up at bat, the Chicago Cubs with three players from the mid 20th century who left their stamp on the game.
Ernie Banks: Whether you prefer to call him “Mr. Cub” or “Mr. Sunshine,” Banks is considered baseball royalty to the highest degree. Signed by the Cubs in 1953, Banks was the team’s first black player. Immediately upon his arrival to the Friendly Confines, the shortstop showed he was here to win. In 1955 Banks hit 44 home runs, a single-season record for shortstops at the time. In 1958 and 1959, Banks took home back-to-back MVP awards. The 14 All-Star appearances, Golden Glove Award, and numerous accolades all come down to something beyond skill and talent in terms of Banks’ legacy: It was the man’s passion. His unbridled enthusiasm for the game drove his success and made the shortstop/ first baseman a legend. The legend retired in 1971 and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. In 2015, Banks passed away from a heart attack. Banks’ legacy is forever stitched into the tapestry that is the Chicago Cubs. Let’s play two!
Ron Santo: One of the greatest to play third base, Santo played for the Cubs from 1960 to 1973. In that span of time, the Cubs legend recorded 2,254 hits, 342 home runs, and a batting average of .277. From 1961 to 1968, Santo led the league in assists. In 1964 Santo received the Golden Gloves Award and proceeded to win it for the next four seasons. Upon retiring from baseball in 1974 (after a short stint with crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox), Santo returned the Cubs as a broadcaster in 1990. Battling diabetes since a teenager, Santo remained heavily involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since 1979. In 2003, the Cubs retired the nine-time All-Star’s No. 10 jersey. In 2010, Santo passed away from complications of diabetes and bladder cancer. Sadly the beloved Cubbie was gone before his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. Still, his legacy will always loom large at Wrigley Field and beyond forever.
Ryne Sandberg: The star second baseman came to Cubs from the Philadelphia Phillies in 1982. His power and speed led the 1984 Cubs to the postseason for the first time since their 1945 World Series appearance, leading the league in runs and triples with a batting average of .314. That same year Sandberg became the first Cub since Ernie Banks to win the National League MVP award. The rest of the 80s and early 90s saw Sandberg collect 10 All-Star appearances, nine Golden Glove Awards, seven Silver Slugger Awards, and he was the National League home run leader in 1990. Sandberg retired for good in 1997 as a Cub. The second baseman was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and had his No. 23 retired in 2005. Fans will always cherish Sandberg’s devotion to the team, hard-working habits, and unselfishness, letting his play do the talking.
Tomorrow we will look at some of the more recent great Chicago Cub players who have endeared themselves to fans with their incredible skill and jaw-dropping play on the field.
ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
