Here is my starting lineup for the all-time great Chicago Cubs:
C: Gabby Hartnett (20 seasons, 1,912 hits, 236 HR, 1,179 HR, .984 FLD%)
P: Greg Maddux (22 seasons, 355 total wins, 3.16 ERA, 5,008 IP, 3,371 SO)
3B: Ron Santo (14 seasons, 9-time all-star selection, 5-time gold-glove winner, 342 HR, 1,331 RBI)
SS: Ernie Banks (18 seaons, 11-time all-star selection, 2-time NL MVP, 512 HR, 1,636 RBI)
2B: Ryne Sandberg (16 seasons, 2,386 hits, 282 HR, 1,061 RBI, .285 BA, 344 SB)
1B: Mark Grace (15 seasons, 2,445 hits, .303 BA, 173 HR, 1,146 RBI)
LF: Billy Williams (17 seasons, 2,711 hits, 426 HR, 1,475 RBI, .290 BA)
CF: Hack Wilson (11 seasons, most RBI's in single season{191}, 244 HR, 1,063 RBI, .545 SLG%)
RF: Sammy Sosa (18 seasons, 60 HR in 3 different seasons, 609 total HR, 1,667 RBI)
Utility: Shawon Dunston (18 seasons, 1,597 hits, 150 HR, 668 RBI, 203 SB)
Manager: Lou Pinella (3-time Manager of the Year, one World Series title, 1,701-1,561)
This is a personal compilation after doing some research on past and current Chicago Cubs. I took into account (for most players), the amount of time they spent in Chicago as well. I understand that Sammy Say-It-Ain't-SOOOOSA is accussed of steroid use, but his numbers are unmatched in Chicago.
Tomorrow I will post another All-Time great list titled, "The Cubs All-Time Fan Favorites".
Please leave any suggestions or comments about additions or disagreements with this list!
Cheers
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Boy does this roster make my salivate. Also, i agree with it almost completely. Not many arguments could be made about it, however one player I personally feel was left out is Gary Matthews. While a majority of his years did not come with Chicago, he is remembered as a Cub and was also a part of the terrific 84 season. I feel he has the awards and talent to be taken into consideration, although im sure the compiler of this lineup did consider The Sarge. Case and Point, Matthews as the utiltiy player.
ReplyDeleteNice work. It's obviously an interesting blog to debate.
ReplyDeleteSanto, Sandberg, Banks, Williams and Sosa are all very hard too argue. They belong on the team without a doubt. Shawon Dunston is a curious choice though. He had a .296 career OBP. That's awful by anyone's standards. I'm guessing by "utility," you mean someone who can play many positions. So I can see where it may be difficult to find a great option there.
As far as the manager, Lou Piniella's inclusion surprises me too. He's only been with the Cubs for two years. I know this is going way back, but Frank Chance is easily the most successful manager in Cubs history. He won two World Series championships and went to two other World Series' as the Cubs manager (and player).
For the most part though, the list looks good. The Cubs actually have some great players in their long history despite the long championship drought.
JK,
ReplyDeleteI did include Shawon Dunston because by utility, I meant a player that could adapt and play in many different different positions (for Shawon Dunston, he could play SS, 2B, 3B, outfield, etc). As for Pinella, he manages in a different era than Chance, where there is more pressure to deliver in Chicago, players demand more money, players talent levels have immensely increased, etc. I feel he gives the Cubs the most opportunity for success.