Day Five: Cubs/Royals

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Cubs/Royals

The lovable Cubs finally make an appearance. The Cubs have a special place in my heart as well as the Braves even though I never really pulled for them. TBS and WGN are two cable channels that I grew up on (along with MTV back when they played music videos.) The great thing about the Cubs back then was they played afternoon games at Wrigley Field. It wasn’t until 1988 that the Cubs finally played a night game at home. What was Sonny doing at that time you ask? I was preparing to start my freshman year at Clemson as a James Island High graduate. What was Greg doing you ask? I guess still wetting his pants on the way to elementary school. Anyway, I would watch them in the afternoons and listen to Harry Caray call homerun shots over the ivy. Unfortunately, many of those calls were for the other team. For a team that hasn’t won a World Series in over 100 years, picking a list for them was hard.

Cubs

Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo, Mordecai Brown

Ernie Banks, 1953-71, inducted into Hall of Fame in 1977: This two-time MVP may be the most influential player in Chicago sports history. Banks became the first African-American to play professionally in Chicago at the end of the 1953 season. He hit 512 home runs in his Hall of Fame career, and his always optimistic view of people makes him an easy choice as the top Cub in their long history. Banks was the ultimate gentleman and helped changed people's stereotyped images of African-Americans in the City of Big Shoulders and even bigger prejudices.

Ryne Sandberg, 2B (1982-94; 1996-97) Hall of Fame: 2005 | All-Star Games: 10 The NL MVP in 1984 (.314, 19 HR, 84 RBI), Sandberg set the major-league record for HRs by a second baseman with 277 and was a nine-time Gold Glove winner who set big-league marks for consecutive errorless games for a second baseman (123 in 1990) and career fielding percentage (.989). He led the NL in triples (19 in 1984), homers (40 in 1990) and runs scored (1984, 1989, 1990). Had 54 stolen bases in 1985 and twice drove in 100 runs.

Ron Santo, 3B (1960-73) Hall of Fame: 2011 | All-Star Games: 9 One of two third baseman in baseball history with 300 or more homers and five Gold Gloves. From 1963-70, Santo averaged .289, 29 HRs, 105 RBI and 86 walks. During his Cubs career, Santo ranked fourth in baseball in RBIs (1,290), eighth in HRs (337) and third in walks (1,071)--six of the nine players ahead of him are first-ballot Hall of Famers. His .763 OPS in 1,049 at-bats vs. HOF pitchers exceeds the career OPS of Brooks Robinson (.723) and Lou Brock (.753).

Mordecai "Three-Finger'' Brown, P Hall of Fame: 1949 | Ranked with NL rival Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson as one of baseball's best pitchers in the early 20th century. From 1906-11, Brown was 127-44 with a 1.42 ERA as the Cubs won four pennants and two World Series in a five-year span--records of 26-6, 20-6, 29-6, 27-9 and 25-14. His 1.04 ERA in 1906 is the second-best in baseball history. Went 3-0 with no runs allowed in 20 innings in World Series titles in 1907 and 1908.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2417285-475/cubs-mark-potash-ranks.html

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chicago/halloffame/story/_/id/6847100/bruce-levine-top-five-chicago-cubs

Honorable Mention: Cap Anson, Ferguson Jenkins, Mark Grace, Billy Williams

Royals

No question who belongs at the top. The rest of my list is who I think of when I think of the Royals.

George Brett, Willie Wilson, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen

George Brett - Brett played 21 seasons for the Royals, and is their all-time leader in almost every offensive category.  He unquestionably belongs at the top of every Kansas City Royals best-of list. He made the all-star team for 13 straight seasons, from 1976-1988.  He would hit over .300 eleven times, including a .390 average for the strike shortened 1980 season, winning the AL MVP award.  He also led the league in hitting in 1976, with .333, and in 1990, with a .329.

George was consistently gaining mention throughout his career whenever it came time to vote for the AL MVP, finishing second in 1976 and in 1985, and third in 1979. He would retire after the 1993 season, playing in 145 games with 19 home runs, 75 RBIs, and an average of .266.  At an age when most players are on the decline, George was still a solid contributor at 40. His career statistics, a .305 average with 665 doubles, 137 triples, 317 home runs and 1596 RBIs.  He walked 1096 times and only struck out 908 times in 10,349 career plate appearances.

Willie Wilson - Wilson joined the Royals as a 20 year old rookie in 1976. In 1979, Wilson led the AL with 83 stolen bases.  1980, however, may have been his best year in the majors.  He had 705 at bats, still an AL record.  He led the league with 230 hits and 15 triples and hit .326.  He also won a gold glove and a silver slugger that season. In 1982 he won his second silver slugger and his first all-star selection, winning the batting title in the process at .332. In 1983 he was again selected to the all-star game.  He led the league in triples five times during his years playing for the Royals. When he departed KC, he had totaled 612 stolen bases, hitting .289 in 1787 games.  He hit 133 triples during his Royals career. Willie rounded out his career with two seasons each with the Oakland Athletics and the Chicago Cubs.

Frank White - White spent his entire 18 season career with the Kansas City Royals.

He was an excellent defensive second baseman, collecting gold gloves in eight seasons, from 1977-1982, and 1986-1987. White was mostly a singles hitter who stole a few bases on offense.  As his career progressed he started to develop some power, averaging 20 home runs in each season from 1984-1987.  He won a silver slugger in 1986. White was selected to the AL all-star team in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1986. His career totals: a .255 average with 407 doubles and 160 home runs.  He had 886 RBIs and 178 stolen bases.

Bret Saberhagen - Saberhagen debuted in 1984 as a 20 year old rookie, going 10-11 with a 3.48 ERA.  In 1985, Saberhagen became the youngest pitcher to win the Cy Young award, along the way posting a 20-6 record with a 2.87 ERA and a league leading WHIP of 1.058. For the next three seasons, he treaded water for the Royals, posting a 39-38 record over the span. In 1989, Bret would win his second Cy Young award for the team, leading the league in wins, posting a 23-6 record.  He also led the league with a 2.16 ERA, 12 complete games, 262.1 innings pitched, and a microscopic whip of 0.961.  All this plus his first gold glove. For his Royals career, he went 110-78 with an ERA of 3.21.  He struck out 1093 while striking out 331 in 1660.1 innings pitched.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/824088-kansas-city-royals-50-all-time-top-players

Honorable Mention

Mike Sweeney, Kevin Appier, Mark Gubicza, Dan Quisenberry, Hal McRae