Please see I’m
Just Sayin…for what is going on with our posts for the next month or so.
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
Haha... I see someone has been reading my "What was Sonny doing..." questions. Hard to argue with either list here. Both of our lists are 3/4 the same (and I'm not sure either of us would fight too hard over the 4th spot).
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