Chicago Cubs All Time 25 Man Roster
Just because the Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908, does not mean that they have not had their share of outstanding players. In fact, they have had some of baseballs best, and can boast an incredible 25 Man All Time Roster.
With 14 players in the Hall as members of the Chicago Cubs, the team has had over 30 Hall of Fame players overall spend time with the team. With great players from every era, breaking down the roster to a regulated 25 man team was a challenge.
Though short on championships, the Cubs are filled with history. From 1906-1908, Chicago put on possibly the greatest three year stretch of all time. In 1906, the team went 116-36, good for a modern era record winning percentage of .763. The team went on to lose the World Series, but ended up winning the title in ‘07 and ‘08.
Still, the team is mired in two record droughts: being World Series-less since 1908, and pennant-less since 1945. The current squad is the best in baseball and will be looking to break both curses this October. With star players like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, and Jake Arrieta, among others, the Cubs All Time team could look dramatically different in about 10 years. If Rizzo especially puts up a few more seasons of 30+ home runs, he would be making a strong case to join this roster.
For now though, the team is still very young and no one on the roster was able to come close to finding their way on the 25 man team. There are a few from the Cubs playoff days of the 2000’s, but most range from the 1880’s all the way to the 1980’s. So who exactly made the Cubs All Time 25 man roster? Let’s find out by starting with the starting lineup.
Catcher- Gabby Hartnett (1922-1940)
Gabby Hartnett played 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs at the most physically demanding position in the game. That alone should warrant a spot on the 25-man All Time Team, but Harnett’s resume goes beyond longevity. With an .860 OPS in over 6000 AB, the Cubs backstop was a stellar hitter. During his years in Chicago, no catcher had more WAR (52.7) or more Home Runs (231). As the first MLB receiver to hit over 20 long balls in a season, Hartnett had unprecedented power for a backstop.
Famously known as the “Homer in the Gloamin’,” Hartnett hit a walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth of the final game of 1938 to put the Cubs in first place. Two months prior, Hartnett was named as the Cubs player-manager, a role he would keep until his departure in 1940. The Hall of Famer was also the catcher during the famous Babe Ruth called-shot home run, though I’m sure he remembered the former more fondly.
Aside from his hitting, Hartnett was also known for his pristine throwing arm. Routinely leading the league in caught stealing percentage, the former MVP was truly a duel threat contributor. His career numbers of 56% of base stealers caught is second all time behind Roy Campanella. Players like Carlos Ruiz and his NL leading 41.7% caught stealing rate this season have nothing on the sustained success of Hartnett.
As the favorite catcher of fellow Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander, any pitcher would be lucky to have Hartnett as their battery mate. As a player capable of hitting for power, throwing out base stealers, and managing pitchers, Hartnett is the perfect catcher for any team to have.
1B- Cap Anson (1876-1897)
A 27-year veteran, Anson spent his best years, 22 of them in fact, for the Chicago Cubs. It is nearly impossible to compare the first baseman’s numbers to today’s game, or even that of Gabby Hartnett’s time. Still, it can be seen that Anson was a very special player and an easy choice for this all time roster.
During his time with the Cubs, Anson drove in an astounding 1,879 runs, by far the most during that span. The next closest was a whopping 557 runs behind. His 2,075 career RBI’s make him fourth all time, behind Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Alex Rodriguez. Not exactly scrubs in front of him. Anson’s RBI totals are all the more impressive when considering seasons were shorter during his time. With 10,281 career AB, Anson drove in a run every 4.95 AB. In comparison, all time leader Hank Aaron drove in a run every 5.38 AB. With a possible claim as the greatest RBI man in the history of baseball, Anson could not have been left off of the starting lineup.
Still the Cubs leader on the all time hit list, Anson was also possibly the first player to eclipse 3,000, though no one knows for sure. Never one to hit for much power, the righty only eclipsed 20 home runs once, and only got to double digits three times. Baseball was a much different game in that era, leaving Anson an impressive sixth in home runs during his Cubs years. He also had a season where he hit .399, leaving him one point away from the prestigious .400 season. As one of the first members of the MLB Hall of Fame, Anson’s accomplishments speak for themselves, as he still has a claim on being the greatest first baseman ever.
2B- Ryne Sandberg (1982-1997)
The third straight Hall of Famer to start the list, Sandberg was one of the first elite power hitting second basemen in baseball. His 282 home runs from 1982 to 1997 (his Cubs years) were tops in all of baseball for two-baggers by a 50 homer margin. Aside from hitting, Ryno was always recognized as an exceptional fielder, winning nine consecutive Gold Gloves from 1983-1991.
The former MVP did it all, leading the league in home runs once, runs three times, triples once, and total bases once as well. He also has five seasons of 30+ steals, including one with 54. During his years with the Chicago Cubs, Sandberg and Barry Bonds were the only players to have ranked in the top 20 of home runs and stolen bases.
As a young player, the former Phillies manager was known as a speedy, well fielding second basemen that was an average hitter at best. After all, his first two full seasons with a .675 OPS didn’t exactly scream future Hall of Famer.
Then, in 1984, “The Ryne Sandberg Game” happened. The Cubs were facing the powerhouse Cardinals in mid-June on a nationally televised game. St. Louis was up 9-8, and elite closer Bruce Sutter was in to pitch, which normally signified the end of the game. Instead, Sandberg clubbed a homer to left field to tie it. In the top of the tenth, the Cards scored two, seemingly ridding the Cubs hope for an upset. Sandberg stepped up to the plate with a man on against Sutter again. Surely the top closer in baseball would not give up another homer to a light hitting middle infielder. Wrong! Sandberg crushed another long ball, and the Cubs ended up winning in the 11th, kick-starting Sandberg’s run to the 1984 MVP.
With the current revolution of power hitting second basemen, Sandberg would fit right in. Sure, Brian Dozier has 42 home runs this year, eclipsing Sandberg’s career high of 40. Yet, Dozier does not have the AVG, OBP, stolen bases, or defensive metrics that Sandberg had that year and throughout his career. The Cubs second basemen was an all around great, and an easy choice for this all time team.
SS- Ernie Banks (1953-1971)
Another easy choice, and at this point I have to wonder: how the heck have the Chicago Cubs not won a World Series in so long? Banks was one of the premier power hitters during his era, and a good shortstop to boot. Known for saying “Let’s play two!”, the infielder had a passion for baseball that is still remembered in Chicago today. A lifelong Cub, Banks played 19 consecutive years, leading the majors in games played in six of them. Competing during the same time as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and other greats, Banks was often overshadowed. Combine that with the fact that the Cubs were frequently a bad team during his time and Banks becomes very overlooked.
Unlike Sandberg, Banks really did not do it all. Regarded as an average shortstop, he made the switch to first base half way through his career. Banks also did not steal bases, hit for a very high average, or walk much, but with over 500 home runs, it really should not matter. The two time MVP surpassed 40 home runs in four consecutive seasons, and five out of six, a feat only accomplished by a handful of ballplayers.
Though Banks made his debut at 22 years old, his career should have began earlier. Due to the color barrier, Banks was forced to begin his career in the Negro Leagues. He then served two years in the military, and then played in the Negro Leagues once more. If he could have had those two-three extra years in the big leagues, we could be talking about a 600 HR hitter and someone talked about right next to Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, instead of right below.
As a beloved man amongst Chicago baseball fans, Banks was the first Cub to have his number retired, and is rightfully nicknamed Mr. Cub. Unfortunately, Banks also holds the record for most games without a playoff appearance. Famously known for his passion for the game, Ernie Banks is an easy decision for the 25 man All Time Team. I am just hoping there are some double headers to appease Banks and his need to always play two.
3B- Ron Santo (1960-1973)
Another beloved man in the Chicago area, Santo was a terrific player in his heyday. Known more for his radio voice by some, including me, Santo, like Banks, had a passion for baseball that was incomparable. I still miss hearing him complain about a stupid base running error the Cubs make, while Pat Hughes unsuccessfully tries to calm him down.
As a nine time All Star, Santo’s playing career was somehow even better than his years as a broadcaster. The fifth consecutive Hall of Famer on the list, Santo was known as a terrific fielder with some great pop in his bat as well. From 1960-1973, only Brooks Robinson played more games than the durable Santo, and only eight players hit more than Santo’s 337 home runs. His five consecutive Gold Gloves were equally impressive, as he and Willie Mays are the only players during Santo’s era to hit for 300+ home runs and earn a Fangraphs positive Defensive rating.
Not only a great player, Santo was also a great man. Battling diabetes throughout his career, the third basemen was involved in many charitable efforts during his lifetime to help cure the illness. The Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes raised over $65 million from 1979-2014 before Santo passed away.
As an exceptional player and person, Santo is yet another easy choice for this Cubs all time team. Players like Aramis Ramirez and Stan Hack were good hitters in their time in Chicago, but no one had the combination of hitting and fielding that Santo possessed.
LF- Billy Williams (1959-1974)
A staple of consistency, Williams hit at least 20 home runs and drove in at least 84 runs for 13 consecutive seasons. Playing alongside Banks and Santo, Williams was just one of the Cubs many stars in the ‘60’s. Somehow only making six All-Star games, the outfielder played an incredible 1,614 (161.4 AVG) games from 1962 to 1971, a number that would make Cal Ripken proud. In his days as a regular, 1961-1974, Williams and Hank Aaron were the only players with top 10 HR numbers and an AVG in the top 20.
Williams joins Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, and Stan Musial as the only players in history with 400+ homers and a K% under 10%. This unique combination of power and contact skills is what eventually led Williams to the Hall of Fame.
Never mentioned as an elite fielder, Williams gets negative marks nearly anywhere you look. But, from personal accounts and stories found online it can be seen that Williams was regarded as an average-good fielder, who merely did not have the proper outfielder speed. The Cubs did decide to play him every single day so he could not have been too bad.
CF- Hack Wilson (1926-1931)
A sixth consecutive Hall of Famer, Wilson is the first player on the list who was not a Cubs lifer. Sure, players like Santo and Sandberg played with other teams, but not productively. Wilson on the other hand, had a couple good seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the end of his career. Nonetheless, the centerfielders best days were clearly in Chicago, playing in an era where Babe Ruth first made power sexy.
Though he only played six seasons in a Cubs uniform, Wilson’s slashline of .322/.412/.590 during that time warrants a spot in the lineup. Leading the NL in homers four times during that span, Wilson easily led the National League overall from ‘26-’31, and only trailed legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the MLB during that span. Wilson also led the NL in RBI’s twice, with one of them being his legendary 191 RBI season that is still the single season record today. While HR records fell consistently in the steroid era, WIlson’s incredible RBI record has stood through it all.
The only negative side of Wilson was his reported ego. During his greatly successful seasons with the Cubs, Wilson begin to drink heavily to celebrate his successes and became very overweight. The Cubs traded him after becoming tired of his work ethic and poor attitude. He then quickly dissolved in Brooklyn and retired at 35.
While no one knows for sure, it can be assumed that Wilson was not liked around the league by the media. He was once suspended for fighting with reported towards the end of his Cubs tenure. He also never even finished in the top four of MVP voting, a highly political award back then. For example, Ted Williams had up to 10 MVP-worthy seasons but only took home the award twice due to his poor relationship with voters in that time. It certainly did not help though that Williams best year was one of two in which their was no MVP.
RF- Sammy Sosa (1992-2004)
The first non Hall of Famer on the team, Sosa clearly has the resume of a Cooperstown player, but has not gotten in due to steroid allegations. In my own opinion, he should get in along with the other steroid era stars, but that is an argument for another day. Regardless, Sosa slugged his way to Chicago fans hearts in the ‘90s and early 2000’s. His patented hop after a long ball was mimicked by myself and others as we watched him hit home runs day after day.
Eighth all time in career home runs, Sosa was a prolific power hitter to say the least, but he was also much more. A late bloomer, Sosa had his first good season in his seventh year in the MLB at 26 years old. From there, he slashed an impressive .280/.354/.560 with 167 steals. A quick player when he debuted, Sosa rated positively by Fangraphs defensive values before seeing those numbers trend down along with his stolen base totals towards the second half of his career. Similar to Barry Bonds though, Sosa was a 30-30 threat when he first began hitting homers. From 1993-1998, Sosa slugged 236 long ones while stealing 150 bases. This was good enough to join Bonds as the only players top 20 in the majors in both categories during that time frame.
His 1998 season was arguably his greatest, as he won the MVP but lost the home run race to rival Mark McGwire. Sosa’s month of June during 1998 was truly one of a kind. Hitting 20 home runs and slugging .842, Sosa had a month that has not been seen since. Overall, his 416 total bases were the most since the great Stan Musial had 429 in 1948. Out of all of his terrific moments, my favorite Sosa highlight may have been one off the field. At his court case to see if he was guilty of steroids, Sosa claimed that he had only taken Flinstone Gummies and that he also does not speak English. A man capable of that performance is an easy addition to the lineup.
Backup Catcher- King Kelly (1880-1886)
I may be cheating a bit as Kelly was not a full time catcher, but with 583 career games at the spot, I believe Kelly can fit just fine as the backup to the durable Gabby Hartnett. Besides, Kelly’s versatility to play right field and third base would be a very attractive asset in today’s game.
Kelly was a terrific hitter in his day, slashing an inconsistent .316/.367/.453. In his seven years with Chicago, Kelly had seasons of .388/.483/.534 and .354/.414/.524, but also seasons of .255/.282/.388 and .291/.315/.401. If Kelly could have came anywhere close to the production of his best seasons throughout his Cubs tenure, we could be talking about one of the best hitters of the 1800’s.
Another Hall of Famer, Kelly is known as a baseball pioneer of sorts. Credited with being the first to backup first base as a catcher as well as coming up with the very popular hit and run, Kelly had a unique baseball mind. The utility man was also exceptionally quick, stealing 368 bases in his career. The catch is that steals were only tracked starting in 1886, meaning eight of Kelly’s seasons were not tracked. Assuming he was faster as a younger man, Kelly could have stolen hundreds of more bases without any of us knowing.
His power was not bad either, though the numbers do not stick out. From ‘80 to ‘86, Kelly hit 33 home runs, good for seventh in the majors during that time. He was also second in doubles behind teammate at the time and teammate on the All Time squad, Cap Anson.
After his Chicago Cubs career, Kelly went on to have very productive seasons with the Boston Beaneaters before fizzling out with three more teams to end his career. As a player with versatility, contact skills, and speed, Kelly is a very welcome addition to the team as the first bench piece. Even if he had none of these skills, the nickname “King” may have been enough to warrant consideration.
Pinch Hitter- Mark Grace (1988-2000)
One of the most underrated hitters of his generation, Grace was punished by the baseball community for not being a traditional power hitting first basemen. In an era where the Rafael Palmeiro’s and Jason Giambi’s ruled the world, Grace was quietly slapping hundreds of base hits for the Cubs. In the 1990’s no one in the majors had more hits than Grace. Not Tony Gwynn, not Craig Biggio, and not Palmeiro. Mark Grace led the 1990’s in base knocks.
Never a power hitter, Grace topped out at 17 home runs in 1998. Only a three time All Star, the first basemen did not get the attention he deserved due to his lack of homer’s. Grace was far from one dimensional though as he was also a terrific fielder. Winner of four Gold Gloves, the former Diamondbacks announcer was able to cover a lot of ground as a first basemen who was not beefed up on steroids.
In all 16 of his big league seasons, Grace had more walks than strikeouts. Currently in the MLB, only Ben Zobrist has accomplished that. Again, since that is not a sexy statistic, it barely got noticed. Among the players in the top five of least K% during Grace’s Cubs tenure (who qualified based on 3.1 PA per team game in that span), Grace was the only one who also had a BB% of at least 10%.
While few will get excited at the fact of having Grace on the bench for the All Time team, the goal of pinch hitting is to get hits and make contact and Grace does that better than nearly everyone.
Pinch Hitter- Derrek Lee (2004-2010)
From 2004-2009, Lee’s six full seasons in Chicago, only four players hit for a .300 AVG, had over 150 homers, and at least 50 steals. Those players included surefire Hall of Famers Albert Pujols and Vladimir Guerrero, along with Matt Holliday and Derrek Lee. Though the team was bad in 2005, Lee truly emerged as a premier hitter in his second season with the Cubs. Lee led the NL in AVG and SLG, while being fourth in OBP. His .378 AVG, 27 long balls, and 72 RBI in the first half alone warranted him some Triple Crown attention. His power numbers ended up tailing off a bit, but he still finished with a terrific 46 dingers.
Lee was far from one dimensional like so many of the power hitting first basemen he shared the league with. A winner of three Gold Gloves, the tall righty scored positive Defensive Runs Saved in each of his years in Chicago. From 2004-2010, only superstars Mark Teixeira and Albert Pujols had more DRS and a better UZR rating at first base.
Aside from beating the Cubs in the 2003 NLCS, Lee had some very memorable moments at Wrigley Field. He was part of a resurgent Cubs squad in 2007-2008 that reached the playoffs with great records, but were swept out both times in the opening round.
D-Lee may not be a future Hall of Famer, but he was a terrific all around player in his prime. Always a fan favorite with his fun wide open stance, Lee was also a model citizen and teammate during his time in Chicago. With a child battling a rare eye disease, Lee has started multiple foundations to encourage awareness and funds to help prevent future children from getting the disease, along with a foundation to support children to pursue further educations. As a great man and player, Lee is an easy add to the 25-man roster as the only hitter from the 2007-2008 teams to make the All-Time roster.
Backup Infielder- Stan Hack (1932-1947)
Joining Ernie Banks as the only players on the list thus far to never play for another team other than the Cubs, Hack was a four time All Star in his 16 seasons in Chicago. With only 57 home runs, Hack was not a huge power hitter during his time, which was an era where home runs significantly died down after the balls were made heavier.
Though lacking power, Hack was a terrific contact hitter and on base man, before that was a desired quality. The third basemen was also adept at stealing bases in an era where that was also rare, leading the league twice. Smiling Stan was considered the top third basemen of the National League in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s. Playing in multiple World Series’ as the leadoff man for the top team in the NL, Hack was one of the more popular players of his generation that does not get much attention nowadays due to his lack of power numbers.
Not quite a Hall of Famer, Hack trails just Wade Boggs, Chipper Jones, and Miguel Cabrera among third basemen in career OBP. As a competent fielder, Hack’s hitting prowess is more than enough to warrant a spot on this team. As a .348 career hitter in the World Series, Smiling Stan is a welcome bench addition on my self created team.
Fourth Outfielder- Bill Nicholson (1939-1948)
During his ten years with the Cubs, Nicholson slammed 205 home runs, good for fourth in the majors during that time. As a four time All Star, the outfielder was in his prime from 1940-1944. Leading the league in both long balls and runs batted in twice, both in the same season, Nicholson was within one category away from a Triple Crown twice, but never got close to all time great Stan Musial’s batting average.
In those five years, Nicholson led all of the major leagues with 134 homers. Like Hack, the right fielder wasn’t quite a Hall of Famer, but was as close as you can get. Nicholson’s prime was short lived as he battled with failing eyesight that severely damaged his hitting prowess. If he could have had todays advancements in glasses/contacts, who knows how many long balls Nicholson would have hit.
Nicholson’s best season in 1944 included an accomplishment that only five others in the history of baseball have achieved. In the year in which he led the league in homers, RBI, and total bases, Nicholson was intentionally walked with the bases loaded. Only five others, including Josh Hamilton and Barry Bonds, have ever done the same. A player feared enough to be walked with the bases loaded is a great addition as the fourth outfielder, and final bench bat on the team.
Ace- Mordecai Brown
The top pitcher in Cubs history, Hall of Famer Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown is an easy choice as the ace of the All Time staff. After losing parts of two fingers on his right hand when he was a kid, Brown was still able to pitch, with unique curveball options due to his hand.
Though he had 10 seasons with the Cubs, one of them was at the end of his career in 1916 where he was average in 16 games. From 1904-1912, Brown had his best years with Chicago. His 1.75 ERA during that time was third to the greatest pitcher of all time in Walter Johnson and fellow Hall of Famer Addie Joss. Three Finger was exceptionally good in his first seven years with the club, where his 1.56 ERA paced all of baseball. With an average of 275 innings during that time, Brown’s 169 ERA+ showed his terrific productivity.
Aside from being a terrific pitcher, Brown was also a winner. With two World Series championships to his name, Mordecai, or Mort, was a hero in Chicago during the 1900’s.
After 1912, Brown started having leg troubles and was forced to retire due to fear of his leg falling off. He attempted to continue his career after 1912 but never found the same success. Overall, Brown’s 2.06 ERA is the lowest in the history of baseball amongst pitchers with 200+ wins. His 1906 season where he finished with a 1.04 ERA is the fourth lowest single season ERA in the history of the MLB, and the best in the NL since 1900.
Second Starter- Fergie Jenkins
Another Hall of Fame pitcher who played the prime of his career with the Cubs only to come back at the tail end of his baseball life, Jenkins was a star pitcher during an era where hitters ruled the world. From 1967-1973, his seven full seasons as a starter with the Cubs, Jenkins totaled a 3.11 ERA, with a terrific 2.88 FIP and 1.088 WHIP. Only Tom Seaver had a better WHIP during the time, and no starter had a better K/BB ratio.
His 2,107 innings during those seven terrific seasons are enough for a full career for most great pitchers. Only fellow Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry had more innings in that stretch of time, and only Bob Gibson had a better WAR (47.7 to 47.1). With over 3,000 career strikeouts, Jenkins led the NL in K’s in 1969 with 273. From ‘69 to ‘71, Jenkins led the National League in K/BB ratio each season, with his numbers improving each year. The 1971 season earned him a Cy Young, and just one of his three All Star selections.
As a three year veteran of the Harlem Globetrotters, Jenkins was a premier athlete at the pitcher position. With 13 career home runs, Jenkins could hold his own with the bat too. As the number two starter, Jenkins represents a great pitcher to go after Mordecai Brown.
Third Starter- Greg Maddux
Though his best years were spent with the Atlanta Braves, Maddux had great seasons with the Cubs before his time in Atlanta. In 298 starts with the Cubs at the beginning and end of his career, Maddux had a 3.61 ERA and a whopping 2,016 innings. The finesse pitcher won an incredible four consecutive Cy Young awards, though the final three came with the Braves.
After he struggled in his first season and a half in the majors, Maddux really got going as a 22 year old with a 3.18 ERA in 1988. As an 18 time Gold Glove winner, no one in the history of baseball has more than the terrific fielding pitcher. His 13 consecutive Gold Gloves is also an MLB record. With 27+ starts from 1987 to 2008, Maddux was exceptionally durable. Only Roger Clemens had more WAR amongst pitchers during those 22 years. Along with Fergie Jenkins, Maddux is joined by Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez as the only pitchers in history with 3,000+ strikeouts and less than 1,000 walks.
As possibly the smartest pitcher to ever play the game, Maddux was known for outsmarting his opponents at bat after at bat. Easily inducted as a first ballot Hall of Famer, those around baseball were quick to throw praise on the all time great pitcher. Bobby Cox famously said “I get asked all the time was he the best pitcher I ever saw. Was he the smartest pitcher I ever saw? The most competitive I ever saw? The best teammate I ever saw? The answer is yes to all of those”, when asked about Maddux at his Hall of Fame banquet.
The words from all time great manager Bobby Cox highlights the epitome of what made Maddux so special. A competitive pitcher, who was capable of outsmarting the opposing batter, Maddux was a once in a lifetime talent. Adding in his 18 Gold Gloves and 272 career hits are merely a bonus to the great career of Maddux.
Fourth Starter- Carlos Zambrano
Big Z was a personal favorite of mine throughout the 2000’s. That is not the main reason for his inclusion on the list, as he was a terrific pitcher and hitter in his own right. A fiery player, Zambrano was involved in many clubhouse altercations and blow ups, only showing his passion for the game.
With a 3.44 ERA in his seven seasons as a full time starter with the Cubs, Zambrano’s 131 ERA+ shows how good of a pitcher he was during the steroid era, where home runs ruled the land. Along with C.C Sabathia, Roy Oswalt, and Matt Holliday, Zambrano is one of four pitchers to have been in the top 10 in innings pitched from 2003-2009, while being in the top 15 in ERA.
With the Cubs, Zambrano also had an incredible .646 OPS with 23 home runs. During his Chicago career, Big Z easily paced the majors in HR and hitting WAR amongst hitters. Having a capable slugger in the nine spot gave the Cubs an advantage in every game in which he pitched, possibly a reason for Zambrano’s pristine 125-81 record with Chicago.
As a rare elite pitcher in an era full of hitters, Zambrano was a key member to three playoff teams in Chicago. A sixth hitter off the bench, Zambrano is a great addition to the All Time roster.
Fifth Starter- Hippo Vaughn
Another pitcher who most likely just narrowly missed Hall of Fame honors, Vaughn was elite in eight of his nine seasons with the Cubs. Discounting his ugly final season in 1921, Hippo had a 2.14 ERA in 256 starts. His ERA was third to Pete Alexander and Walter Johnson over those eight seasons. Vaughn was easily the second best pitcher in the majors from 1918-1919. His 1.76 ERA and 597 innings were second to Walter Johnson, who may not have been human.
The Hippo’s career was unfortunately cut short due to a stabbing incident with his father in law. After debuting at the young age of 20, Vaughn stopped pitching at 33, a very young age for such a great pitcher to retire. After all, his historic 2018 season, in which he led the NL in innings, ERA, ERA+, WHIP, FIP, strikeouts, H/9, K/9, wins, games started, and shut outs, was only three years before his last.
At only 215 pounds, Vaughn got the nickname Hippo due to his large size compared to his fellow baseball players (I wonder what they would call me in that day). Regardless, Vaughn was a highly respected pitcher who was at the top of the league during his peak with the Cubs, which is more than enough to earn him a spot at the back end of the rotation for the All Time team.
Swingman- Lon Warneke
Pitching during the deadball era, Warneke stood out as a top pitcher while pitching for the Cubs in the early ‘30’s and then early ‘40’s. He spent five and a half years with the rival Cardinals in between Cubs stints, but was not as effective in St. Louis. Warneke’s 2.82 ERA in his prime from 1931-1936 was second in the MLB behind Carl Hubbell.
A five time All Star, Warneke was a big fan of the game of baseball, as he moved on to be an umpire after his playing career. To this day, he is still the only MLB player to play in the All Star game and then late umpire in it.
In his first full season pitching for the Cubs, a young 23 year old Warneke pitched to a 2.37 ERA and an absurd 160 ERA+. His 1933, a year after, was possibly even better as he improved his ERA to 2.00 and his ERA+ to an even more absurd 165. He also led the NL with 26 complete games.
At a still ripe age of 35, Warneke joined the World War Two efforts instead of continuing his career, proclaiming that he was ready “to toss hand grenades at Hitler and Hirohito.” A couple of more seasons could have added even more to Warneke’s already impressive resume, but he cared more about his country than personal accolades.
A man like that is an easy choice to add as the first man out of the bullpen to the All Time roster.
Long Relief- Clark Griffith
Only three pitchers threw more innings than Griffith during his prime with the Cubs from 1895-1900. Griffith also ranked within the top 15 in ERA during that time, with a solid 3.17.
Griffith was elected to the Hall of Fame due to his terrific pitching career, and his outstanding contributions to the game after player. As a player manager during his time pitching after his Cubs career, Griffith became a manager and owner after he was unable to play anymore. Some credit him with being the father of the American League, as he promoted growth within his team’s, prompting National League players to join him. Along with growing the American League, Griffith is known for starting the tradition of having presidents of the United States throw out the first pitch at MLB games. He was a political man, as he build relationships with presidents like Woodrow Wilson and FDR, and was able to petition Wilson to allow the continuation of baseball during the first World War.
His 1.88 ERA in 1898 included 36 complete games out of his 38 starts. That season’s 192 ERA+ was tops among the league, and sixth overall in the 1800’s. Griffith’s lack of consistency costs him a spot in the starting rotation, but his unbelievable upside, which he showed in 1898, earns him a spot in the bullpen.
Fireman- Orval Overall
With two wins in the 1908 World Series, Overall was a key component to the team that last brought a title to the Windy City. During his short lived Cubs career of six years, Overall pitched to a pristine 1.91 ERA with 95 complete games and 1,135 innings. His career ended up only lasting seven seasons, as he played a year and a half in Cincinnati before coming to the Cubs.
At 6’2, 214 pounds, Overall was nearly the same size as Hippo Vaughn, without the degrading nickname. Pitching in the dead ball era, Orval never led the league in ERA due to pitching next to Mordecai Brown, and in the same league as Walter Johnson. After pitching 1,467 innings in the majors before his 30th birthday, Overall’s arm gave out, and he had to retire at the young age of 29. He attempted to come back at 32 but was not very effective in limited work.
From 1907-1909, only four pitchers had a better ERA than Overall’s overall number of 1.65 (I know I’m not funny). All four of the players ahead of him were easy choices for the Hall of Fame, while Overall did not get in due to his short career. If someone could have told him to rest his arm some more, we could be talking about yet another Cubs Hall of Fame hurler.
Middle Relief- Pete Alexander
From 1918-1926, only Walter Johnson had a better ERA among pitchers with more than 130 games. Alexander’s 2.85 is all the more impressive when considering this was the era where Babe Ruth and others started hitting 40+ home runs. Though playing his first seven seasons in Philly, along with his last five in Philly and St. Louis, Alexander managed to squeeze in eight terrific seasons with the Cubs in between.
Truth be told, Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander saw his best three seasons in a Phillies uniform. From 1915-1917, Alexander led the NL in ERA, strikeouts, innings, shutouts, complete games,and wins three times, all while leading the NL in WHIP, FIP, ERA+, starts, and SO/W ratio twice during that span. Phillies owner reluctantly sold Alexander to the Cubs after these three unbelievable seasons, later admitting that he just really needed the money. A real shame for Philly, but a great acquisition for the Cubs.
Alexander started his Cubs career with three straight sub 2.00 ERA seasons to make it six in a row overall, though he dealt with injuries through most of his first year in Chicago in 1918. In 1920, he had his best year with the Cubs, pitching to a NL leading 1.91 ERA with an NL leading 173 strikeouts. Alexander’s combined 1.84 ERA in his first two full seasons with the Cubs topped all of baseball, even ahead of Walter Johnson.
The reason for Pete’s absence from the starting pitching rotation is due to his decline after his first three years in a Cubs uniform. Looking at careers overall, Alexander is easily one of the top five pitchers to don a home jersey at Wrigley Field, but he lacked the sustained success of some of the other former Cubs. Thus, he is put in the bullpen in a role I am sure he would thrive in.
Set-Up- Kerry Wood
Absolutely loaded with potential, it is a shame that Wood dealt with injuries throughout his pitching career. Some believe his 20 strikeout game against the Astros as a 20 year old rookie is still the greatest pitching performance of all time, as he gave up only one infield hit to go with his record tying 20 K’s. He finished the season easily taking home Rookie of the Year honors, and looked to be a future ace for years to come.
Instead, Wood ended up dealing with injuries that derailed his entire second season. Injuries continued, forcing Wood to make a move to the bullpen in 2005. There, he had a very solid seasons with one resulting in an All Star appearance. Still, once looking like a future Hall of Famer, Wood’s career has to be considered a disappointment even if he had up to eight or nine solid seasons.
He still warrants a spot on the 25 man roster due to the immense talent he showed, especially in his rookie season. With a league leading 12.6 K/9 in his rookie year, Wood was an elite strikeout pitcher, who looked like he could conceivably be the next Nolan Ryan. As a starting pitcher, Wood is second to only superstar Randy Johnson in career K/9.
Set-Up- Bruce Sutter
In his first five seasons in the MLB, Sutter lead the majors with 133 saves, accompanied by a stellar 2.39 ERA. Pitching a terrific 99 innings per season, Sutter had the top ERA in the majors for all pitchers who threw at least 200 innings during that time.
After seeing his once terrific strikeout totals drop to just 76 in 1980, the Cubs inexplicably traded him to St. Louis in a move that would haunt them for years. After making the All Star game in four straight seasons with the Cubs, Sutter ended up making two more to end up with six. The Hall of Famer was able to reel in a Cy Young in 1979 in his second till last year with the Cubs. That season was not quite as good as his 1977 year in which he threw 107 ⅓ innings with a 1.34 ERA and an astonishing 328 ERA+, but he still had a very productive 2.22 ERA with a league leading 37 saves.
Though his Cubs career was short lived, Sutter was easily the best relief pitcher during his time in Chicago. The Cubs decision to let him go to a division rival is still questioned today. For the purposes of this roster, Sutter’s years with the Cubs are easily good enough to be the first true relief pitcher on the roster.
Closer- Lee Smith
The all time saves leader before Trevor Hoffman broke his record, Smith had an outstanding 478 saves, with 180 coming with the Chicago Cubs. The closer after Bruce Sutter, Smith did not quite have the consistently terrific ERA as his predecessor, but had better save totals on a yearly basis.
From the time Smith took over the closer job (1982), to the time he left the Cubs (1987), Smith had the second most saves in baseball, only two behind Dan Quisenberry. His best season was in 1983, when he earned an All Star appearance, while leading the league with 29 saves that went along with a 1.65 ERA. Taking the job from Sutter, Smith narrowly edges out the Hall of Famer for the closer role on this team due to his longer success and his standing as the Cubs all time leader in saves.
Next: Cardinals Will Not Pick Up Holliday's Option
Smith went on to have many more successful seasons with a variety of different teams. He ended up making three consecutive All Star games as a Cardinal, and was arguably better in that role, as he once amassed a whole 47 saves in 1991. Unfortunately, he has not made the Hall of Fame, and most likely will not in the future, though his gaudy save totals can create a good case for Hall of Fame candidacy.