JOBC Cubs Almanac--January 3

Today's Featured Cub: Ed Sauer

On this day in 1919, future Cub Ed Sauer was born. Sauer was a member of the last Cubs pennant winning team (1945). After two years as a seldom used reserve, Sauer was in the 1945 Opening day lineup because of the holdout of Peanuts Lowrey and the injury to Frank Secory, and remained on the roster all season. He even get two at-bats in the World Series. Unfortunately, he struck out both times.

When all of the World War II veterans came back to baseball the following season, Sauer went back to the minors. Ed got his last shot at the big leagues with the Cardinals and Braves in 1949, and by then, his big brother Hank had taken his slot in the Cubs outfield.

Hank Sauer won the MVP as a Cubs outfielder in 1952.


Today's Featured Baseball Card: Adrian Garrett

(Topps 1974 Baseball Card)

Garrett got a chance to play for the Cubs in parts of three different seasons, 1973, 1974, and 1975. He played a little catcher and outfield, but was primarily used as a pinch hitter because he had a lot of power. (He hit 280 homers in the minors and 102 in Japan). On the back of this baseball card you'd see his 1973 stats: 54 at bats, 12 hits, 0 doubles, 0 triples, 3 Homers, 8 RBI, and a .222 average.

His little brother Wayne was a member of the 1969 Miracle Mets.



Nickname of the Day: Chico

Future Cub catcher Salvador Hernandez was born on this day in 1916. His teammates called him "Chico" and in 1942 he and Cubs pitcher Hi Bithorn formed the very first all-Latin battery in big league history. Chico was from Cuba. Bithorn was from Puerto Rico.



Cup of Coffee

Future Cub Pete Turgeon was born on this day in 1897. He played for the Cubs at the very end of the 1923 season and managed to get into three games and get six at bats. Four of those at bats came in the final game of the season when he started at shortstop for the Cubs. He got a single and scored a run in 6-3 loss to the Cardinals. He was back in the minors the following year and never made it back up for another taste of the show.

Pete Turgeon died in Texas in 1977.


Other Cubs Birthdays

~John Fluhre 1894
He played briefly for the Cubs in the 1915 season, including one game under the pseudonym William G. Morris.

~John Andre 1923
He was a Filipino-American who pitched for the Cubs at the age of 32 during the 1955 season, his only season in the big leagues.

~George Piktuzis 1932
He was a local Chicago boy from Morgan Park High School, but served in the military at the height of his baseball career, and only pitched in two games for the Cubs in 1956.

~Archie Reynolds 1946
Pitched in parts of three seasons for the Cubs, 1968-69-70, but didn't get significant time in any of those seasons. Later pitched for Angels and Brewers.

~Michael Restovich 1979
He played six big league seasons (2002-2007), but only one year with the Cubs (2006) and only got 12 at bats.