Cub Favorites
Cub fan since about 1950, when my father turned the newspaper upside down so we'd appear higher in the standings.
Favorite Cub now: I rate by pseudo-decade--most refer to this year as the start of a new one, even though it really ends the one beginning with 2001. Don't have much of a handle on this new 10-yr. stretch, but Fontenot had the early lead, as I hoped he'd be the '08 version as opposed to '09. For the record:
'50's: Ernie Banks
'60's: Ron Santo
'70's: Bill Madlock
'80's: Ryne Sandberg
'90's: Mark Grace
'00's: Aramis Ramirez
Santo, I recently found, had 6 walk-off homers, 37 game-tying blasts, and 113 to put us ahead. He had far more homers with the game tied than any other scenario. I always felt he was Mr. Clutch until his last few years (too much pizza and insurance, perhaps).
All-time favorite: Ryne Sandberg
Favorite moment: Probably when Sutcliffe got the strikeout that put us into post-season play for the first time in 39 years.
Anecdote: Bobby Murcer had just been let go, and I was attending a double-header with Houston, I believe. Young Scot Thompson was playing Bobby's former spot and went 5 for 5. Some fans displayed a sign that read, "Bobby who?" Well, we all sat through a little rain between games; then in the second contest we were facing a lefty. Hence, Mike Vail played that same position, garnered 3 hits including the big 3-run homer, and, of course, there was a sign with the query, "Scot who?"
