Originally founded in 1869, the Chicago Cubs became a charter member of the National League in 1876. Over the next 150 seasons, the Cubs have played more than 22,000 games, scored over 103,000 runs and recorded more than 200,000 hits, more than any other team in baseball history. Nearly 2,300 players have worn a Cubs uniform, earning eight division titles, 17 NL pennants, and three World Series championships.
Fans have witnessed generations of unforgettable players, from historical heroes like Joe Tinker, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Banks, and Billy Williams to more recent stars like Ryne Sandberg, Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood, and Anthony Rizzo. The team has called Wrigley Field home for 110 of those 150 seasons.
To celebrate this milestone, the Cubs are holding a fan vote to select the franchise’s anniversary team. Each week, we will go through the provided options for each position and declare who should, and, if different, who will, win the fan vote. We continue today with the eight selections for third baseman.
Kris Bryant was selected by the Cubs as the second-overall pick in the 2013 draft. An injury to Mike Olt early in the 2015 season got Bryant called up to the big leagues and he did not waste time making his presence felt. Hitting .275 with 26 HRs and 99 RBIs, Bryant won the Rookie of the Year award while leading the surprising Cubs to the NL Wild Card and an appearance in the NLCS. Things were even better the following year, as Bryant won the NL MVP and the Cubs ended their 108-year title drought by defeating Cleveland in the World Series. Unfortunately, neither Bryant nor the Cubs could replicate the highs of that year. He was traded to the Giants at the trade deadline in 2021, finishing his time on the north side as a four-time All-Star and winner of the 2016 NL Hank Aaron Award.
Stan Hack spent his entire 16-year career with the Cubs, becoming the full-time third baseman in 1934. He appeared in four World Series for the Cubs, losing efforts in 1932, 1935, 1938, and 1945. When he retired following the 1947 season, he ranked second in team history behind Cap Anson in games played, at bats, and hits. He twice led the National League in stolen bases and was a five-time All-Star selection. He is a member of the Cubs Hall of Fame.
Randy Jackson spent parts of seven seasons across his two stints with the Cubs. He debuted in 1950 and earned All-Star nods in 1954 and 1955. Traded to the Dodgers following that 1955 season, he returned in 1959 for a final season after a knee injury derailed the trajectory of his career.
Bill Madlock essentially replaced two of the Cubs biggest stars of the 1960s when he joined the team for his rookie season in 1974. Acquired for future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, Madlock took the spot of Hall of Famer Ron Santo at the hot corner. If he felt any pressure, he didn’t show it, hitting .313 with 9 home runs, good enough for a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. During his three-year tenure with the Cubs, he earned the first of his three total All-Star nods and won two batting titles. With the advent of free agency, Madlock asked the Cubs for a multi-year contract with a salary of $200,000, prompting team owner Phillip K. Wrigley to scoff, announcing that Madlock would be traded “to anyone foolish enough to want him.”
Aramis Ramirez was acquired by the Cubs from the Pirates midway through the 2003 season to bolster the team’s roster in hopes of making the postseason. His strong finish, hitting 15 home runs in 63 games, helped the Cubs capture their first division title since 1989. In nine seasons with the Cubs, he made two All-Star teams and won a Silver Slugger award and the 2008 Hank Aaron Award. Appearing in three postseasons with the team, he was inducted to the Cubs Hall of Fame in 2024.
Ron Santo spent the first fourteen of his fifteen big league seasons with the Cubs. He earned nine All-Star game appearances and five Gold Gloves, despite suffering from the effects of Type-1 diabetes. Following his playing career, he had a long broadcasting stint with the team. His #10 was retired in 2003 and he was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in 2012.
Ed Williamson spent eleven seasons playing for the soon-to-be Cubs organization in the 19th century. He led the National League in fielding percentage from 1880 to 1882 and in assists the latter two years. In 1884, he set the MLB record with 27 home runs, taking advantage of friendly dimensions and ground rules of Lakeshore Park. That record would stand until 1919, when it was broken by Babe Ruth. A torn kneecap, suffered during a world tour organized by Al Spaulding following the 1888 season, would shorten his career and cause him to leave the Cubs after 1889.
Heinie Zimmerman joined the Cubs just in time to be a member of the 1907 and 1908 World Champions. In 1912, he won the NL triple crown, leading the league in HRs, RBIs, and batting average. While he remained productive, he was never able to replicate the results of that season. He was traded to the Giants in 1916. His major league career ended abruptly in 1919 when he was accused of throwing games and kicked off the Giants.
Ron Santo is probably the sentimental favorite here, but a compelling case could be made for Aramis Ramirez. I’m guessing Santo will get the nod, given his enduring legacy helped in part by his years spent as a radio broadcaster.