All-Time Chicago Baseball Team
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by user Joebook
After years of arguments with friends, co-workers and family, I’ve decided to set the record straight. There have been many great players in Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox history… now they can play together on one 25-man team.
The only rule is that the player had to play at least 1/3 of his career with a Chicago team.
Without further delay – The All-Time Chicago Baseball Team.
Starters --
C – Carlton Fisk – Chicago White Sox – Fisk was the epitome of Chicago; an overachieving catcher who made a career as a grinder. He played in 24 different seasons, and was behind the plate for more than 2200 games. “Pudge” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000, and remains a popular figure in Chicago sports. His career numbers include 376 home runs and 11 All-Star appearances. Fisk was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
1B – Frank Thomas – Chicago White Sox – Thomas was the most dangerous hitter in the American League during the 1990s. He won the AL MVP award in 1993 and 1994, and is one of two players in MLB history to begin his career with eight consecutive seasons of 20+HR, and 100+ RBI, runs and walks. The “Big Hurt” is a shoo-in Hall-of-Fame player, and is the career leader in many offensive categories for the White Sox.
2B – Ryne Sandberg – Chicago Cubs – Sandberg was one of the great players in Chicago Cubs history. The 1984 NL MVP won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards, and was selected to ten All-Star games. Besides his phenomenal defense, he finished his career with 2386 hits, 282 home runs and 344 stolen bases. Ryno was a Chicago icon, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
SS – Ernie Banks – Chicago Cubs – Banks was the face of the Chicago Cubs during the 50s and 60s. His fun-loving attitude and incredible work ethic made him a hero in Chicago. “Mr. Cub” was a two-time NL MVP, and was selected to 11 All-Star games. He finished his career with 512 home runs, and was one of the finest shortstops to ever play the game. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
3B – Ron Santo – Chicago Cubs – Santo was one of the best third basemen in the history of baseball. Injuries and illness forced Santo to retire at the age of 34, but he had already amassed 342 home runs and more than 1300 RBI. Santo was selected to nine All-Star games and was a five-time Gold Glove winner. He has been denied a spot in Cooperstown, but deserves his place among the greats.
OF – Sammy Sosa – Chicago Cubs – One of the all-time great sluggers, Sosa rose to superstardom in 1998 while chasing the single season home run record with Mark McGwire. Although Sosa has had his reputation scarred recently by steroid accusations, he remains the Cubs career leader in many offensive categories, and he smashed 292 of his career 588 home runs between 1998-2002. Sosa was a beloved figure in Chicago during his prime, and will likely find a spot in the Baseball Hall-of-Fame.
OF – Billy Williams – Chicago Cubs – Williams was the model of consistency on the North Side throughout the 60s and early 70s. The “Sweet Swinger” had 11 consecutive seasons of 175+ hits, and 13 straight campaigns with 20+ HR and 84+ RBI. The 1961 NL ROY is in the top-50 in career games, at bats, total bases, home runs, and runs batted in. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.
OF – Harold Baines – Chicago White Sox – Baines was never a superstar player, just a great one for 22 years. His career numbers include 2866 hits, and he’s in the top-50 in career games, at bats, hits, total bases, home runs, and runs batted in. He’s a career .324 postseason hitter, and is among the White Sox players with a retired number. Baines was known as the "Quiet Assassin" for his mild demeanor and devastating hitting.
Pitchers --
SP – Billy Pierce – Chicago White Sox – Pierce was a mainstay as the White Sox best pitcher for 13 seasons. He won 15+ games seven times, and logged more than 170 innings in every season he pitched for the Sox. Pierce is the White Sox career leader with 1796 strikeouts, and his career number of wins, innings and strikeouts are among the top-100 all-time. Pierce was selected to play in seven All-Star games.
SP – Red Faber – Chicago White Sox – Faber was a star between 1914-33 for the White Sox. Among his accomplishments are career totals of 254 wins and an ERA of 3.15. Faber won three games in the 1917 World Series, and pitched more games for the White Sox than anyone in history. Faber was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.
SP – Ed Walsh – Chicago White Sox – Walsh had an abbreviated career, pitching only 430 games, but he was among the greats for that period of time. Walsh’s career ERA of 1.82 is the best in baseball history, and he won 40 games in 1908. He was 2-0 with an ERA of 0.60 in his only World Series appearance, a victory over the Cubs in 1906. Walsh was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.
SP – Ted Lyons – Chicago White Sox – Lyons is widely considered the best pitcher in White Sox history. His totals of 260 wins and 4161 innings top the Sox career list, and he led the American League with a 2.10 ERA in 1942, his 20th season with the Sox. Lyons won 10+ games 17 times, and his 356 complete games is 24th in history. “Sunday Teddie” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
SP – Fergie Jenkins – Chicago Cubs – Jenkins was a superstar with the Cubs during the late 60s and early 70s. He won 20+ games for six consecutive years, and is the Cubs career leader in many pitching categories, including games started and strikeouts. Jenkins finished his career with 284 wins, and is currently 11th on the all-time strikeout list. The 1971 Cy Young Award winner was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
SP – Rick Sutcliffe – Chicago Cubs – Sutcliffe was the hero of the 1984 season for the Cubs. After a midseason trade, Sutcliffe went 16-1 for the Cubs and led them to the playoffs. He won the Cy Young Award that season, and finished his career with 171 wins. Sutcliffe was one of the most popular players in baseball, and was selected to three All-Star games.
SP – Greg Maddux – Chicago Cubs – Maddux is thought of as one of the greatest right-handed pitchers in history. His 333 wins currently ranks 10th all-time, and he’s one of four players to win the Cy Young Award four or more times. Maddux is an eight-time All-Star, and is among the top-20 in history in many pitching categories, including games started and strikeouts. He won his 16th Gold Glove Award in 2006, tied for the most all-time. Maddux had 15+ wins for a record 17 consecutive seasons. He’s a definite first-ballot Hall of Famer.
SP – Mordecai Brown – Chicago Cubs – “Three Finger” Brown was the Cubs ace pitcher from 1904-11, during which he amassed 181 wins and an ERA under 2.00. He won 20+ games for six consecutive seasons, and his career ERA of 2.06 is sixth-best in baseball history. He is among the Cubs all-time leaders in many pitching categories, and is one of the franchise’s most famous players. Brown was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.
SP/RP – Wilbur Wood – Chicago White Sox – Wood was great as a starter and finisher during his career with the Sox. Between 1968-70, he ended 158 games, including amassing 52 saves and gaining 32 wins. He then became a superstar starter, racking up 106 wins between 1971-75. He ranks in the top-5 in White Sox history in many major pitching categories, including games, wins and strikeouts.
RP – Lee Smith – Chicago Cubs – Smith was one of the great closers in history, currently ranking second all-time in saves. He averaged better than 30 saves per season as the Cubs closer, and was selected to seven All-Star games. Smith finished in the top-3 in the league in saves nine times, and is eighth in history in games pitched. He should be a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
RP – Bruce Sutter – Chicago Cubs – Sutter was the lights out closer for the Cubs between 1976-80. He is second in Cubs history with 133 saves, and he was selected to six All-Star games. The 1979 Cy Young Award winner led the league in saves five times, and saved two games in the 1982 World Series. Sutter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Reserves –
C – Gabby Hartnett – Chicago Cubs – Hartnett was the Cubs rock behind the plate from 1921-40. He teamed with Hack Wilson and Kiki Cuyler in 1930 to form one of the greatest offensive trios in baseball history. He was the National League’s All-Star catcher for seven consecutive seasons once the team was introduced. The 1935 NL MVP played in four World Series with the Cubs, registering 13 hits. Hartnett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
IF – Luke Appling – Chicago White Sox – Appling was the first in a long line of great shortstops for the Sox. He played 20 seasons for the team, and is the Sox career leader in games, at bats and hits. He finished with a .310 career batting average, and was selected to seven All-Star games. Appling was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.
IF – Nellie Fox – Chicago White Sox – Fox was one of the greatest pure second basemen in history. A 12-time All-Star, Fox led the American League in hits four times. The 1959 AL MVP was among the hardest players in baseball history to strike out. He never went down on strikes more than 18 times in a full season. He is among the top-5 in Sox history in many major offensive categories. Fox was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
IF – Cap Anson – Chicago Cubs – Anson was one of the true superstars of the game during the late 1800s. He finished with a career batting average of .333, and played in the major leagues for 27 seasons, 22 with the Cubs. He is the Cubs all-time leader in runs, hits and runs batted in. His career totals of 1996 runs, 3418 hits and 2076 runs batted in all rank in the top-10 in baseball history. He was also the player-manager of the Cubs for 19 years, and is the Cubs winningest manager with 1283 victories. Anson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.
OF – Joe Jackson – Chicago White Sox – Shoeless Joe only played 662 games for the White Sox, but he was one of the greats of his generation. His career batting average of .356 is third in history, and during his final season in 1920, he hit .382 with 121 runs batted in. He’s most famous for his role in the Black Sox scandal, but he was a career .345 postseason hitter.
OF – Hack Wilson – Chicago Cubs – Wilson’s career was too short, but he made and indelible mark on baseball with his 1930 season, which was among the best in baseball history. His 191 runs batted in that year remains a record, and he hit 56 home runs, to go along with 146 runs and a .356 batting average. Wilson led the league in runs during four of his five seasons with the Cubs, and is considered one of the great sluggers of his generation. Wilson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Manager – Al Lopez – Chicago White Sox – Lopez had a winning record in every full season he managed, including nine with the White Sox and six with the Cleveland Indians. His winning percentage of .584 ranks 8th in history. Lopez led the Indians to the World Series in 1953 and the White Sox in 1959. Lopez was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Notes --
There simply wasn’t enough room to add notably omitted players such as Luis Aparicio, Mark Grace or Jimmy Ryan. Others, like Andre Dawson and Tony LaRussa, didn’t qualify.
Feel free to comment on the team, or chastise the omissions.
