The Chicago Cubs All-Time rookie team

Chicago Cubs fans celebrate after Chicago Cubs – Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs have one of the longest, most storied histories in all of baseball. They have had their fair share of great rookie performances.

While the Chicago Cubs haven’t had the best prospects in the recent past – they have had rookies that made an immediate impact when called up.

So here is my take on the best rookie seasons for each position.  Some will stand out more so than other’s – some of the choices you may disagree with.

In the comments section, please list who you agree with and who you do not.  List your team and see how it compares to the team I’m about to list – especially some of the older fans we have here.

While my list will be more modern – I do try to show the respect that is due to the older generation of players as well.

Next: Starting at catcher

Former CChicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace – Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

First Baseman: Markl Grace (1988)

Mark Grace was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985.  He would spend much of the next three seasons in the minor leagues honing his craft and getting ready for his call-up to the big leagues. Leon Durham was the Opening Day starter for the Cubs in 1988, but he would struggle right out of the gate.

Considering how well Grace was playing – it wasn’t long before the Cubs’ management had no choice but to make a move.  He would become the full-time starter at first within the first month of the season.  Durham would eventually be traded to the Reds.

Grace would have a great rookie season with the Cubs, showing great plate discipline and finding ways to get on base.  His glove wasn’t quite what he wanted it to be – committing an NL leading 17 errors.

That that wouldn’t stop him from working on his craft and would win four Gold Gloves before his career as over. He would finish the season with an impressive stat line of a .296 average, seven homers, 57 runs batted in, and 23 doubles.

He would finish second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting – losing out to All-Star third baseman Chris Sabo of the Cincinnati Reds.  It would be the first of 13 fantastic years as the first baseman for the Chicago Cubs.

Next: Second to none

Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame infielder Ryne Sandberg – Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Second Base: Ryne Sandberg (1983)

Without question the greatest second baseman in Chicago Cubs history, and in my opinion to ever play second in Major League Baseball.

The reason I became a Cubs fan was Ryne Sandberg.  “Ryno” was initially a “throw-in” of sorts in the Larry Bowa for Ivan de Jesus trade with the Philadelphia Phillies- except he’d turn out to be the crown jewel of the trade.

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Originally management had him penciled in to be the third baseman.  Good thing it was written in pencil -as it would soon be erased.

The Cubs made a trade to acquire third baseman Ron Cey from the Dodgers.  Cey was a good power bat and a former six-time All-Star.  With that trade, Sandberg was moved over to second base.

Going into the 1983 season, he was considered one of the better prospects in the organization – as there was a buzz around him.

It was thought that Sandberg would be a good contact hitter, but maybe not for power.  He would post a solid rookie season with the Cubs – with a .271 average, seven home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 32 steals.

That was good enough to earn him sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year vote – which was won by Dodgers second baseman Steve Sax.

While some would say that Sandberg was and is the best second baseman in Cubs history – I’m sure there will be some who say that Ken Hubbs may have been a better choice for this spot.

Quick history lesson for those who don’t know about Ken Hubbs.  Ken Hubbs won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1962 – he would also win the Gold Glove award for second base in the National League.

According to what I’ve read about him on Wikipedia via source  Peter Golenbock. Wrigleyville, A Magical History Tour of the Chicago Cubs. St. Martin’s Press. p. 382 “he was considered to be one of the best defensive second basemen in the game.”  

Unfortunately, Hubbs was killed in a plane crash before the 1964 season.  While I do not know much about him – I plan on doing more research to learn more about him.  From what I’ve read – he sounded like a class act and one very good athlete.

Next: Mr. Cub

Chicago Cubs Ernie Banks (14)- (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X14118 TK2)

Shortstop: Ernie Banks (1954)

Well, this wasn’t a mystery.  Who else other than “Mr. Cub” would be at this spot?

Banks loved baseball – loved to play the game and was great at it too.  Defensively he was very good, but he did struggle some at first.  His rookie year he’d commit 34 errors in 821 chances while turning 105 double plays.

The 34 errors would be his career high, but considering he was still just 23 years old and learning the Major League game – I find that to be a solid glove.

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As we all know – it wasn’t his glove that put him in the Hall of Fame.  Banks put on a show at the plate – putting up a stat line of .275 batting average, 19 home runs, and 79 runs batted in.

While that stat line was great – it would land him second place in the NL Rookie of the Year race – losing out to the Cardinals outfielder Wally Moon.

His rookie season was the first of 19 legendary seasons with the Chicago Cubs – as he went on to hit over 500 home runs and win the hearts of millions of fans all throughout baseball.

No matter what list you make about All-Time Great Cubs – you’ll always find #14 Mr. Cub Ernie Banks on that list.

Next: The hot corner

Chicago Cubs fans catch the ball – Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Third Base: Bill Madlock (1974)

This may not be a popular choice for everyone considering who was probably expected.  Bill Madlock was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with Vic Harris from the Texas Rangers for Cubs All-Star pitcher Ferguson Jenkins in 1973.

“Mad Dog” as he was often called for his temper on the field – was an excellent hitter.  The Cubs brought him in as the replacement for long-time third baseman Ron Santo.

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Replacing someone as popular as Santo was with the Cubs and their fans is never an easy task – but Madlock did earn his spot as a worthy successor.

In his rookie season, he would show how good he was as a hitter and what could be expected in the future.

Finishing his rookie campaign with .313 batting average and adding nine home runs, and 54 runs batted in.

The numbers he would put up at the plate were good enough to earn him third place in the NL Rookie of the Year voting – finishing behind second place Greg Gross of Houston and the winner Bake McBride of St. Louis.

So you may be asking, why not Santo? Comparing the numbers, Madlock had the better overall season.  Offensively Madlock had better numbers all around – though he had more games and at-bats than Santo.

While Santo was a much better third baseman over his career – Madlock had similar numbers to Santo defensively in their respective rookie seasons.

Comparing their numbers via baseball-references – it was only fair to give the nod to Madlock.  No one will replace Ron Santo‘s value or popularity with the Cubs – but from what I gathered from research, Madlock had the better rookie season.

Next: Left field

Former Chicago Cubs star Billy Williams – Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Left Field: Billy Williams (1961)

Billy Williams was a great all-around player and a great person.  The phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” said by President Theodore Roosevelt – fits Williams perfectly.

Not one to talk up a storm and let his emotions be on display – he let his play do all the talking.  He was signed by the Cubs in the late 1950’s as an armature free agent.  He started out in the minors, but he wouldn’t be there long.

Rogers Hornsby – who at the time was a scout and coach with the Cubs – would say this about Williams, “I suggest you get this kid Williams to Chicago as rapidly as possible because there isn’t anybody on the Cubs right now who can swing a bat as well as he does. It’s silly to keep him in the minors any longer. ” (credit baseballhall.org)

Getting a small taste of the big leagues in 1959 and 1960 – Williams would be ready for a full-time run in 1961 for his full rookie season.

At the plate – there wasn’t much stopping him – posting a line of .278 batting average, 25 home runs, and 86 runs batted in.

He did struggle early with his glove playing the outfield but continued to work hard on that part of his game.

The numbers that he put up at the plate were impressive enough to win the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1961 – beating out Joe Torre and fellow Cub, Jack Curtis.

Williams played the game hard, and he played it well.  His rookie season was the start of a great career.

“People say I’m not an exciting player. I go out there and catch the ball and hit the ball and play the game like it should be played.” Billy Williams via Billy Williams:  My Sweet-Swinging Lifetime with the Cubs co-author Fred Mitchell

Next: Center of attention

Chicago Cubs fans reach for a home run – Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Center Field: Jerome Walton (1989)

Jerome Walton was drafted by the Cubs in 1986 in the second round of the MLB draft.  In the Minor Leagues, he would have a few very successful seasons.

Displaying a good eye for the ball at the plate and the ability to get on base – that made Walton a big prospect in the Cubs farm system.

The other tool that Walton would display that made him stand out was his speed.  In his 310 games before the 1989 season – Walton would swipe 112 bags.

With a .409 on-base percentage in those 310 games – being able to get on base and move into scoring position got the attention of the Cubs’ management.

Called up in April of 1989 – Walton would hit the ground running at first.  In his first nine games – the rookie would show his ability to get on base– batting .307 with two home runs and two stolen bases.  He would then hit a slump that would last until the beginning of June.

In his resurgence after his near two-month slump – Walton would head into uncharted territory for most hitters.

He would compile a 30-game hitting streak that he started on July 21, and would end on August 21.  During the streak – he would hit .329 with two home runs, 20 runs batted in, 46 hits and 20 runs scored.

His final line on his season–.293 with five home runs, 46 runs batted in and 24 stolen bases.  He would win the NL Rookie of the Year with an overwhelming 97% votes in his favor over his teammate and fellow outfielder Dwight Smith.

The Rookie of the Year winner would also go into the postseason with the Cubs and bat .364 in the NLCS versus the San Francisco Giants.  His rookie year was by far his best – only playing three more years with the Cubs.

Next: Right field

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Tyler Colvin (26) – Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Right Field: Tyler Colvin (2010)

Okay, I’ll admit – this was the toughest one to pick.  Not because there were so many options – it was just the opposite. Now I did say that this list may favor more recent generation players and that I was going to do my best to pay respect to the older players.  This one came down to three players:  Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome, and Dwight Smith.

I excluded Smith first because of his lack of time he played in right field compared to left field – as it was overwhelmingly in favor of left field.  While Fukudome was primarily a right fielder and played more there than Colvin – but I liked Colvin’s number’s slightly better.

Colvin was a first-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2006 – the 13th pick overall.  In the minors, he displayed a mix of good power and decent speed.  With the ability to play both corner outfield spots and first base – this made him very valuable to the Cubs.

Making his MLB debut in 2009, he only played in six games and made 20 plate appearances.  Getting his first look at big league pitching and what to expect got him ready for next spring where he would impress Lou Piniella enough to make the Opening Day roster.

The 2010 season for Colvin would start out as a spot-player, filling in where needed and pinch-hitting.  He would play well when inserted into the starting lineup but with inconsistent play, but it would be hard to get any rhythm going at the plate.

By the time June rolled around, he would find himself more consistently in the starting lineup.

While the season was tough on the Cubs as a whole finishing the year 75-87, Colvin would have a solid season.  By mid-September, Colvin would post a stat line of a .254 batting average, with 20 home runs, 56 runs batted in and five triples.

Unfortunately, for him, his season was cut short by a freak accident while running home off a double hit. Heading down the line a shard from a broken bat would pierce Colvin’s chest – puncturing his lung.  He would remain out for the rest of the season.

Next: Starting at Pitcher

Chicago Cubs former player Kerry Wood – Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Pitcher: Kerry Wood (1998)

Kerry Wood was an instant star with the Cubs and the city of Chicago.  Being drafted by the Cubs fourth overall in the 1995 draft – Wood would have success and show the Cubs what to expect from him – a lot of strikeouts.

Being ranked highly in his three years while in the Cubs’ Minor League affiliates – he wasn’t expected to be in the Minors for very long.

He would make his debut in 1998 for the Cubs on April 12 versus the Expos.  While it was a rough outing – going four and two-thirds of the game – giving up four earned runs on four hits and three walks – he would strike out seven.

He would win his next and split his next two – going into May two and two.  May would bring history to Wrigley Field via Wood and his powerful arm.

May 6, 1998 – the day “Kid K” would be born.  On this day versus the Houston Astros – Kerry Wood would make MLB history – striking out 20 batters – tying Roger Clemens 9-inning strikeout record and surpassing Bill Gullickson’s single-game record for a rookie at 18 punch-outs in a game.

He hit one batter in the game and gave up a hit – the hit would come into question by some.  Because the ball hit Kevin Orie‘s glove – it made some question if it should have been scored an error.  It wasn’t.

The Cubs new rookie ace would go on to his next start and strikeout 13 Diamondbacks.

Wood finished the year with a 13-6 record with a 3.40 ERA and finished third in the NL in strikeouts with 233.  Despite missing the last month of the season due to elbow tiredness/discomfort – he’d win the National League Rookie of the Year – narrowly beating out Colorado’s Todd Helton.

“Kid K” would struggle with injuries throughout his career – but would go on to have a very good career and become one of the Cubs’ favorite players.  Just imagine how great he could have been if not for those arm troubles.

Next: Closing out the game and list

Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter – Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Closer: Bruce Sutter (1976)

Bruce Sutter was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an undrafted free-agent in 1971.  He did not have the success at first that he’d had hoped for early on, and was almost released by the Cubs.

He had nerve problems in his arm that would cut down the effectiveness of most of his pitches.  If not for then pitching coach Fred Martin – the Cubs and Sutter may not have had the success they did together.

Martin would teach the young pitcher a modified split-fingered fastball which would turn to the infamous fork ball. With the fork ball – Sutter would find his pitch that would lead to his start of his successful career.

He would find a good deal of success in the Minors, but it wouldn’t show in the win and loss record.

In 1976 he would get his chance to show the Cubs what he had to give them.  While he wasn’t the only reliever getting chances to close games  – he made the most of his opportunities.

Finishing the season 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA – Sutter would record 10 of his 12 save opportunities – while striking out 73 batters.

Sutter would have a Hall of Fame career with the Cubs, Cardinals, and Braves.  While his rookie season save total wasn’t anything that would catch the attention of people today – in his time it was a different game.

The Cubs would go from Sutter to Lee Smith – not a bad turn-around.