Building a Chicago Cubs All-Star super team for the record books

Over the years, the Chicago Cubs have sent countless players to the Midsummer Classic. Here’s my take at assembling an all-Cubs All-Star team.

Throughout their nearly century-and-a-half history, the Chicago Cubs have boasted Most Valuable Players, Hall of Famers, Cy Young recipients, World Series champions and innumerable All-Stars. Well, that’s not quite true.

Chicago has sent a cumulative 197 players to the All-Star Game over the years. From old-time names like Gabby Hartnet to Mr. Cub himself Ernie Banks, this list is chock-full of talent from generations past and the stars of today. For our purposes, this will range from 1933 to today.

With any list like this, there have to be rules. I’ve kept it relatively straightforward.

1. The player must have earned at least one All-Star selection.
2. It does not matter what year they were an All-Star; nor does it matter if they physically appeared in the game.

I’m sure the wheels are turning for you. Without further ado, let’s dive into this all-Cubs All-Star team.

Chicago Cubs: Power behind the plate

Starter: Gabby Hartnett

To get started, we look at the six-time All-Star catcher Hartnett who spent 19 years with the Cubs. An All-Star annually from 1933-38, the slugging backstop blasted 22 home runs during his 1934 campaign.

He would later go on to win the MVP award in the same year. During his career, he hit slightly below .300 with a .297 average and drove in 1,153 in 1,926 games played. Hartnett was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.

Backup: Geovany Soto

Soto had a great career with the Cubs. He spent a total of eight years playing in the Windy City. The former National League Rookie of the Year (2008) was also named to the Midsummer Classic in the same year. It’s not hard to understand why. Soto blasted 23 long balls and drove in 86 in the process. He even got some (distant) love in the MVP voting, finishing 13th.

Honorable Mention: Wilson Contreras, Joe Girardi

Chicago Cubs: Consistency  rules the roost at first base

Starter: Mark Grace

The 6’2″ first baseman out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina joined the Cubs in 1988. In his first season with the Cubs, Grace finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Throughout his 13 years as a Cub, He was named an All-Star three times (93/95/97). He finished his career with the Cubs hitting a career average of .308 and earned four Gold Glove awards for his work with the leather.

Backup: Phil Cavarretta

Cavarretta is a little smaller than Grace. This 5’11” first baseman was not only a four-time All-Star but won the MVP honors in 1945. The Chicago native spent 20 years with the Cubs, appearing in 1,953 games. He was eight shy of 100 career home runs as a Cub. In the same year, he won the MVP award, Cavarretta won the National League batting title and helped put the Cubs on the cusp of winning a title.

Honorable Mention: Anthony Rizzo, Bill Buckner, Derrek Lee

Chicago Cubs: The Hall of Fame middle infield

Second Base

Starter: Ryne Sandberg

What can we say about Sandberg? He did it all, from his power at the bat to his undeniable fielding skills, Sandberg amazed you in just about every game he played. During his career, he could circle the All-Star Game on his calendar, as he appeared in 10 of them – from 1985 to 1993.

The 1984 MVP quite simply did it all during his run on the North Side.

The nine-time Gold Glove winner only committed 120 errors throughout his playing career in three different spots in the infield. Sandberg also was a seven-time Silver Slugger award recipient, and he backed it up with a 40-home run performance in 1990. He smashed 282 long-balls during his Windy City adventure with the Cubs.

Backup: Billy Herman

Herman is another Hall of Famer on this team, a 10-time All-Star with three different teams (Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Braves). Eight of those appearances came with the Cubs. As a member of the Cubs, Herman tallied 1,710 hits and a .309 average. Cooperstown welcomed Herman with open arms in 1975.

Honorable Mention: Javier Baez, Gene Baker

Shortstop

Starter: Ernie Banks

Undoubtedly the most famous player in team history, Mr. Cub himself was a 14-time All-Star during his 19-year run with Chicago. Banks won a pair of MVP awards – coming in back-to-back years in 1958 and 1959.

During his career, Banks played in 2,528 games, racking up 2,583 hits – including 512 home runs, which ranks 23rd all-time. The 1960 Gold Glove winner tallied 488 assists while only committing 18 errors that year. Throughout his career Banks only committed 261 errors, playing five different positions during his career. Banks was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Backup: Don Kessinger

This six-time All-Star was born in Forest City, Arkansas. He joined the Cubs in 1964 and played 12 years with them. Kessinger was a two-time Gold Glove winner in 1969 and 1970. He carried a .255 average in his Cubs career across 1,648 contests.

Honorable Mention: Shawon Dunston, Woody English

Chicago Cubs: Santo controls the hot corner

Starter: Ron Santo

Next to Banks and Sandberg, the next famous Cub in history has to be Santo.  A 14-year member of the Cubs, he earned All-Star status nine times in his career.  He also took home five Gold Gloves as well.

Santo averaged 24 home runs during his 14 years, between 1964-67 he kicked it up a notch, averaging 30 long balls annually. The beloved third baseman won the 1973 Lou Gehring Memorial Award and earned induction into the Hall of Fame posthumously in 2012.

Backup: Aramis Ramirez

Ramirez spent nine years on the North Side. He was a two-time All-Star with the Cubs (05/08). As a Cub, Ramirez slammed 239 home runs across 4,705 plate appearances. Ramirez also won some hardware during his time with the team; he was 2008 recipient of the National League Hank Aaron Award and won a Silver Slugger in 2011.

Honorable Mention: Kris Bryant, Vance Law, Bill Madlock

Chicago Cubs: Starting things off in left field

Left Field

Starter: Billy Williams

Williams played 16 out of his 18 years professionally in a Cubs uniform. In those 16 years, Williams was named an All-Star six different times. His list of achievements is fantastically amazing as he was named the 1961 National League Rookie of the Year, 1972 Major League Player of the Year and won the 1972 NL batting title.

Statistically, Williams has hit 392 home runs in the 2,213 games he appeared for as a Cub. In 8,479 at-bats, Williams tore the cover off the ball, totaling 2,510 hits, 402 of them were doubles. Williams was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987.

Backup: Alfonso Soriano

Soriano spent seven years in Chicago after joining the club via free agency in 2006. During the 889 games spent with the Cubs, Soriano stole 70 bases, along with his speed on the base path he also had some power at the plate as he hit 181 home runs in a Cubs uniform. As a two time All-Star with Chicago, Soriano won a Silver Slugger award in 2006.

Honorable Mention: Moises Alou, Ralph Kiner

Chicago Cubs: The Hawk and Slammin’ Sammy steal the show

Starter: Andre Dawson

The Hawk joined the Cubbies in 1987. During his first season with the team, Dawson blasted a team-leading 47 home runs producing 137 RBI, leading his way to claim not only the MVP award but also a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger title. As a member of the Cubs, Dawson was named to an All-Star team five times from 1987-91. Dawson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Backup: Sammy Sosa

Slammin’ Sammy joined the Cubs in 1992 via a trade with the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox. In his 13 years as a Cub, Sosa played in 1,811 games. In those games, he smashed 545 dingers. Of  course, he’s most well-known for his part in the Great Home Run Chase of 1998, when he battled Mark McGwire all summer long.

Sosa did, however, earn some hardware during his playing time. The seven-time All-Star won the 1998 National League MVP award, 1998 Major League Player of the Year, 1998 Roberto Clemente Award and 1999 NL Hank Aaron Award.

Honorable Mention: George Altman, Bill Nicholson

Chicago Cubs: A less-star-studded position in history

Starter: Andy Pafko

Pafko joined the Cubs after he was bought from Green Bay (Wisconsin State) for $1,000 back in 1941. During his nine years in Chicago, he hit .294 average with 126 home runs and 584 driven in. The five-time all-star finished his career with 960 games played.

Backup: Leon Durham

Although he was primarily a first baseman, Durham saw some time in center field, as well. He joined the Cubs in the Bruce Sutter trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980. In eight years with Chicago, he played in 921 games, putting up some impressive numbers. He earned a Silver Slugger  in 1982, his second season with the team.

Honorable Mention: Dexter Fowler, Kosuke Fukudome

A brief note here. You have to mention Fowler with this group because without him, the team likely doesn’t end a century-plus of suffering in 2016. He set the table flawlessly for that World Series championship team, forever cementing his place in Cubs lore.

Chicago Cubs: Flame throwing bullpen

Most people would consider Bruce Sutter to be the best closer in Cubs history. Sutter joined the Cubs in 1971 and later went on to pitch five years for Chicago. In the 300 games he pitched in, Sutter put up a record of 32-30 with a 2.39 ERA. A five-time All-Star as a Cub, the right-hander recorded a career-high 37 saves in the 1979 season. He won the 1972 NL NL Rolaids Relief Award along with the 1979 NL Cy Young Award. Sutter became a Hall of Famer in 2006.

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Rick Sutcliffe joined the North Siders in 1984 when he was 28 years old. He later went on to pitch eight seasons in the Windy City. Sutcliffe had a career record of 82-65. His best showing came in the first season as a Cub were he went 16-1 and struck out 155 batters. During his time as a Cub, he was selected to play in two All-Star games.

After being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of the 1975 amateur draft. Lee Smith pitched eight years for the Cubs. A record of 40-51 in the 458 games Smith appeared in. Smith struck out 644 batters throughout 681 1/3 innings he pitched in. He was a two-time all-star while wearing a Cubs uniform. Smith was selected to Hall of Fame in 2019.`

On November 19, 2008, Ryan Dempster signed as a free agent with the Cubs. From then on Dempster pitched in 374 games, accumulating a record of 67-66 with 1,070 strikeouts over his 1182 2/3 innings pitched. Dempster was voted an All-Star in the 2008 season where he finished the season 17-6, 2.96 ERA over 206 2/3 innings he pitched that year.

Honorable Mention: Travis Wood, Carlos Marmol, Mitch Williams

Chicago Cubs: A one of a kind manager

Dusty Baker only managed the Cubs for four seasons. Baker went 322-326 over those four seasons and was 6-6 in postseason play. Baker was named to manage the All-Star team in 2003. The Cubs let Baker go after the 2006 season when the Cubs finished with a 66-96 record and a sixth-place finish in the National League Central.

Another choice to manage this team of All-Stars is Joe Maddon. Maddon managed the Cubs for five years. He managed the Cubs when they won the National League pennant and the World Series in 2016. Maddon’s record with the Cubs was 471-339. He managed the 2017 National League All-Stars.