Chicago Cubs: A history of pitchers who could swing the bat

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 06: Carlos Zambrano #38 of the Chicago Cubs points to the crowd after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 6, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Reds 11-4. (Photo by Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Way back in the 1920s, the ace of the Cubs helped at the dish as well as the mound.

After the 1917 season, the Cubs acquired future Hall of Fame pitcher Pete Alexander from the Philadelphia Phillies. Alexander went on to win 373 games and pitch to a 2.56 ERA and 2,198 strikeouts in his 20-year career as well as rack up 387 hits and hit 11 home runs. That goes along with a career 3.3 offensive bWAR.

During his nine years as a Cub, Alexander hit .230/.267/.301 with a .568 OPS, six home runs, 20 doubles and 78 RBI. He hit more home runs as a Cub than he did with any other teams. Even while not getting base hits, he helped the offense with 42 sacrifice hits/bunts. Worth noting he had nine seasons of double-digit RBIs and in 1921 hit a career-best .305.

Alexander was traded to the Cardinals in 1926, where he won a World Series. Yeah, Lou Brock was not the first Hall of Famer to be traded from the Cubs to the Cardinals. Let’s not talk about that. He still goes down as one of the most talented arms to pitch for the Cubs in team history.

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