Recalling the 5 best-hitting pitchers in Chicago Cubs history

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced Thursday morning that the universal DH was indeed agreed upon by league owners. This likely signals the end of an era in the National League as pitchers will no longer be required to hit. We got a taste of the rule in 2020, now it appears to be here to stay.

Over the years the Chicago Cubs had quite the collection of solid hitting pitchers. Looking at the five best in franchise history required some stat-digging, and of course, the list is up for debate.

Cubs: 5 best hitting pitchers in team history: #5 Lon Warneke

One of the more underrated players in franchise history, Lon Warneke was one of the team’s best hurlers in the 1930s and was part of three pennant-winning teams. Warneke was a three-time All-Star and 1932 ERA title winner as a Cub, and pitched to a 2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.48 FIP and 706 strikeouts in 1624 2/3 innings from 1930-1936, 1942-1943, 1945.

He was productive at the plate, too. Warneke collected 124 hits, 15 doubles, two triples and three home runs in 566 at bats as a Cub. He slashed .219/.250/.269 with a .519 OPS. His 124 hits are 10th on the all-time Cubs pitcher hit list. He is one of five Cubs pitchers to have at least 500 at bats and hit above .200. Only two other Cubs pitchers with 500+ at bats have a higher batting average than Warneke.

In 1933 alone he hit .300/.320/.440 with an OPS+ of 115 and 116 wRC+ in 106 plate appearances. Not often did we see pitchers put up those kinds of numbers.

Warneke, outside Chicago, also spent six years in St. Louis. He finished his MLB career with five All-Star appearances, a career 3.18 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 215 hits and a batting average of .233.

Cubs: Charlie Root was more than just the guy who gave up the “Called Shot”

It is not surprising that the man who has pitched the most innings in a Cubs uniform also has the most at-bats of any pitcher in team history. Outside of his rookie year with the St. Louis Browns, Root pitched the rest of his 16 MLB seasons on the North Side, from 1926-1941. He was part of four pennant-winning teams in 1929, 1932, 1935 and 1938.

In addition to his 3.55 ERA and 201 wins as a Cub, Root also compiled 195 hits in 1,073 at bats. No other Cubs pitcher has more hits than him and he was the only one to eclipse the 1,000 at-bat mark. Root was a lifetime .182/.218/.268 hitter with 46 doubles and 11 home runs. His 93 RBI also sit comfortably in the number one spot in that category.

Even if his hit total was in part due to his longevity, a .182 average as a pitcher is still pretty dang solid. Also hitting 11 home runs in that era as a pitcher was pretty respectable as well. Sadly feels like Root does not always get the recognition he deserves as a player in Cubs history.

Cubs: Not having all ten fingers did not stop Mordecai Brown from dominating

Hall of Famer Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown is one of the Cubs all-time best pitchers. His microscopic 1.80 ERA and 2.21 FIP in 346 games as a Cub go down in history. Losing his index finger on his right hand while having his other fingers not properly reset due to other injuries allowed him to use his abnormal throwing hand to implement different grips on the ball.

Oh, and he could also hit. Brown only hit two home runs, but he racked up 166 hits, 14 doubles and eight triples. Those eight triples are the most by any Cubs pitcher, while his 166 total hits rank second in that category behind Charlie Root. Brown’s slash as a Cub was .195/.227/.237. Worth noting he struck out only 39 times vs. walking 35 times.

His best offensive season was arguably 1915, when he posted an OPS+ of 98 and slashed .293/.318/.341.

Brown suffered some horrific injuries to his hand, and yet that did not stop him from being a Hall of Fame player. The fact he could also swing the bat well too adds to his incredible story. Sadly since he played so long ago we do not have much highlight reel tape of him playing, but the numbers speak for themselves.

Cubs: One of the toughest guys to face on the mound was not an easy out, either

Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander spent nine of his 20 MLB seasons with the Cubs. As a North Sider, the intimidating righty from Nebraska pitched to a 2.84 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 1.2 WHIP and struck out 614 hitters in 1884.1 innings.

His ability to hit was nothing to gawk at either. Alexander slashed .230/.267/.301 with a .568 OPS, 78 RBI and six home runs in a Cubs uniform. He is fourth on the team all-time pitcher hit list with 149, tied for sixth in doubles (20) and 12th in at bats (648). His .230 average is second-highest among Cubs pitchers to accumulate at least 500 at bats, with his .267 OBP being the highest among that group.

Worth noting arguably his best offensive season as a Cub was in 1921 when he slashed .305/.320/.389 in 102 plate appearances.

Alexander’s playing days outside Chicago were spent in either St. Louis or Philadelphia. He finished with 378 career hits, 60 doubles, 13 triples and 11 home runs. Though, it was obviously his career 2.56 ERA, and 373 wins that got him into Cooperstown.