15 Cubs players that make perfect Immaculate Grid answers

Cubs Immaculate Grid Answers: A speedy outfielder and a late-inning reliever who never quite lived up to fans' expectations

The in-season acquisition of speedster Kenny Lofton and third baseman Randall Simon during the 2003 run sent a message to fans: this is the year. While, of course, it ended up not being the year, Ramirez went on to become one of the best-hitting third basemen of his generation and Lofton brought a spark to the top of the Cubs order.

He put up an .852 OPS once joining the Cubs, batting .327 with a .381 on-base and swiping a dozen bags for good measure. But, once the dust settled on the heartbreaking season, Lofton was off to the Bronx to join the Yankees. During his 17 years in the Show, he also played for Cleveland (10 years), San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Texas, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago (AL), earning six All-Star selections and four Gold Gloves.

Latroy Hawkins, who made an appearance on my rankings of the 15 worst Cubs free agent signings ever earlier this year, was a lethal late-inning weapon for the Twins prior to coming to Chicago. He rode the ups and downs throughout his entire career, though, and was a constant change of scenery candidate. Hawkins wound up pitching for 11 teams in his 21-year career, including the Twins, Cubs, Rockies, Astros, Brewers, Mets, Giants, Angels, Yankees, Orioles and Blue Jays.