5 Chicago Cubs players with the most All-Star game selections
The Chicago Cubs have had some very talented players grace the Friendly Confines over the years, and here are 5 guys who received the most All-Star game selections as a Cub.
The Chicago Cubs had three players named to the 2023 All-Star game, those being starting pitchers Justin Steele and Marcus Stroman along with shortstop Dansby Swanson. Steele will be the only one actually playing as Stroman opted to rest over the break while Swanson is tending to a heel injury. There has been a general lack of All-Star level play in Chicago in recent years since the departure of almost every player from the 2016 team.
But there have been some extremely impressive all-stars in the franchise's history, most of whom have also become Hall of Famers. Here are the five men with the most All-Star selections in the Cubs' history.
Ernie Banks: 14 selections
There's a reason we call the guy Mr. Cub. Ernie Banks played the entirety of his big league career in a Chicago Cubs uniform, which lasted from 1953-1971. During that time, Banks was named to a whopping 14 all-star games and he played in 13 of them. Ironically, 14 is also the number Banks donned and he has become synonymous with it in Cubs fandom especially since it was retired by the team in 1983.
Banks is near the top of several hitting categories in franchise history: 2nd in hits (2583), 2nd in RBIs (1636), 2nd in home runs (512), and first in games played (2528). He also led the league in home runs and RBIs twice, secured two NL MVP (1958 & 59) awards and a gold glove (1960). Ernie Banks is simply a Cubs legend and his All-Star nods were well deserved.
Ryne Sandberg: 10 selections
Ryne Sandberg is arguably the best defensive player to man the infield at Wrigley Field. The former second baseman holds a Cubs record 9 gold gloves to his name not to mention an NL MVP in 1984 and seven silver slugger awards to go along with his 10 All-Star game appearances. Although he was drafted and made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies, and even managed in the city of brotherly love for a time, Sandberg is a Chicago Cub through and through. He made the number 23 not only legendary in Chicago basketball but also baseball. In addition to getting number 23 retired for the Cubs, Sandberg set to receive a statue outside the park to commemorate his efforts on the field.
Ron Santo: 9 selections
Perhaps the greatest third baseman in Chicago Cubs history is Ron Santo, who has the highest Wins Above Replacement (72.1) of any player in the team's illustrious history. That is expected for Cap Anson but he played in the late 1800s when the game was drastically different so Ron Santo takes the honor in my eyes.
Despite his 9 All-Star selections, 5 gold gloves and his post-playing career dedication as a color broadcaster, Santo did not see himself get inducted into the Hall of Fame and he passed away in 2010 at the age of 70 from cancer and diabetes complications. The following year a statue of Santo was presented at Wrigley Field and he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Sammy Sosa: 7 selections
While most of these selections were at least partially fueled by steroids and corked bats, Sammy Sosa was indeed named to seven All-Star games mostly for the sheer amount of home runs the guy hit. Love them or hate them, Sosa and Mark McGuire were at the center of a prominent point in MLB history that brought national attention to the game. With attendance levels plummeting after the 1994 strike, Sosa and McGuire's efforts very well could have saved baseball from becoming an afterthought.
1998 was arguably the most famous or infamous year for Sosa when smacked a career-high 66 home runs. He won the National League MVP Award, the Roberto Clemente Award and led the National League in RBIs that year. He was named to the All-Star team but did not play that year
Billy Herman: 7 selections
Second baseman Billy Herman played with the Cubs from 1931-1941 and he made 7 consecutive All-Star teams for the North Siders. One of Herman's most notable feats was leading the entire league in hits in 1935 with 227, including an impressive 57 doubles. Herman was known as a defensive wizard and a solid contact hitter that regularly hit above or close to .300. He also started almost every day for the Cubs for the vast majority of his 10-year-stint with the club.