Skip to main content

Youngest and Oldest Silver Slugger Winners in Cubs History

The names on this list likely won't surprise Cubs fans.
ByPat Ragazzo
1995, Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa at Wrigley Field during the 1995 season. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
1995, Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa at Wrigley Field during the 1995 season. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Chicago Cubs are a storied franchise with plenty of legendary offensive players who have worn the uniform in their long history. Since 1980 when the honor became a thing, the Cubs have had a number of Louisville Silver Slugger Award winners on their team.

With the award set to be given out in November to MLB's best hitters, let's take a look at the youngest and oldest Silver Slugger winners in Cubs history.

Youngest Cubs player to win the Silver Slugger Award

This name shouldn't surprise Cubs fans. Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg won his first Silver Slugger Award in 1984 with Chicago. Sandberg, who turned 25 in September of that season, slashed .314/.367/.520 with a .887 OPS, 140 OPS+, 19 home runs, 84 RBI and had a 8.5 bWAR in 156 games. He also had 36 doubles and 19 triples that year. Sandberg went on to win the Silver Slugger seven times in his career. He is currently the youngest Cub to win the award, but likely won't be for long given NL MVP frontrunner Pete Crow-Armstrong is playing in his age-24 season in 2026.

Oldest Cubs player to win the Silver Slugger Award

Another non-surprise is that Cubs legend Sammy Sosa is the oldest player in franchise history to win a Silver Slugger Award. Sosa's last Silver Slugger came in 2002 when he was 33 going on 34 in November of that year. Sosa hit .288/.399/.594 with a .993 OPS, 160 OPS+, 49 homers, 108 RBI and a 5.8 bWAR in 150 games. Sosa won six Silver Slugger Awards in his career, with five straight coming from 1998-2002 with the Cubs. Sandberg was nearly the oldest to win a Silver Slugger as well, but turned 33 in September of the 1992 season.

Next Cubs player to win the Silver Slugger Award?

As previously mentioned, Crow-Armstrong looks like a lock to win the NL MVP this season over Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For that, he is also likely to win the Silver Slugger Award for center field in the NL. However, former Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who was 24 in 2016, won the NL MVP that season, but lost out on the Silver Slugger Award to Nolan Arenado. Luckily, Crow-Armstrong doesn't have too much competition offensively at his position. In 145 games, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .281/.376/.577 with a .953 OPS, 41 homers, 97 RBI, 108 runs scored, 35 stolen bases and a 9.0 bWAR. He is having a historic season at the plate and could also win his second straight Gold Glove Award in center field as well.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations