Fave 4: Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies. If like me, you grew up without a real home team, the Cubs or the Braves most likely became a big part of your life. For me it was the Cubs, Harry Caray and WGN. Every summer I would look forward to going outside while it was still cool, playing wiffle ball and other games, then heading inside around noon for lunch and the Cubs. Wrigley quickly became my home team, despite its location over a 1,000 miles away.

The Cubbies have always been the lovable losers, but some of my first memories of the Cubs were as *cough* Winners *cough*. Yup. 1989, one of the great Cubs seasons I can remember. 1987 was fun thanks to the Hawk and 1988 meant the emergence of Mark Grace and my total fascination with him. But 1989 was special. I was watching a team every day as they made the chase for the pennant. Too bad the damn Giants had to ruin everything.

1. Mark Grace

Grace will forever be one of my favorite baseball players of all-time. He didn't have the star power of guys like Griffey or Canseco, but he was my guy. When he came up as a rookie, I was instantly sold. I was never a fan of Leon Durham, and I wasn't even watching the team in 1984 when he committed his biggest gaffe. Grace was the young golden boy with all the promise. I hoarded his rookie cards and became obsessed with his play. His battle with Will Clark in the 89 NLCS was epic and had me convinced he'd become one of the greats of all-time. I hated to see him leave the Cubs, but at least he went on to win a championship.


2. Ryne Sandberg

Ryno was an amazing second baseman during a time when second baggers didn't do the things he did with a bat, especially when they could flash the leather. His 40 home runs in 1990 were just ungodly to me. I wasalways thrilled to pull a Sandberg card out of any pack and my friends were always willing to trade them to me, so I filled many a binder page with the man's image.


3. Jerome Walton

Jerome Walton might have introduced me to the idea of Rookie of the Year does not necessarily mean future all-star/MVP. I loved watching the rise of Jerome and Dwight Smith during their rookie years and figured these guys were on their way to becoming an amazing duo for years to come. Not so much, but I'll still never forget Jerome and his hat under helmet awesomeness.

4. Hector Villanueva

My favorite fat catcher. There was no better feeling than finding out that Joe Girardi or Rick Wilkins was on the bench and my boy Hector was gonna get some time behind the dish. Added bonus, won the Puerto Rican league triple crown. There's nothing he can't do.

Honorable Mentions:

Andre Dawson

I wish I had known more about the Hawk before he made it to Chicago, but I still enjoyed the hell out of the man while he was a Cub. No one has ever been as menacing with a bat in his hands. And that includes my boy, the much hated, Albert Belle.

Alfonso Soriano

I know that as soon as you call a player underrated, he essentially becomes overrated, but I feel like we are taking for granted how good this guy is. His combination of power is speed is rare in the game today and he is a ton of fun to watch.

Carlos Zambrano

Has there ever been a pitcher that's more fun to watch at the bat than on the mound? And that's saying something since he is a beast on the hill as well.

Doug Dascenzo

He was petite, not an attractive fellow, the definition of an underdog and to top all that he was an outfielder who is pictured on most of his cards pitching.

Greg Maddux

I was heartbroken when he left for the Braves. Ok, heartbroken is a bit strong, but it was upsetting. Just an amazing control pitcher.

Lloyd McClendon

I already talked about him on my Pirates list, but he was a Cub to me first and that's how I still think of him.

Mike Harkey

After a really good rookie season in 1990, Harkey never really put it together again. I got his autograph at a show in Texas when I was young, wearing my Grace jersey. The show was sparsely populated and Harkey spent about 10 minutes talking Cubs with me. Very cool.

Mitch Williams

A heart attack on the mound. He was just so much fun to watch, although you always thought he was about to combust. It still kills me that he became synonymous with the Joe Carter walk-off World Series home run.

Shawon Dunston

Combine the Shawon-o-Meter with the rocket arm and I was won over instantly. Half the fun of watching the Cubs in the field was hoping to get a glimpse of Shawon uncorking one.

The Cubs were certainly the team of my youth thanks to the fine people of WGN. To this day they still hold a small place in my baseball heart. Hopefully they'll win that elusive title someday, but then again half the fun of the Cubs is that they just seemed destined to never pull it off.

Go Halos!

Fave 4: Pittsburgh Pirates

A team that was on the cusp of greatness in the early 90s, that has now become a laughingstock. Unfortunately for the Pirates, the future isn't looking so bright either. They seem to be in a cycle of suck. Needless to say, the Fave 4 for the Pirates spends very little time dwelling on the current day Pirates, in fact it doesn't even visit the boys. This isn't out of disrespect for the current crop, but ignorance of their existence.

I may be able to name off a couple of their current players, mainly because I continually pull their crappy autos and game-used cards, but I can't remember the last time I watched 9 full innings of a Pirate game. I honestly don't know if I've sat through a full inning, top to bottom, of a Pirates game in the last decade.

So let's take a step back to a time when the Pirates were a respectable contender, the Fave 4: Pirates.

1. Bobby Bonilla

The less heralded member of the Pirates outfield that included Barry Bonds, Bonilla was the guy I always liked. It's funny, I will forever think of Bobby Bo as a Pirate, despite the fact that he only played 5 full seasons with Pittsburgh and 10 seasons with other teams. Bonilla's final two seasons in Pittsburgh were his best and despite not becoming the star the Mets had hoped he would become, Bonilla won me over during the Pirate years.


2. Mike LaValliere

Spanky. How can you not root for a fat catcher with the nickname Spanky? Very few could rival Spanky in the lack of speed department, but that's ok. His defense more than made up for what he lacked on the basepaths. Plus he was a right handed throwing, left handed hitting player and that always fascinates me.

3. Lloyd McClendon

I first became a McClendon fan during his limited days with the Cubs. His Pirates years were more productive and eventually he would become Pittsburgh's fiery manager. Again, my proclivity for fat guy ball players comes out, but I'm ok with that. We all need role models.

4. Jason Kendall

The antithesis of what you expect from a catcher, Kendall was a guy who could hit for average, steal bases and the man could get hit by a pitch while he's standing on deck. Kendall's productivity has waned over the years, but as a Pirate he was a lot of fun to watch.

Honorable Mentions:
Jose Lind

Chico. I really wanted Chico to make the Fave 4, but he was just edged by Jason Kendall. Lind wasn't exactly an offensive force, but his glove was amazing at times and he had some great athleticism. This athleticism can be seen on the back of his 1991 Upper Deck card as seen on Baseball Cards Come To Life!

Doug Drabek

The ace of the Pirates staffs of the early 90s. This guy just seemed like a competitor that wanted it more than other guys.

Andy Van Slyke

The slick fielding center fielder who played in the middle of the Bonds Bonilla sandwich.

There they are, the Fave 4 Pirates, thanks to Kendall at least they had one player from this decade on the list.

Go Halos!

One day until spring break. The kids think it's only for them, but they have no idea how much the teachers look forward to this.