Sunday Cub Fact: Youngest Players in Team History

Since 1900, the youngest Cubs position player was Danny Murphy, who was just 17 years, nine months old when he made his debut on June 18, 1960. You can read more about Murphy here.

Topps 1961 Danny Murphy



The youngest pitcher in team history was Dick Ellsworth, who was 18 years, three months when he came up to the Cubs in 1958. He had an interesting career in Chicago, winning 22 games in 1963, one year after losing 20 games. He went on to lose 22 games in 1966 and was then traded to the Phillies.

Topps 1960 Dick Ellsworth - his rookie card.



The last teenager to play for the Cubs was Oscar Gamble, who got into 24 games in 1969 and was then traded in the off season. Gamble ended up having a pretty decent career, including a one-year return to Chicago as a part of the White Sox Southside Hitmen Team of 1977.

Topps never issued a card of Oscar Gamble as a Cub, so that gives me an excuse to show off this beauty, a combination of bad air brushing and a giant afro.



I did find this, from a 1971 Dell Stamp set. Although Gamble had been with the Phillies since 1970, this stamp shows him in a Cubs uniform, a picture probably taken in 1969.