Reviewing From Decades Past: 1960 - The Bench

When a team loses 94 games, you can expect a bunch of no-names on the bench. After all, how good are you if you can't crack the lineup of a 7th place team! In fact, most of these guys didn't even last the season. The Cubs were busy trading sucky players for more sucky ones.



Earl Averill played in 52 games,, hit a whopping .235, and was then traded to the Braves. The Cubs got Al Heist in return.



Harry Bright was a rule 5 draft pick the Cubs had grabbed from the Pirates over the winter. His future with the Cubs wasn't too bright...he didn't make the final roster and was returned to Pittsburgh.




Dick Gernert managed to stick with the Cubs until August 31, when he was sold to the Tigers. He hit .250 in 52 games during his time with the Cubs.



Lou Johnson was supposed to be a hot prospect. But he hit only .206 in 34 games and spent most of the season in AAA. And check out the way he is wearing his hat. It looks like the hat is pulled over the top of his ears.



Dale Long didn't make it out of spring training. He was sold to the Giants just before opening day.



Walt (Moose) Moryn seemed to be having a decent season, hitting .294 in 38 games. So what did the Cubs do? They traded him to the Cardinals on June 15.



Irv Noren, a 35 year old utility infielder, played in only 12 games, hit .091, and was released on June 4. He was picked up by the Dodgers and spent the rest of the year in LA.



Del Rice got the ax the same day as Irv Noren after playing in only 18 games. He ended up playing for both the Cardinals and Orioles during the rest of the season. It looks like several teams were in the market for a washed up back-up catcher.



Artl Schult played in only 12 games and was sent back to AAA in mid-May. He was 32 and in the minors. Art retired after the season.

So that's nine bench players in the Topps set and not a single one played the entire season with the Cubs. Wow, what a really crummy collection of over-the-hill players that was!