#23 - Pete LaCock

First, let's get the 7th grade humor out of the way.

Peter LaCock...what a name! Too bad he wasn't on the Cubs when Dick Pole was the pitching coach!

OK, now, on to the post.

LaCock was the Cubs first round draft pick in 1970. By 1972, he was already with the Cubs, although it was only for a September call-up. He also spent small parts of 1973 and 1974 with the team, though most of those seasons were spent in AAA. Each stint with the big team saw him with a different number. In '72, he wore #24, in '73 it was #25, and in 1974 he was given #22.

He stayed with the Cubs for the next two complete seasons, and wore #23 both years. His stats were nearly identical both years:

1975, 106 games, 249 ABs, .229 average, 6 HR, 30 RBIs
1976, 106 games, 244 ABs, .221 average, 8 HR, 28 RBIs

Those mediocre numbers caused the Cubs to give up on LaCock and he was traded to the Royals over the winter of 1976-1977.

I've got three other cards of Pete LaCock, but none give us a very good look at his number.



This SSPC from 1976 doesn't show his uniform, but you can see the "23" painted on his helmet inside the C



Topps 1975, a headshot



Topps 1976, another headshot, again, no look at the uniform.

And finally, any Pete LaCock post has to have the obligatory mention that he was the son of Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall. Here are some great quotes between Peter Marshall and Paul Lynde.


After Pete LaCock was traded, back up catcher Mike Gordon wore #23 for 8 games in 1977 and four more in 1978. His short stint was ignored by Topps.