Five Random Cubs Cards

I've got 10,580 Cubs cards from 70 different brands listed on a spreadsheet. A random number generator picked five cards, one each from the past several decades.  For the second straight time the RNG picked Mr Cub; in fact this time we get Ernie Banks bookends.  Let's see two!!

1950s / 1960s Milton Bradley 1969 Ernie Banks  I've written about the Milton Bradley cards before.  These came out the glorious and then disastrous 1969 season.   Like most of the team, Ernie tanked in September, hitting only .208 and hitting only two homers.  Both were monthly season lows.

1970s Topps 1976 #301 Rick Reuschel  I've always wondered why Reuschel was wearing a batting helmet for this picture.  I'm guessing the photographer grabbed him after BP, but wouldn't you think the someone would have told him to grab his hat?

The '76 Hostess card has a picture from the same shoot.

1980s Topps 1989 #501 Vance Law  Coming off of an All Star season in 1988, Law tanked in '89.  His batting average dropped 58 points and he went from 78 to 42 RBIs.  The Cubs released him after the season and Law spent the 1990 season with the Chunichi Dragons.

1990s Topps 1993 #128 Kal Daniels  Did you know that Kal's real name is Kalvoski?  I just learned that!  I wonder what the story is?  The Cubs picked up Daniels from the Dodgers in late June, 1992.  The former first round draft pick of the Reds cost the Cubs a career minor leaguer name Michael Sodders.  Daniels hit .250 in his  half-season on the north side.  The Cubs let him go after the season and Daniels never made it back to the majors.

2000s Upper Deck Legends 2001 #60 Ernie Banks  This card comes from my Ernie Banks player collection.  The 2001 Upper Deck Legends set was made up of 90 current and retired players.  

Upper Deck liked the picture enough to use it a couple more times.