Backing Up the Truck: The Prodigal Sons

When Don Kessinger was traded to the Cardinals after the 1975 season, all of the 1969 Cubs were gone.

But many didn't stay gone.  Several of the prodigals returned.

Randy Hundley...came back for parts of the 1976 and 1977 seasons.  His knees were gone and he wasn't very good.  Hundley later managed in the Cubs farm system.  I think he may have ended up managing the Cubs if Dallas Green hadn't become the GM.  Green purged the organization of most of the 1969 remnants.

Ken Holtzman...came back for parts of the 1978 and 1979 seasons.  I remember when the Cubs made the trade with the Yankees to get him that it was announced over the PA during a game at Wrigley Field.  It was met with a loud cheer.  His arm was gone and he wasn't very good.

Fergie Jenkins...was signed as a free agent and pitched with the Cubs in 1982 and 1983.  He picked up is 3000th career strike out during the second go-around, but was just a shell of the first time Fergie.

Ernie Banks...was a coach for a couple years and then was a good-will ambassador for the rest of his life.

Billy Williams...had a couple tenures as a coach.

Ron Santo...was in the radio booth for 20 years, living and dying with the fortunes of the team.