He wore #44
He was very good.
He isn't Anthony Rizzo.
Long before Rizzo wore #44 at first, Phil Cavarretta did. In fact, after he left the Cubs in the mid-Fifties, the number was unofficially retired until Burt Hooton wore it in 1971.
A local boy made good, the north side native spent 20 years with the Cubs (and another two with the Sox). He was a three-time All Star and was the NL MVP in 1945.
His career ended long before I started collecting, but I've ended up with a decent number of his cards. Several are from his playing days, most with Bowman, and a couple Topps. I've also got reprints from a few oddball brands. And there are a few from modern sets. All together I've got sixteen Cavarretta cards.
The reversed negative on the one card is sure jarring, but that big Bowman color picture is great.
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