Blog Bat Around: My All-Autograph Team

Torren' Up Cards has come up with the latest Blog Bat Around, to cfreate your All Autograph Team.  I'm ready to take a swing!

First, as you'd probably expect, this team is pure Cubs.  I've got no interest in chasing autographs of players from any other team.  For the most part I picked my team based on talent.  There are seven Hall of Famers on the team and I couldn't really leave them off.  I did make a couple picked based more on my heart instead of head.  Since it's my team, I'm allowed to do that!

Here we go, starting with THE OUTFIELD

Left Field - Billy Williams

Center Field - Jose Cardenal

Right Field - Andre Dawson

Left and right were HOFers.  Center field was not easy as the Cubs have rarely had a decent center fielder.  I went with Jose as more of a heart pick.

Honorable Mention - Dave Kingman, Dexter Fowler, Kyle Schwarber, Gary Matthew, Sammy Sosa, Alfonso Soriano

Next it's on to THE INFIELD

Third Base - Ron Santo

Honorable Mention - Bill Madlock, Aramis Ramirez, Kris Bryant

Shortstop - Ernie Banks

Honorable Mention - Don Kessinger, Shawon Dunston, Starlin Castro, Addison Russell

Second Base - Ryne Sandberg

Honorable Mention - Glenn Beckert, Manny Trillo, Javier Baez, and Darwin Barney

First Base - Bill Buckner

Honorable Mention - Phil Cavaretta, Mark Grace. Derrek Lee, Leon Durham, Anthony Rizzo

Three of the four infielders are HOFers, so they were pretty automatic.  Buckner is a heart choice.  I could have put Banks at first, or DLee, or Rizzo, but Billy Buck won out

Catcher - Jody Davis

Honorable Mention - Randy Hundley, Michael Barrett, Geovany Soto, Willson Contreras

Catching has been pretty thin over the years.  Jody probably had the longest run of good play behind the plate, giving him the nod.

Pinch Hitter - Kris Bryant

The best of the position player honorable mentions was going to go here and giving Bryant the job.

The final category would be THE PITCHERS

Starting Pitcher - Fergie Jenkins

Honorable Mention - Jake Arrieta, RIck Reuschel, Ken Holtzman, Rick Sutcliffe, Greg Maddux, Kerry Wood

I had to pick from two HOFer who both wore #31.  Fergie got the start because his best years were with the Cubs

 

Relief Pitchers - Lee Smith, Phil Regan

Closer - Bruce Sutter

Honorable mention - Aroldis Chapman, CJ Edwards, WIllie Hernandez, Randy Myers

Though all three are closers, I put Sutter in that role since he is in Cooperstown.

There you have the Wrigley Wax All Autograph team.  What do you think??