Five Random Cubs Cards

 I've got 21,688 Cubs cards from 316 different brands listed on a spreadsheet. A random number generator picked five cards, one each from the past several decades.

1900s - 1970s: 1976 Topps #378 Steve Stone  Stone pitched in just 17 games for the Cubs in 1976, posting a record of 3-6.  Shoulder trouble was the reason for both the limited appearances and lousy record.

1980s: 1988 Donruss Baseball's Best #138 Rick Sutcliffe Here's something I bet you didn't know - Sutcliffe stole home against the Phillies on July 29, 1988, as part of a double steal.  He was the first Cubs pitcher to do that since Hippo Vaughn in1919.

1990s: 1999 Team Issued Old Style Joe Tinker It goes without saying the Tinker, Evers, and Chance were all included in this set with the Cubs All-Century team.

2000s: 2002 Heritage #110 Jon Lieber  This is not a very flattering painting of Jon Lieber.

2010s: 2014 Stadium Club #172 Arismendy Alcantara He was the first of the touted prospects the Theo to be called up.   He made his MLB debut on July 9, 2014.  Later that season Javier Baez and Jorge Soler made their debuts.  We soon forgot about Alcantara.

Eighties Alphabetically - Cap'n Crunch Cubs Card

 How's that title for alliteration!

What kid didn't love some Cap'n Crunch for breakfast.  Nothing like a load of sugar to get the day started!

By 1989 I was a husband and dad with two kids meaning my Cap'n Crunch days were over.  I never saw the cards the the Cap'n put out.  His was a one and done set of 22 cards.  Specially marked boxes contained a pack of two cards plus some gum.

Gum you say?  Yes, because the Cap'n partnered with Topps for his baseball cards, which I think is pretty cool.  Unfortunately, the budget didn't include money for an MLB license, so the cards are missing logos.

Andre Dawson was the only Cub in the set.  The 8 inside the baseball is not the card number. Topps put the player's uniform number in there.  

New Billy Bobblehead

 I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I needed to get the Billy Williams bobblehead that was given out at Wrigley Field last May 27. Actually, I got the corrected version because ones given out that day had the wrong number on his jersey.  It had him as #1 instead of #26.

Here's the box that it came it.  It was packaged nicely and arrived in great condition.

The corrected version with #26 on his back was still not correct, though the Cubs aren't doing anything about it.  The font used for the number is not the unique rounded one used by the Cubs.  Too bad they couldn't get this detail correct.

Based on the uniform type and the big sideburns, this looks to be 1973-1974 Billy Williams.

Finally, here he is with the other items on my Billy shelf.

Opening Day 2024

 Let the games begin!

To celebrate the Cubs 149th Opening Day, I've got the Cubs all time opening day lineup. The lineup features a majority of the players from the '60's and later. That seems odd to me, considering the long history of the Cubs. In fact, of the entire lineup, I have seen all but three.

Next to the Cubs all-time opening day leader, I have the Cub who makes the start today.

The cards that I'm using are the most recent ones I have for each player.  Some players have no Cubs cards, so I will use my homemade cards for them,

 

Pitcher: Fergie Jenkins, 7 Opening Day starts.
Justin Steele is making his first Opening Day start

  

Catcher: Gabby Hartnett, 12 starts
Yan Gomes is makes his second opening day start 

 

First Base (since 1900): Charlie Grimm and Mark Grace, 12 starts
Michael Busch makes his Cubs debut as the starting first baseman.

 

Second Base: Ryne Sandberg, 13 starts
Nico Hoerner makes his second start at second baseman.

 

Shortstop: Shawon Dunston, 11 starts
Dansby Swanson is making his second start as the Cubs opening day shortstop.

 

Third Base: Ron Santo, 13 starts
Nick Madrigal is making his first Opening Day start at third base.

  

Left Field: Billy Williams, 10 starts
Ian Happ starts in left field for the third time.

Center Field (since 1900): Andy Pafko, 7 starts
Cody Bellinger is in center for the second time.

 

Right Field: Sammy Sosa, 12 starts

Seiya Suzuki will make his second start as the right fielder.

The 2024 Chicago Cubs

 The season begins tomorrow with the Cubs taking on the Rangers in Texas.  They've finalized the roster for the opener, so I've got a 2024 Topps card for each of the 26 players.  

Only seven of the 26 have a card in series one, meaning I had to make cards for 19.  When I pick pictures, as much as possible I like to stay away from the standard choice of a position player hitting and a pitcher throwing.  I'm tired of all the hitting and pitching cards.

 

Catchers -  The Cubs are carrying two catchers, veteran Yan Gomes and rookie Miguel Amaya.

 

 

 

Infielders - The starting infield is, from third to first, Christopher Morel, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch.  That is very solid up the middle and pretty shaky at the corners.  The backups are Garrett Cooper, Miles Mastrobuoni, and Nick Madrigal.

 

 

Outfielders - Pretty decent here, with Happ, Bellinger, and Suzuki starting and Tauchman in reserve.

 

 

Starting Pitchers -  This should be interesting as only Hendricks and Steele have big league starting experience of more than a year.

 

 

 

 

Bullpen - The bullpen always seems to be a crap shoot.  Hopefully the dice they rolled hit big.